The Tribe of Judah (The Lion, as well as the standard they flew under there symbol was the same)
Judah means; to revere, worship with hands extends, cast out, make confession, praise, give thanks, thankful, ministry, power, presumptuous Naming The Bible says: “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.” (Genesis 29:35) His mother name is Leah. Prophesy, the Bible says: “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.” (Genesis 49: 8-12). That was the blessing and prophesies of Jacob unto Judah. Now Moses blessing and prophesy, The Bible says: “And this is the blessing of Judah: and he said, Hear, LORD, the voice of Judah, and bring him unto his people: let his hands be sufficient for him; and be thou an help to him from his enemies.” (Deuteronomy 33:7) Their symbol was the Lion. The Emerald represents the stone fore which sat upon the high priest vest. Judah's symbol is represented within prophesy in all three stages: Judah is a lion's whelp (Genesis 49:9 the word whelp means "a cub". He couched as a lion (Genesis 49:9 the words stand for aryeh portrays the young violent lion). As an old lion who shall rouse him up (Genesis 49:9 which stands for lebaowth which reverts into wisdom). The Hebrew acknowledgement of the three stages paints a particular picture about you and me. In our birth we grow from infant to young child to adult. The same we do in our spiritual birth, but notice this particular growth of Judah would take him on a journey that delivers him into his rightful place at the right time for God.
The words spoken by the prophets of God about the tribe of Judah as well as the person of Judah was one in the same. It showed his particular struggle as well as the nation struggle to fulfill their destiny in God. This makes a wonderful example for us the Body of Christ to see that particular trait come together threw out their struggles to give us hope in our struggles.
Now lets gather some key points as well as keys in the prophesy given unto Judah, for in this we will also see the revelation in which God placed for His people to grow. Jacob’s prophecy is speaking of the royalty of the tribe of Judah. It is holding to evidence the maturity level in growth as well as spirit. Giving truth to the ability of the Judahites true authority in maturing over their inner personnel struggles as well as their enemy, devices to destroy them, the power for which he carried within his promised ability. His acceptance power threw perseverance, suffering and steadfast. The development of God’s amazing gift of assurance to the manifesting of embodiment of power which comes through them by way of God Devine intervention that gives them a great deal more than they realize, Praise God!
Look at how we will see the events that took place in Judah’s life that did not predict his out come once his character was transformed through trail an error. The importance of this for the Body of Christ is simple that it makes no difference where we are or were we come from our destiny in Christ Jesus is unfolded once we turn toward Him. The joy in knowing that God has a master plan for us that we do not have to know, but we are assured that He has our best interest at hand and He never fails what a wonderful assurance in our daily walk in Christ.
Moses speaks of praise and the key to deliverance from thy enemies, with the character building tools of long suffering but victory in the end. The ability to hold on in the times of trouble and rejoice in the process, what a revelation that rejoicing and praising God in the times of weakness builds the foundation of the character needed to worship in the good times. This gives a wonderful example of how God works with us and molds us in our trail to forge us for His glory.
Their stone makes a perfect gem for the royal tribe of Judah. Notice how all things connected to the tribe of Judah expressed their position within the developing of the Body of Christ. In the foretelling of the coming of the messiah unto them, The Bible says: “And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house. And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David”. (2 Samuel 7:11-17) Look at how the vision given unto the prophet of God to deliver unto David represented an eternal kingdom. Look at how everything about the tribe of Judah reflected that.
This is the same with us today, we cannot see the entire plan that God has for us so we try to develop our own destiny by the enemies’ devices and it never seems to work. If we grab hold to the spiritual revelation that God actually have a plan for our lives all we have to do is to be willing and open to the spirit and follow through we will receive our fullness in the body of Christ.
The emerald is a bright green variety of beryl highly valued as a gemstone since about B.C. 2000. It was intensively mined from Egyptian deposits during the times of Alexander the Great, Cleopatra and the Roman Empire. God promised David an everlasting kingdom forever. The Emerald is symbolic of immortality. Look at the chosen stone for the tribe gives out the reflection of eternal everlasting, immortality. As Judah character is forged threw the fire of trails you will see what is needed of God’s people for an everlasting kingdom to rein in their lives. As well as understanding that they represent that kingdom, fore which Christ will establish in their hearts and the Father will establish for all times.
Judah's birth was interesting the fourth son of Jacob and his wife Leah was born, when Leah could have been so filled with hurt and despair that she could have taken her own life, fighting for her husband’s affection she did not look at circumstances when she decided to call her fourth son Judah, which means among other things, praise! The Bible says: “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.” (Genesis 29:35). Every time she called his name she was saying I praise the Lord! This time was particularly hard for Leah and the rivalry between the wives of Jacob. They are fighting for the husband attention as well as being jealous and envy of one another.
