The Promised Ruler From Judah

When approaching Bible study, my first step is to pray for understanding of narratives set in Old Testament times. In our present-day world, it can be hard to relate to some values of a culture thousands of years before us, such as the significance of the rights of the firstborn.

First Chronicles records the descendants of the tribes of Israel—the sons of Jacob, where they settled, who they married, who they begat. The long lists of unpronounceable names are occasionally broken up by some passages that seem anecdotal: Jokim, Joash, and Saraph were potters. Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. The descendants of Simeon “attacked the Hamites in their dwellings.” And in 1 Chronicles 5:1-2 (NIV):

The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father’s marriage bed, his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel; so he could not be listed in the genealogical record in accordance with his birthright, and though Judah was the strongest of his brothers and a ruler came from him, the rights of the firstborn belonged to Joseph).

When Jacob (renamed Israel) was near death, he blessed his 12 sons. The firstborn was Reuben, who forfeited his birthright due to his sinful conduct. Joseph, the eleventh son, was sold into slavery by his brothers but ended up saving all their lives during a severe famine. The above passage establishes that, though Judah was “the strongest,” the rights of the firstborn were transferred to Joseph.

Judah was the fourth son. His blessing was this: “Judah, your brothers will praise you. … You are a lion’s cub, Judah. … The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.” (Genesis 49: 8, 9, 10)

Judah’s blessing didn’t come to fruition until the era of kingship in Israel. David, anointed king by Samuel, was descended from the tribe of Judah. When the kingdom split into two parts, the southern part became known as the kingdom of Judah. It was here, in Jerusalem, that the Temple was located, the center of worship for God’s people. It was here that the Israelites came to celebrate the great feasts of Passover and Tabernacles.

When the king of Babylon conquered Judah, its people were taken captive to live in exile. During this time, they preserved their identity by keeping their faith and the laws God had given them. They also remained true to His Word and to one another by remaining a faithful community in a godless culture.

Hundreds of years later in the land of Judah, a descendant of King David gave birth to the King of Kings—the promised Messiah, the Lion of Judah (see Revelation 5:5).

We have much in common with the people listed in Chronicles: We have a lineage; we live in a culture. Where we came from and what our ancestors did helped form our place in the culture.

Jesus, the Lion of Judah—our Redeemer—has reconciled us to His own Father that we might share in His promised blessings, and the Father’s promises always come to fruition. We have the freedom to live as children of God—to worship Him, to keep His ways, to hold fast to His Word, to remain in the Body of Christ. This redeemed life of faith—a blessing in itself—is the Father’s way of preserving our identity as His own people. He will ultimately position us to receive the fulfillment of His promises.

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Scripture is quoted from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.