The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Psalm 118:21-29, “I shall give thanks to Thee, for Thou hast answered me; And Thou hast become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone.
23 This is the LORD’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.
24This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25 O LORD, do save, we beseech Thee; O LORD, we beseech Thee, do send prosperity!
26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD; We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.
27 The LORD is God, and He has given us light; Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
28 Thou art my God, and I give thanks to Thee; Thou art my God, I extol Thee.
29 Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.”

Have you ever had a conversation with someone and thought you understood what the other person was saying, only to discover that his meaning was totally different than what you had understood it to be? The Old Testament people sang this song thinking only of the Temple of the LORD. Jesus, on the other hand, spoke of it as referring to Himself (Luke 20:17). He indeed was the “stone which the builders (the Jews) had rejected.” However, He became the chief corner stone –the One the Father sent to be the Savior of the world.

The Jews of the Old Testament sang this psalm as a song as contemporary to their times. They sang a prophecy of the LORD Jesus Christ without knowing what it truly meant. I wonder if that’s not how we sometimes sing. We go through the motions; we mouth the words; but we fail to understand the truths of what we are singing. “This is the day which the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” How could they sing of “the One who comes in the name of the LORD” without foreseeing their Messiah?

When you read “bind the festival sacrifice with cords,” think of Jesus Christ hanging nailed to the cross and giving His life’s blood for your sins! Exalt Him in your thinking! Praise Him in praise-worthy songs! Thank Him profusely for all He has done! View it as if it were for youself alone! Don’t let what He has done personally for you become lost in the glib thought that it was “for the world.” Rest assurred that if you had been the only person in the world, Jesus would still have died on that cross for you and your sins. Oh, “He is precious!” What is more, His love for you is everlasting! Just think of it – and praise Him with a life that mirrors His everlasting love!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom