“Let’s Do a Recount” 

Dear Faith Family, 

 I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of Your wonderful deeds, (Psalm 9:1). 

And so it begins: “I went to sleep with gum in my mouth and now there’s gum in my hair and when I got out of bed this morning I tripped on the skateboard and by mistake I dropped my sweater in the sink while the water was running and I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day,” (Alexander and The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day). 

Not sure, but it seems that Psalm 9 qualifies as a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day in the life of David.  He uses pregnant words like enemies, wicked, oppressed, trouble, afflicted, needy, and poor.  Ever have a Psalm 9 kind of day?  Today was game day with our “Wise Guys & Gals” lunch bunch.  I didn’t win a single game!  I don’t care.  Doesn’t matter to me.  Nope, doesn’t bother me at all.  So there.  Just sayin’. 

But then there really are the things that don’t just steal our attention.  They hold our attention hostage for days on end and longer.  Conflict, bad choices, unwanted circumstances, strained relationships and uninvited challenges.  Now what? 

David opens the psalm with thanksgiving.  For what?  Well, for all of the Lord’s wonderful deeds.  When Psalm 9 days appear on the calendar, I confess, sometimes I forget the first verse.  Have you taken time to count again the wonderful deeds of your God?  Have you rehearsed in your mind those days of His marvelous, obvious grace?  His answers to your prayers.  His timely provision.  The reminders of His compassion.  The awareness of His presence. 

Psalm 9 days are great days to look back at God’s past performance, to remember.  But there’s more here than just the past.  What about today?  Memories may numb the current pain, but they don’t remove its cause.  It’s as if David knew. 

Here’s the truth, God’s wonderful deeds didn’t end in the past.  In fact, David reminds us in Psalm 9 that the wonderful deeds of our God include what He is doing today (even in terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days).  His Kingship extends over His enemies and ours.  Over the wicked.  Sometimes our God demonstrates His sovereign power clearly right now.  Sometimes our God demonstrates His sovereign power not so clearly in the right now wait. 

Rest assured that where He hasn’t yet avenged, He will.  That where He hasn’t yet meted out judgment, He will.  That where it appears that He has forsaken, He has not, and He will not.  That where He seems to have forgotten, He has not, and He will not. 

Be reminded of His wonderful deeds before this day and even in this day.  And give thanks. 

Recounting, 
Pastor Karl