The Grands Letter (Ps/GLJ)

Dear Grands,

Psalm 30:4-12, “Sing praise to the LORD, you His godly ones, and give thanks to His holy name.

5 For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.

6 Now as for me, I said in my prosperity, ‘I will never be moved.’

7 O LORD, by Your favor You have made my mountain to stand strong; You hid Your face, I was dismayed.

8 To You, O LORD, I called, and to the Lord I made supplication:

9 “What profit is there in my blood, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your faithfulness?

10 “Hear, O LORD, and be gracious to me; O LORD, be my helper.”

11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness,

12 That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.”

It may be honestly said that no one exceeds David in the works he sets forth in Scripture. He looks with earnestness toward the face of the LORD as he encourages the “godly ones” to give thanks and praise to the LORD.

David allows that the LORD is his Master, and that His strength comes from the LORD alone. All believers could say the same, but all too few do. We want to claim that we possess what we have due to what we have done. Yet, it is the LORD alone who has given us the strength to do it. David lurches into genuine praise when he asks what profit it would be were he to spend eternity in hell. How would that bring praise to the LORD?

It may be somewhat futile for any believer to seek to uplift David for his praise of the Savior. Yet, David’s selfless praise serves as an exciting pattern for all believers. If we are spiritually the practical encouragement to others that we ought to be, the LORD will then be praised.

It was the disciple Matthew who said, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). Let’s earnestly work for the glory of the LORD! He alone is worthy of our praise.

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need,

Until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom