The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

I Kings 1:5-10, “Now Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, ‘I will be king.’ So he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen with fifty men to run before him.

6 And his father had never crossed him at any time by asking, “Why have you done so?” And he was also a very handsome man; and he was born after Absalom.

7 And he had conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest; and following Adonijah they helped him.

8 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David were not with Adonijah.

9 And Adonijah sacrificed sheep and oxen and fatlings by the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En-rogel; and he invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah, the king’s servants.

10 But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, and Solomon his brother.”

There’s an old idiom that pleads, “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.” It dates to the mid-th century; therefore, Adonijah could not have known it—at least, by that name. Nevertheless, he boldly stated, “I will be king,” and proceeded to go forth with the process.

Adonijah’s attitude is partially his father’s fault. David had never denied Adonijah anything he wanted. Now, ill and on his deathbed, David is unable to correct his son! Why cannot parents see that a refusal to deny everything a child wants only exacerbates an ongoing, stubborn selfishness in the child?

Some anti-Semites should read Biblical history without prejudice! “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you’ (Ps. 122:6)—and then recognize that to stubbornly oppose Israel’s occupation of her land is to blatantly oppose Almighty God!

Unfortunately, the problem of anti-Semites is still with us. May we understand the problem and allow the LORD to do for us what they denied Him to do for them.

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,

2 Samuel 1:1-12, “Now it came about after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, that David remained two days in Ziklag.

2 And it happened on the third day, that behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn and dust on his head. And it came about when he came to David that he fell to the ground and prostrated himself.

3 Then David said to him, “From where do you come?” And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.”

4 And David said to him, “How did things go? Please tell me.” And he said, “The people have fled from the battle, and also many of the people have fallen and are dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.”

5 So David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”

6 And the young man who told him said, “By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and behold, Saul was leaning on his spear. And behold, the chariots and the horsemen pursued him closely.

7 “And when he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I said, ‘Here I am.’

8 “And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ And I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’

9 “Then he said to me, ‘Please stand beside me and kill me; for agony has seized me because my life still lingers in me.’

10 “So I stood beside him and killed him, because I knew that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown which was on his head and the bracelet which was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”

11 Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so also did all the men who were with him.

12 And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the people of the LORD and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.”

In many ways, this account of the death of Saul and Jonathan is quite normal. When we are faced with situations that could result in death, they often do. I have sympathy for this young man. Were we faced with a similar situation, we might have done the same thing.

David, on the other hand, had often suffered from the jealousies of Saul, who on more than one occasion had seriously endeavored to kill him. Probably, some of us would have responded to the young man’s report, would have said, “Well, he deserved it” or “had I been in this young man’s position, I would have killed him myself.”

Yet, Saul was their king, and Jonathan was David’s close friend. It is the responsibility of the LORD, who had positioned Saul as king, to remove him if He so willed. That is something we need to keep in the fore of our minds. Not everyone who is positioned as a leader (parents, teachers, pastors, etc.) will always require of us what we are willing to give. Yet, they are the leaders, put into various places by the LORD for our ultimate benefit.

The Scriptural passage above does not tell us, but we can only imagine that this young man wept with David and his associates, knowing that the LORD had noted it all. And so it is and should be with us when we find ourselves in a similar situation.

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,

I Samuel 1:8-17, “Then Elkanah, (Hannah’s) husband, said to her, ‘Hannah, why do you weep and why do you not eat and why is your heart sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?’ Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the temple of the LORD.

10 And she, greatly distressed, prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly.

11 And she made a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if Thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of Thy maidservant and remember me, and not forget Thy maidservant, but wilt give Thy maidservant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head.”

12 Now it came about, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli was watching her mouth.

13 As for Hannah, she was speaking in her heart; only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she was drunk.

14 Then Eli said to her, “How long will you make yourself drunk? Put away your wine from you.”

15 But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman oppressed in spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the LORD.

16 “Do not consider your maidservant as a worthless woman; for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and provocation.”

17 Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him.”

