JUDAH
Memorise: 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. Genesis 49:8
Read: Isaiah 1:1-6, Bible in
one year: 2 Samuel 8:15-11:27, Proverbs 11:4-17
The name ‘Juudah’ means
praise. Judah was chosen to be the chief and ruling tribe of the twelve tribes
of Israel (Genesis 49:8-12). The sceptre of a king and the office of a lawgiver
were all allotted to Judah. Genesis 4:10 says:
“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.”
Judah is a similitude of the
church, in Judah, we can see a shadow of the things to come with respect to the
church. Just like Judah, believers are the royal priesthood, expected to show
forth the praises of God (1Peter 2:9-10)
The prophet Isaiah was sent
with a message primarily to Judah and Jerusalem – the seat of Judah’s power
(Isaiah 1:1). This message contained instructions, reproof, warnings, comfort
and encouragement from God to His people. At the time of Isaiah’s prophecy, the
kingdom of Israel had become divided and weakened through civil wars and
conflicts with other nations. This same situation applies to the present-day
church. The church today engages in several battles. There are fights within
and wars without (2 Corinthians 7:5). Judah was rebellious and ignorant (Isaiah
1:2). They were corrupt, degenerated, depressed, and laden with iniquity;
having backslidden, forsaken God and provoked Him to anger. Just like Judah,
many modern-day Christians live in ignorance and sin. In this deplorable state,
the demand of God on Judah in Isaiah 1:16-18 was:
“Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your
doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek
judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sin be as
scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they
shall be as wool.”
This speaks of repentance and
total consecration. As a Christian, God expects that you represent your body as
a living sacrifice which must be holy and acceptable to Him (Romans 12:1). Your
consecration to God should be personal, voluntary and sacrificial. How
committed are you to God? Is your consecration total? Examine yourself.
Action Point
Do a thorough self-assessment
today. Repent of the short comings you identify.
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