Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Genesis 49:9-10 Judah is a lions whelp; From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He bows down, he lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people.
AN ADVENT MESSAGE TO: JUDAH
The words spoken by Jacob were prophetic words of the LORD, as once again the promised Savior is described. Judah (whose descendants would play a key role in the history of the LORD's people over the next 1500 years) is described as a lion. We often refer to the lion as "the king of the jungle." The lion attacks and devours his prey, and there is none who can challenge him. What a descriptive picture of our Savior, reminding us that His power is sure, and His victory certain! (Consider Revelation 5:5.)
It was Satan whom the Savior came to destroy and gain the victory over. But no matter what Satan tried to do, he could not derail God's deliverance through Jesus. That victory was won by His life, death and resurrection on the third day -- bringing us eternal rest!
The rest that our Savior would bring is also promised in our text. The promise about the Savior continues: "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people." This part of the promise gives a different description of the coming Savior. Here the Savior is described as a ruler who would come from the tribe of Judah. The scepter was something that symbolized rule or power. From the time of David until the time of the Babylonian captivity, a descendant of Judah continuously sat on the throne. But this promise looks ahead to a greater king who would rule in a much greater sense.
This Ruler is the same Savior who was promised to Adam and Eve, to Abram, and is now described as the Rest Giver to Judah. Jesus is our long-promised and powerful Savior, the "Lion of the tribe of Judah," and He is Shiloh, the one Who has destroyed the power of Satan, bringing us eternal rest!