There are some things about women that their husbands simply do not understand. Elkanah had two wives, Peninnah, who had several children, and Hannah, who was barren. Apparently, Hannah’s tears arrested the prophet Eli’s attention; still, he lacked understanding as to why she was crying. He even accused her of drinking too much wine. Men!

At the same time, Hannah did all she could do: she prayed faithfully to the LORD. Why Elkanah didn’t “catch on” equals some men today. Men are often too involved in themselves and their work to take notice of the problems that women have.

However, the faithful priest, Eli, gave Hannah encouragement when he said, “Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him.” The LORD heard the encouraging prayer and responded faithfully. In time, Hannah bore Samuel (Shemu-el), which translates: “Because I have asked him of the LORD.” What do you need to ask of the LORD?

Be faithful. Trust Him implicitly! He will bring His will to pass.

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,

Ruth 1:1-9, “Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons.

2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife, Naomi; and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. Now they entered the land of Moab and remained there.

3 Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left with her two sons.

4 And they took for themselves Moabite women as wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. And they lived there about ten years.

5 Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; and the woman was bereft of her two children and her husband.

6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the land of Moab, for she had heard in the land of Moab that the LORD had visited His people in giving them food.

7 So she departed from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.

8 And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the LORD deal kindly with you as you have dealt with the dead and with me.

9 “May the LORD grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband.” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.”

Circumstances often shape our lives and determine what we do. Job changes sometimes cause people to move across or even outside their country. The availability of jobs is always a major factor. Marriages and births rearrange our lives as well. Such was the situation with this Jewish couple, whose life change was indeed a major factor that would figure into the future life of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Elimelech and Naomi were Judeans, but when famine struck Judea, they moved with their two sons to Moab. All was apparently well until Elimelech died. It’s one thing for a family to live in a foreign country; it’s quite another when the head of the family is not there to guide. Complicating Naomi’s situation were the marriages of her sons to Moabite women.

Yet, the LORD had a plan unknown to Naomi. Undoubtedly, she prayed, and the LORD led her to return to Judea. His plan was fundamentally greater than hers, although it did not seem that way at the time.

Prayer is always a major factor when situations become difficult. True faith always results in effective prayer. Sincere believers’ first resort is always sincere prayer. Are you currently facing a major difficulty? The LORD is our game-changer. Trust Him prayerfully. All will ultimately be well when we rest ourselves in His warm and capable hands.

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,

Judges 1:3-7, “Then Judah said to Simeon his brother, ‘Come up with me into the territory allotted to me, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I in turn will go with you into the territory allotted to you.’ So Simeon went with him.

4 And Judah went up, and the LORD gave the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hands; and they defeated ten thousand men at Bezek.

5 And they found Adoni-bezek in Bezek and fought against him, and they defeated the Canaanites and the Perizzites.

6 But Adoni-bezek fled; and they pursued him and caught him and cut off his thumbs and big toes.

7 And Adoni-bezek said, ‘Seventy kings with their thumbs and their big toes cut off used to gather up scraps under my table; as I have done, so God has repaid me.’ So they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there.”

In the journeys of the LORD’s people, He often gave them land that was occupied by their enemies. This in itself ought to teach us the value of always being on the LORD’s side. But be against the LORD and lose; be for and with the LORD and win!

Notice carefully, however, that Judah and Simeon had each been allotted land by the hand of the rightful Owner, the LORD! Things are somewhat different today; and far too many want far more than is legally granted to them. It all belongs to the LORD, and He alone has the right to give it to whom He will.

At the same time, opposition is always present, making it necessary to depend upon the LORD. Yes, He is the rightful owner; still, there are always those who challenge His right.

And there are those who have no rights whatsoever to the land or the produce that comes from the land.

Whatever the situation, we must never forget that the LORD is the Primary Overseer, and the One upon whom we must depend. Notice that Adoni-bezek (Lord of Bezek) fled and was conquered. What the LORD’s people did to him seems beyond the pale today; still, they conquered him and his people. So they brought him to Jerusalem, where he died.

We are not in business to kill people; but we are in business to do as the LORD commands. What has He assigned you?

Are you attending to your task?

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