A Prayer for Ministers (Father of Mercies, Bow Thine Ear)

“A Prayer for Ministers” is a congregational prayer by Benjamin Beddome, asking God to strengthen and bless those entrusted with preaching the Gospel and caring for His people. Beginning with an appeal to the Father of mercies, the hymn recognizes that Christian ministry is not merely a human occupation but a serious spiritual responsibility. Those who preach and teach God's Word need divine wisdom, spiritual strength, courage, and the help of the Holy Spirit. The congregation therefore does not simply listen to its ministers or evaluate their work. It is also called to pray for them.

The hymn gives particular attention to the relationship between the ministry of God's servants and the spiritual welfare of the congregation. Beddome acknowledges that the work of ministers is great and their responsibility extensive. Their faithfulness benefits the people who hear them, since the congregation shares in the blessings that come through sound teaching and the faithful proclamation of Scripture. This makes prayer for ministers an important part of the church's spiritual life.

The requests in the hymn are practical and deeply biblical. It asks God to give ministers divine energy, reveal His sacred truth to them, suppress their fear, and inflame their zeal. It also prays that they will faithfully sow the seed of God's Word and feed the flock entrusted to their care. These petitions remind believers that effective Christian ministry depends upon God's grace rather than human ability alone.

The hymn also looks beyond the immediate needs of the congregation. It prays for the conversion of sinners, comfort for distressed souls, the spread of the Gospel to distant places, and the spiritual renewal of Zion. Its vision is therefore both pastoral and missionary. It asks God to use faithful ministers to bring people to repentance, strengthen believers, and extend the knowledge of Christ.

The hymn is suitable for services praying for pastors, missionaries, evangelists, church leaders, and all who labor in the proclamation and teaching of God's Word. It also encourages congregations to remember that ministers need prayer, spiritual renewal, and the Lord's sustaining grace. Its Long Meter structure allows it to be sung to several established hymn tunes, including WAREHAM, GRACE CHURCH, and QUEBEC.