To God be the Glory

                                                    (by Alice Greer Kelsey)    

  Once upon a time, so runs an old, old tale, there lived a man named Rabbi Zisha who was very good without knowing it. He loved God with all his heart, but he loved himself not at all. He could never think of words beautiful enough to sing the praises of God, and he could never think of words humble enough to talk about himself. He used to regret such a plain man that he could not praise God as well as other rabbis- Rabbi Mordecai for instance.

     One day Rabbi Zisha journeyed to a nearby village to visit his good friend Rabbi Mordecai. As the two men talked together, Rabbi Zisha felt more than ever what a very humble man he was. His words did not flow easily like Rabbi Mordecai’s. He began to wonder why God would listen to such a plain man at all. And, because he loved God with all his heart, there was nothing he would rather do than praise God beautifully.

     Night came and the two rabbis went to adjoining rooms to sleep. At midnight, Rabbi Mordecai heard footsteps in the next room pacing up and down, back and forth. He heard a voice speaking softly. Of course he listened, as any man would listen to night voices in his own house. Soon he found it was Rabbi Zisha, pacing up and down and back and forth as he prayed his midnight prayer.

     “Oh, God!”, prayed Rabbi Zisha. “I love you so much. O how I wish I could tell you how much. But I do not have the words to say what I feel in my heart.” Over and over Rabbi Zisha said these words, or words like them. He was hunting for a way to tell God of his love that seemed to be bigger than anything he could say.

     Rabbi Mordecai, listening through the wall, wondered if he should go into the next room and help his friend. Words came easily to Rabbi Mordecai. Perhaps he could teach his friend to speak to the glory of God. But, luckily, he kept on listening.

     “O God who created all!” came the voice of Rabbi Zisha, “I know do not know how to talk with you. My thoughts are tumbled and confused. My words stumble over each other. But, dear God, there is one thing I can do. It is a little thing- a very little thing- but I do it well.”

     Rabbi Mordecai listened harder than ever. This was the first time he had heard the humble Zisha say he could do anything well. He wondered what Zisha’s talent might be.

     “O God,” Rabbi Zisha prayed, “I cannot talk well but I can whistle well. May I whistle to the glory of God?”

      It must be that Rabbi Zisha felt God answer that there are many ways to praise him. Suddenly there was music as if all the birds of forest and meadow were singing their springtime song at dawn. Then the whistling became more quiet, a clear note as of a waterfall or a bubbling brook. Then there was a soft whispering whistle as of the breezes in the pine trees. Then it changed to the sound of an orchestra of flutes and fifes. It was so beautiful that new words to the glory of God sprang to Mordecai’s mind, so beautiful that people in nearby houses turned in their beds and praised God.

     It is as true today as it was in the days of Rabbi Zisha that there are many ways to praise God. Some persons can paint beautiful pictures to praise him. Others can plant and tend flowers, thanking God as they do it. A doctor caring for sick people in the spirit of God is glorifying him. A boy or a girl doing his very best at school, at home, or at play can do it all to the glory of God - and he can do it with a happy whistle.

     Paul, in writing a letter to his friends who lived in Corinth, said it this way: “Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

     Friends in Jesus Christ, ask Him how we can glorify Him in all we do and say. Perhaps, it is whistling to praise Him.

       Peace be with you,

       Bryan Hardy