A Prayer for the Fallen Firefighters of Idaho
with the intercessions of saints and the fire of Scripture

O Lord Most High,
Thou that sittest upon the circle of the earth,
we cry unto Thee on behalf of Thy servants—
those who were sent to quench flame and found themselves
caught in the snares of violence and death.

Send forth Thy mercy, O God of Hosts.

We call upon Elijah the Tishbite,
Thy prophet of fire, who stood boldly before kings
and called down flame from heaven—not to destroy
the righteous, but to declare Thy power.
Let his zeal be turned now to intercession:
“Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God” (1 Kings 18:37).
May that fire become a wall of protection
round about all first responders across the land.

We plead with Thee through the prayers of Saint Stephen,
the first martyr, who in the face of stoning cried,
“Lord, lay not this sin to their charge” (Acts 7:60).
O Father, bring a justice that heals and not destroys.
Shelter the grieving in the cleft of Thy rock,
and uphold those injured and shaken.

Let David, the warrior king, rise in spirit,
for he knew the terror of ambush and the cry of lament.
Let his words become ours:
*“Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.
From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed:
lead me to the rock that is higher than I”* (Psalm 61:1–2).

We beckon the company of the faithful,
Abraham, Moses, Ruth, and Mary Magdalene—
those who walked by faith and knew sorrow,
yet clung to Thy promises.
Let their testimony rise in the courts of heaven,
as incense before Thy throne.

Now, O Lord, be Thou steadfast in intervention.
Make bare Thine arm, and stretch it forth over the brokenhearted.
Let not the snare of the fowler prevail.

And finally, we hold fast Thy word, as it is written:
*“The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart;
and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit”* (Psalm 34:18).

Amen and amen.