Its original title is “Children’s song to be sung against the two arch-enemies of Christ and of his Holy Church– the Pope , the Turks, etc.” The text was published for the first time in Wittenberg, in 1543, and must have been written between 1541 and 1543. It is most likely that it was composed in mid-1542. There are several reasons to make this claim. In August 1541, the troops of Ferdinand of Habsburg were beaten at Ofen. Luther referred to the fact in several letters. In October of the same year,the fleet of Charles V was destroyed along the coast of Argelia. In July of 1542 the French King and the Turkish Sultan established an alliance against the Emperor. Shortly thereafter a rumour was spread that the Pope had joined this alliance. The Pope and the Turk together to destroy Christianity; this meant the judgement of God against Christianity. There could only be one way out: prayer, especially that of the innocents, the children. Which explains the reference to children that preceded the hymn.

In later years, the hymn had the second line of the first strophe altered and can be found today in Roman Catholic hymnals as well.

The hymn can be found in Hinos do Povo de Deus (Hymns of the People of God) , # 90 and in the Lutheran Hymnal, # 162.

1 – Senhor, no Verbo nos mantém. O turco e o papa, ó Deus, contém, que o Filho teu, Cristo, o Senhor, do trono teu querem depor.

2 – Jesus, demonstra o teu poder! Ó Rei dos reis, vem proteger
o povo teu – que possa amar e eternamente te louvar.

3 – Espírito Consolador, dá-nos união, fraterno amor! Na angústia vem nos amparar, na morte à vida nos guiar.