The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Psalm 33:1-5, “Sing for joy in the LORD, O you righteous ones; Praise is becoming to the upright.

2 Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; Sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings.

3 Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy.

4 For the word of the LORD is upright; And all His work is done in faithfulness.

5 He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD.”

Have you ever wondered who invented praise? Something good was done and someone who

noticed liked it so much that he spoke kindly or jumped joyously or shouted melodiously in favor

of it and praise was born. The psalmist identifies the One who accomplished the good deeds as

the LORD and encouraged all mankind to praise and give thanks to Him.

As far back as Genesis, the Bible mentions Jubal as “the father of all those who play the lyre

and pipe” (4:21). Now, David encourages those who play and sing to praise the LORD with the

musical skills He has given them. “Play skillfully,” he says. Be well practiced, so as to play without

errors. And let the playing and singing be “unto the LORD,” and not for the praise of the hearers.

Professional musicians have to do well in performance or their audiences witll shrivel to only a

few. Those who sing and play for the LORD’s glory should do no less; in fact, they should do

more! And those of us who hear and appreciate the skill of their performance should praise the

LORD, not the performer. An acceptable word might be, “Surely the LORD was honored in

what you played (or sang) this morning. God bless you for it.”

David’s concluding words in verse five are “The Earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD.”

That is as it ought to be. Yet, what is called “music” that fills the airwaves today is hardly geared

to the LORD’s praise. At every turn, Satan is seeking to drown out man’s praise to God. Let us

be conscious of the LORD’s provisions for us and focus our praise in song to Him alone!

Our prayers for you are focused on the LORD,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”