Look at how the particular character of Jacob affected the surroundings within his house hold. Notice how within our own house hold when things are out of order is when God’s people are out of order. Notice that our trials are to bring us revelation as well as understanding of the growth needed for the next level in God. But while we are in the trail we sometimes view it as destruction and tend to want to do it our way and that is when it gets much worse. Can you feel the pain Leah and her sister felt toward one another, but the trail by fire was not only for their training but also for Jacob. Some times we go threw things not only for our own growth but growth for another not only physically but spiritually and mentally. And once the revelation is receive the pouring out of God’s message or blessing into your life just makes the training worth it. Read later on God took Leah for himself and Jacob requested to be buried along with her at his time of departure. The Bible says: “And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a burying place. There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah”. (Genesis 49:29-31) (Remember they are people that love to praise and worship. It is impossible to enter into your calling of ruler ship without going threw the doors of praise even when it hurts.) Once the fullness of the revelation revealed itself unto Jacob the true realization appeared right before him. What was truly meant for him on all levels was not revealed to him until he was ready. The same way God reveals it to us.
Check out Judah's first recorded words the start of the process of molding his character. The Bible says: “And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?” (Genesis 37:26). Still today a lot of us are holding on to those same old words and it hinders us from being used by God. Interesting that still today we are miss lead by the adversary devices on things that hold monetary value. We even try to use God for a cash machine putting our trust in money instead on the word of God. Because of our natural surroundings the enemy uses the devices that excite our own emotional baggage from birth. Our wants and desires tends to use their own minds to mold us away from the spiritual place were we need to be to put us in the natural spot were we think we want to be.
Read the story how Judah advocated for his brother in the same breath of the speaking his first recorded words. The Bible says: “Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.” (Genesis 37:27) Interesting how Judah seems to justify his action by readjusting his reasoning about why he suggested his actions. As if the rationalization justifies his action of the sin of envy as well as greed. I wonder has that particular device of the enemy been used on you. Were we convince ourselves that the action is less damaging if we have a good enough reason and hide the true nature of the act. It is almost as if God gave us a blue print of our inner most working thoughts to see the deep seeded of the members within ourselves.
Read the Sin of Judah in God’s word to see how the enemy uses everything around us as well as people to take us off track. The Bible says: “And it came to pass at that time that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her. And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er. And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his name Onan. And she yet again conceived, and bare a son; and called his name Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bare him. And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar. And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him. And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother. And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother. And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also. Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house. And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah's wife died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep. And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife. When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face. And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee; (for he knew not that she was his daughter in law.) And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me? And he said I will send thee a kid from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give me a pledge, till thou send it? And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that is in thine hand. And he gave it her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him. And she arose, and went away, and laid by her vail from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood. And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman's hand: but he found her not. Then he asked the men of that place, saying, Where is the harlot, that was openly by the way side? And they said, There was no harlot in this place. And he returned to Judah, and said, I cannot find her; and also the men of the place said, that there was no harlot in this place. And Judah said, Let her take it to her, lest we be shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her. And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt. When she was brought forth, she sent to her father in law, saying, By the man, whose these are, am I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff. And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more. And it came to pass in the time of her travail that, behold, twins were in her womb. And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first.
And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, How hast thou broken forth? this breach be upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez. And afterward came out his brother that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.” (Genesis 38:1-30) Read and understand the most tragic thing which begins in verse 1 with these words, "Judah went down from his brethren". A most painful thing is when the enemy has isolated you alone. Read about Judah's weakness as he warns his children about drunkenness. Read about the great sin portrayed on Tamar by Judah's offspring. Er, (watchful awake) Onan (powerful, sinful wicked, malicious, spiteful) and Shelah (rock, crag, crevice, silence, pause and think). Look how the enemy tried to use the situation for bad but God turned it for good in the story of Tamar. Interesting how actions are speaks louder than the words we say to or young. They hear the words but or actions gives the most weight to them. Notice how the offspring became rebellious toward the written law because of the device sent in place when Judah was not in the position for which God wanted him in. That his miss place meant put the entire family actions out of the will of God. Ever notice that happening to you and your house hold. When it rains it pours and the inner truth of the mater is that we were not in order that threw everything else out of whack.
Look how Judah again advocates with Joseph, unknowing that the revelation is about to be revealed unto him because of the maturity of his spiritual growth is now ready. The Bible says: “And the famine was sore in the land. And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food. And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food: But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother? And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down?
And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones. I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever: For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time. And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almond. And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight: Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man: And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved. And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.” (Genesis 43: 1-15)
See how he grew in maturity as we should grow in our daily walk with Christ. Do you see the trait that was developing through his life? See how all the Kings of Judah strived in the understanding of their trait. Look how he evolved through a cub to an old lion. Can you see the trait fore which a King must have in order to rule? He must be able to have WISDOM! Wisdom is simply the application of knowledge, practicing what is right instead of what feels good fore which, I myself struggle with all the time but steady strive to do better.
