Genesis 49: 8-12: “Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down before thee. Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass’s colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.”
When Judah was born his mother finally felt thankful to the Lord. Her first three sons were born in strife and longing but; “And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.” (Gen 29: 35) Judah went through a time when he was bad and didn’t keep his word or remember his responsibilities but, later, he was rehabilitated and took responsibility for his youngest brother. Even though Jacob told Joseph that he was going to have the birthright, he promised Judah that the rest of his family would bow down to his descendants. Judah was called a lion, the lion is known as the king of the beasts and Judah was to be the kingly tribe. It is good for us to remember that praise is the fruit of thanksgiving and the beginning of spiritual prosperity. Much later the prophet Habakkuk would complain to the Lord because the Lord was using the evil Babylonians as His servants to punish Judah. However, as he prayed he came to realise that the Lord is in control and works for good so his words became: “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.” (Hab 3: 17-19) Praising God will sustain through every trial.
(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
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