The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Samuel 22:1-7; “And David spoke the words of this song to the LORD in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.

2 He said, ‘The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;

3 My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; My savior, You save me from violence.

4 I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies.

5 “For the waves of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me;

6 The cords of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of death confronted me.

7 In my distress I called upon the LORD, Yes, I cried to my God; and from His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for help came into His ears.’”

What do you do when you find yourself miraculously rescued from the hands of enemies, who could have certainly caused your death? You praise the LORD! That is precisely what David did – only he did it in song! Enemies had surrounded him. Doubtlessly, he was fearful; yet, he “spoke…words of song to the LORD: ‘The LORD is my rock and my fortress…, my shield and deliverer…my stronghold…my refuge…my savior…’”

What a marked difference from what we often hear from those who have been delivered from harm and death. “I sure was lucky!” or “Someone upstairs was certainly watching over me!” Luck? Someone? Upstairs? Surely, the rescue didn’t just “happen.” Why are so many unwilling to credit the LORD for rescuing them from sickness, harm, and death? In the midst of the tragedy, they cry, “Oh, LORD!” Yet, afterwards, they credit luck or good fortune for their rescue. David gave credit where credit was due: “The LORD is my rock and my fortress…my deliverer.”

The “cords of Sheol” were upon him. David was at the very doors of death. Yet the LORD alone rescued him and was worthy to be praised! Sheol was the place where people went when they died.

Simply stated: they were cowards when facing tragedy and death. Yet, in survival, they want to look brave, so they smother the truth and resort to humanistic facemasks. Someday we will meet the LORD face-to-face, and shame and sorrow will grip us then. Be brave! Trust the LORD!

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