The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Samuel 8:1-9, “And it came about when Samuel was old that he appointed his sons judges over Israel.

2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in Beersheba.

3 His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain and took bribes and perverted justice.

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah;

5 and they said to him, ‘Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.’

6 But the thing was displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, ‘Give us a king to judge us.’ And Samuel prayed to the LORD.

7 The LORD said to Samuel, ‘Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.'”

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a nation that had no laws? It would be just as bad to live under laws that were never enforced! Imagine what it would be like to have an old man, who was either incapable of controlling peace in your town or, simply due to his advanced age, neglected his duties. That’s precisely the condition that existed in our verses above.

Samuel was not objecting to law and order; he was just too old to keep up with all that was going on. What would you do if you were in a situation like that? You would probably do exactly what Samuel did: he appointed his sons to conduct law and order in his place.

Then Samuel had a problem with the people! Whether they thought Samuel’s sons were too young to be in authority, or whether they did not see in them the ability to produce stability among the people, we’re not told. Yet, they objected to the boys taking charge.

What do you do in a situation like that? “Samuel prayed to the LORD.” Prayer is always our first line of defense. Why not make it our first line of operation? So, the LORD said to Samuel: “Listen to the voice of the people. They have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them. Now, then, listen to their voice, solemnly warn them and tell them of the procedure of the king who will reign over them” (1 Sam. 8:7-9).

We never know what’s coming next! We may surmise that all will be well, but we cannot guarantee it. The LORD is our only hope. We must trust Him, knowing that He truly loves us.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

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

Dear Grands,

Ecclesiastes 7:8-12, “The end of a matter is better than its beginning; patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit.

9 Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, for anger resides in the bosom of fools.

10 Do not say, “Why is it that the former days were better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.

11 Wisdom along with an inheritance is good, and an advantage to those who see the sun.

12 For wisdom is protection just as money is protection. But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the lives of its possessors.”

For those who witnessed the television “kerfuffle” between the President of the United States and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the current President of Ukraine, “the end of (the) matter (was hardly) better than the beginning.” Still, differences of opinion have always existed, and from what was witnessed recently, they always will.

For “the end of a matter (to be) better than its beginning,” patience must exist with both parties and be present simultaneously throughout the discussion. Too often, however, personal haughtiness in attitude prevails. Solomon might well have been personally observing the confrontation in the Oval Office when he said, “.wisdom is protection just as money is protection. But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves (rather than destroys) the lives of its possessors.”

Perhaps the time has come for true believers throughout the world to humbly beseech our Heavenly Father for a true and unifying spirit on the part of all parties. Such is vital because never does one party alone possess all the solutions to such a serious dilemma.

At the same time, both parties (in whatever confrontation might exist) must prayerfully beseech Almighty God for a true and thorough resolution. The matter under discussion has a far-reaching perspective that encircles more than the constituents of both countries. It is the people of both countries, however, who ought to be uppermost in the minds of all parties. If the LORD is their Shepherd, they shall not want, except for universal prayer; and such is earnestly requested.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

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