Psalm 9:11 exhorts its readers thusly:
Sing praises to the LORD, who sits enthroned in Zion!
Tell among the peoples his deeds!
Most of us who regularly attend church services probably accomplish the first half of this statement pretty well, at least once a week. We are used to structure times of singing where the purpose is to give praise to the Lord. I wonder how often though we practice the second half of this verse? Are we regularly telling others of God’s deeds? Or are we content to let our public praise of our great God and King be limited to Sunday morning worship songs?
Perhaps we are reluctant to wholeheartedly embrace this action because we think that we don’t know how to tell others of the work that God is doing. I have found that it is deceptively easy to do so. The other day I was visiting the cemetery where we buried my dad’s body. Every week the cemetery staff picks up flowers, pinwheels, flags and other paraphernalia that are used to “accessorize” the grave markers of the dead. As I pulled up to the location where all these are placed after they are removed from the grounds, there was a lady who was already there. For some reason, she started chatting with me about the sometimes unfortunate occurrence of other people taking items that did not belong to them. This started a brief conversation about the reasons that we were at the cemetery to begin with. As I shared with her that my dad was buried there and quickly recounted some of the circumstances regarding his Heavenly homecoming, I had the opportunity to share about God’s faithfulness to our family. It wasn’t eloquent nor was it drawn out, but the attribution to our Father was made. I realized afterwards that it was a similar approach that I would have used if I was talking to someone at church, where we are often more rapid about giving praise to our King. It was just in this instance, I had the conversation without knowing what the other person’s beliefs were.
I don’t know how God used that momentary encounter in the life of the woman I was conversing with, but I do know how He used it in my life. It was a reminder that the work of His hands should be the subject of my words on far more occasions than it currently is. Regardless of the setting or whom I am talking to, I can be telling His deeds among the peoples. After all, He has been so gracious and generous, there is plenty of stores to share, occasions to recount, and praise to be given. If only I am willing to do so.