Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
SOME SONGS FOR SINGING
Awake My Lyre is the music of Mary Brewer, a singer, guitar player and songwriter from western Pennsylvania. For many years she has created songs of worship for her local congregation in Butler, PA, a small town that some would call the pearl of the world. This 5-song EP, called Some Songs for Singing, is a collection of songs that were made for believers to sing out loud as prayers, knitting their words and hearts together, and being lifted up as incense to God. These recordings were produced and are being sold to raise money for Voice of the Martyrs, which helps Christians all over the world who are being severely persecuted, beaten, imprisoned, tortured, and murdered for their faith in Jesus Christ. When you order this music, all the profits are donated to Voice of the Martyrs.
You can find out more about Voice of the Martyrs at https://www.persecution.com/about/. Sign up to receive their free magazine, and be warned that the reading of it will place your life in an entirely different perspective.
About Awake My Lyre
A lyre is an ancient stringed instrument. King David played one. Read this psalm and the comments below and be inspired to worship the Living God.
PSALM 57
Prayer for Rescue from Persecutors.
For the music director; set to Al-tashheth. A Mikhtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave.
Be gracious to me, God, be gracious to me,
For my soul takes refuge in You;
And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge
Until destruction passes by.
I will cry to God Most High,
To God who accomplishes all things for me.
He will send from heaven and save me;
He rebukes the one who tramples upon me.
Selah
God will send His favor and His truth.
My soul is among lions;
I must lie among those who devour,
Among sons of mankind whose teeth are spears and arrows,
And their tongue is a sharp sword.
Be exalted above the heavens, God;
May Your glory be above all the earth.
They have prepared a net for my steps;
My soul is bowed down;
They dug a pit before me;
They themselves have fallen into the midst of it.
Selah
My heart is steadfast, God,
my heart is steadfast;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises!
Awake, my glory!
Awake, harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.
I will praise You, Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to You among the nations.
For Your goodness is great to the heavens
And Your truth to the clouds.
Be exalted above the heavens, God;
May Your glory be above all the earth.
————————————————————
David wrote this when he was fleeing for his life, hiding in a cave.
Isn’t it strange that at a time like this, his priority was to rise up
early and create a song of praise to God? He was probably exhausted,
perhaps hungry and cold, and his emotions were in the pit. He could have
easily chosen to dwell on everything that had gone wrong, ruminate over
what he couldn’t understand, and rehearse the many ways others had
injured him.
But instead…
He rose up and remembered who he was and who he belonged to. He knew
that to find life and strength he had to look to the Giver of life and
strength. He exalts God, who is good, in the midst of and through his
pain. He invites us to follow his example and honor the most High, the
one who is gracious to us and rebukes those who would trample upon us.
These songs came out of a season in my life when I felt surrounded by
enemies, battling through a long season of chronic pain, depression,
disappointment and loss. These are praises lifted up by weak and frail
hands, and songs that came out of a heart that only by God’s grace
refused to surrender to darkness. Awake MY lyre. Awake YOUR lyre. I
invite you to share these songs, these songs for singing, and awaken the
dawn.
Other Works by Mary Brewer
