The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Song of Solomon 8:6-7, “Put me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, jealousy is as severe as Sheol; its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD.
7 “Many waters cannot quench love, nor will rivers overflow it; if a man were to give all the riches of his house for love, it would be utterly despised.”

Love is the strongest, emotion known to man. It by far exceeds hatred. It extends
deeply into the soul of mankind, all-the-while defiling the utmost in understanding.

The Song of Solomon may be “the most misunderstood books of the Bible” (Lee). It was held in highest esteem by the Jewish people, who envisioned Proverbs as the Outer Court of the Temple, Ecclesiastes as the Holy Place, and the Song of Solomon as the Holy of Holies. It was an oriental poem that was sung annually on the 8th day of the Feast of the Passover, leaving its understanding to those who truly loved the Passover Lamb.

Poetically, the Song of Solomon describes the earthly story of King Solomon and his love for a Shulamite maid. Metaphorically, it speaks of the LORD, as the Heavenly Bridegroom, possessing a divine and matchless, love for the souls for whom He died on the Cross of Calvary.

It is the LORD’s desire that all of His human creation might view Him as preeminent, and love Him as their LORD and Savior. Do you love Jesus Christ? Have you told Him so? His love goes far beyond ours. As with a human marriage that says “I do,” just a simple, sincere prayer that says, “LORD, I’m sorry for my sin. Thank you for loving me and dying on the Cross as my Sacrifice, forgiving all my sin. I am right now trusting You as my living LORD and Savior.” Then don’t forget to say, “Thank You, LORD, for saving me” –and just believe with all your heart that He has!

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

Dear Grands,

Ecclesiastes 3:10-14, “I have seen the task which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves.
11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.
12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime;
13 moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor– it is the gift of God.
14 I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him.”

If you’ve ever picked up a book that tells you everything, it is the Bible. And if you’ve ever selected a book within the Bible that covers all the mysteries of life, it is Ecclesiastes.

Solomon is drawing near to the end of his life and is reviewing the mysteries that have always puzzled him. He has sought satisfaction in science, in philosophy, in the pleasures of drinking, building, enormous possessions, wealth, and music –all
without satisfaction.

Neither has materialism, fatalism, deism, religion, wealth –even morality—none of which he surveyed brought him satisfaction.

Thus, Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived outside of Jesus Christ, concludes:

“…when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. 14For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

Are you ready to meet Him? You can be! Jesus Christ died on the Cross and shed His blood to cover our sins. Christ’s blood satisfied His Father. It covers your sins—if you will accept it. Pray a simple prayer, asking Him to forgive you of your sins. He then sends the Holy Spirit into your life, confirming your salvation. You will then know what Solomon learned: forgiveness comes from Christ alone.

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

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 9:10-12, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, and if you scoff, you alone will bear it.”

“Because I said so!” Did your parents ever respond with those words when you asked them “Why”? They may have elaborated somewhat on their reasoning, but when they said “Don’t” you knew they knew why they said it.

The Book of Proverbs is somewhat like that. My wife was a teacher, and somewhere she had a set of the old McGuffy Readers. They contained proverbs used to teach the children in the early days of our country. Proverbs is the oldest method of instruction known to mankind.

King Solomon was the primary author of the Biblical Proverbs. As an adult, he organized the proverbs into seven units. Parts One (1:6-9:18), Three (19:20-24:34) and Five (27:1-27:29) contain proverbs Solomon himself was taught as a child.

Parts Two (10:1-19:19) and Four (25:1- 26:28) were authored by Solomon. Part Six (30:1-33) was authored by Augur, and Part Seven (31:1-31) was written by an unknown mother (Lee, The Outlined Bible).

In this day of political arrogance and theological nonsense, we would all do well to read and digest the Proverbs of Solomon and his co-authors. It’s only too late when we neglect instructing children before they become adults. We then become our own worst enemy. Pray for your children! Pray for yourself! And pray for our nation that we don’t forget God!

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

Dear Grands,

Psalm 29:1-2, “Ascribe to the LORD, O sons of the mighty, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to His name; worship the LORD in holy array.”

If there be a weakness in the whole of Scripture (and there is not!) it could only lie in the inadequacy of descriptive words that picture for us the magnificence of our beloved LORD! Nor can the multiplicity of adorations ascribed to Him in Scripture be ever superseded!

The Name of the LORD is glorious! The worship of the LORD is holy! The glory of the LORD expresses His incalculable worthiness in the five books that comprise what we know as the Psalms!

Book One (chapters 1-41) relates to Genesis and concerns man in his state of blessedness, his fall, and his recovery.
Book Two (chapters 42-72) relates to Exodus and speaks of Israel’s ruin, her Redeemer and her Redemption.
Book Three (chapters 73-89) relates to Leviticus and concerns the Sanctuary of the LORD.
Book Four (chapters 90-106) relates to Numbers and concerns the Earth.
Book Five (chapters 107-150) relates to Deuteronomy and concerns the Word of God (Lee, Outlined Bible).

Numerous men were divinely selected to author the Psalms: Moses, David, Asaph, Heman, Ethan, Hezekiah, and the Sons of Korah were among them. A few were anonymous.

Neither your nor I will ever write Scripture. The understanding of it, however, will always rest upon our regularity and concentration of its message. The Word of God
(the Holy Bible) is here for us. It is here to tell us of God’s Love for each of us; and it is here to show us the way of salvation in Jesus Christ. If you do not have a set time for Bible study, please establish one and maintain regularity in reading. You will be blessed and your life will be changed for His glory!

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

Dear Grands,

Job 1:6-12, “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.
7 The LORD said to Satan, ‘From where do you come?’ Then Satan answered the LORD and said, ‘From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.’
8 The LORD said to Satan, ‘Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.’
9 Then Satan answered the LORD, ‘Does Job fear God for nothing?’
10 ‘Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.
11 ‘But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.’”
12 Then the LORD said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.’ So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD.”

I walked into a store the other day and the man behind the counter said aloud, “Here comes trouble!” Fortunately, he smiled. Trouble is always first perceived as an adversary. “Why did this happen to me?” we ask.

The biblical Book of Job is probably the oldest and most complex Old Testament book in the Bible. In the thinking of some, the book’s silence regarding the miracles of the Exodus drives its origin as far back as the day of Jacob (Gen. 25:26).

That the message focuses on the mystery of suffering is understandable when we realize that in ancient biblical times, all suffering was believed to be traceable to human sin. We might be wise to employ that thought today. In any event, Job lost everything he possessed, the most valuable being his beloved children.

Job’s three friends then argued vociferously that sin in Job’s life had caused this calamity. While Job contended that he had not sinned, the debate ultimately forced him to turn his thoughts away from himself and to God. But, why would God allow such calamity to fall upon Job? It was to reveal Job’s hidden sin: self-righteous-ness.

Are you and I sufficiently brave to admit that many of our problems –maybe even most– are largely due to sin? –our sin! The Scriptures we have were not available in Job’s day; thus, we are more culpable than Job.

Still, Job then said to the LORD: “Hear, now, and I will speak; I will ask You, and You instruct me. I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You; therefore, I retract, And I repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:4-6).

Let’s follow the ultimate way of Job and repent of our sin. We too easily view the sins of others; isn’t it time we looked into that spiritual mirror and repented?

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