How The Blessing of Judah Adds Value to Your Life

Podcast: Light on Life Season 6 Episode 25

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How The Blessing of Judah Adds Value to Your Life

In today’s podcast, our focus will be the Blessing of Judah, and it’s link to praising God. It’s a good thing to be always praising God, that’s a Bible fact. While five soloists from the Duke Ellington band danced in the aisles of the National Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C., a largely black-tie audience of 1,000 clapped hands to the tune of $12,000 at a musical fund-raiser. “Praise God and dance!” exhorted mellow jazz musician Ellington, and the last section of his Sacred Concert No. 2 began. Band members clapped, thrusting their hands heavenward toward the ceiling high above the arrow-like ribs of the sanctuary. Soon clumps of clappers in the audience joined in, timidly at first, then raising their hands straight up in a fervor of rhythm.1 How The Blessing of Judah Adds Value to Your Life, all this and more on this week’s Light on Life.

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How to Conquer Prejudice the Jesus Way

[Tweet “There is right sex, and then there is wrong sex. God sanctioned sex, and there is sinful sex.”]

Read the Notes

You can view a basic transcript of this podcast at the bottom of this section.

Accept the Challenge

Each week’s podcast contains a call to action. The Word of God will not produce in your life unless you put into operation.
This week’s call is:

The Blessing of Judah helps us to know the value of praising the Lord. It’s a good thing to be always praising God, that’s a Bible fact. How is the health of your praise life? ASk the Holy Spirit to help you keep worship at the center of your heart.

Join the Conversation

Each week’s podcast also contains a question designed to encourage testimony. Testimony is vital to a believer’s life. We overcome by it (Rev. 12:11).
This week’s question is:

Question: What adjustments have you made to keep worship at the center of your heart? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Episode Resources:

You can find additional information on the subject of the Gospel of John in the resources listed below.

  1. #S6-015: The Value of Knowing the Gift of God [Podcast]
  2. #S6-014: How to Conquer Prejudice the Jesus Way [Podcast]
  3. #S6-013: What Does It Mean to Be Born Again from God? [Podcast]
  4. #S6-012: Nicodemus: Is His Life a Positive Example to Follow? [Podcast]
  5.  #S-018: How Not to Be A Minister of Condemnation [Podcast]
  6.  #S6-019: Worshipping God: Why the Hour Is Here [Podcast]
  7. #S6-020: More on Praising God: Why the Hour Is Here [Podcast]
  8. #S6-021: The Big Scoop on Magnifying God [Podcast]

About Emery

Emery committed his life to the Lord Jesus Christ over 40 years ago and has served as both a full-time pastor and an itinerant minister. Both he and his wife Sharon of 35 years emphasize personal growth and development through the Word of God. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is both the focus and the hallmark of their mission. Read more about them here.

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If you enjoyed the podcast, please rate it on Stitcher Radio and leave a review. If you have a suggestion for a Bible topic you would like to see taught, or if you have a question, please e-mail me at emery@emeryhorvath.com

Podcast Notes

The Blessing of the Firstborn

  • In order to set the table for this podcast as we look at the Blessing of Judah, there are a couple of areas we need to jump into from the Old Testament.
  • We need to look at the concept of birthright and the idea of parental blessing.

The Blessing of Judah: Birthright Background

Genesis 25:29–34 (ESV) — 29 Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom.) 31 Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” 32 Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” 33 Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

The Concept of Birthright

  • Let’s talk first about the concept of birthright.
  • We see in the above passage where Esau willingly gave his birthright over to his brother Jacob for a bowl of beans.
  • The scripture says that he was exhausted.
  • The Hebrew Word ‘exhausted’ means to be weary, that is, physically and mentally fatigued, especially in contexts related to hunger and thirst.
  • Rather than helping his brother out of a tight spot, Jacob took advantage of his brother’s weakened condition.
  • And with that thought, here’s the Bible Background of the day.
  • The IVP Bible Background Commentary states that in most ancient civilizations the firstborn had certain privileges in the division of the inheritance, and Israel was no different.2
  • Esau reasoned that it didn’t matter how much inheritance he was in line for if he died, quadruple it.
  • Who cares if you are no longer breathing?

Esau’s Wordly Reasoning

1 Corinthians 3:19 (TNIV) — 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”;

  • The Greek word craftiness tells the story of how the world operates.
  • The word means cunning or deceitfulness.
  • It usually characterizes an especially evil character.
  • It means cunning, craftiness, trickery, lit. ‘readiness to do anything.’3
  • God turns the world’s wisdom on its ear.
  • You cannot out con the Creator.

Birthright in Deuteronomy

  • Esau tried it, and it cost him the right of the firstborn.
  • Now, you find that right listed in the book of Deuteronomy.

Deuteronomy 21:15–17 (ESV) — 15 “If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and the unloved have borne him children, and if the firstborn son belongs to the unloved, 16 then on the day when he assigns his possessions as an inheritance to his sons, he may not treat the son of the loved as the firstborn in preference to the son of the unloved, who is the firstborn, 17 but he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the firstfruits of his strength. The right of the firstborn is his.

  • The firstborn son was entitled to double the inheritance of the other born siblings.
  • That’s what Esau bartered away for a bowl of beans.
  • Now, he wasn’t the only one to lose their birthright.

How Rueben Lost His Birthright

  • Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn son, lost his inheritance but not for the same reason as Esau.

1 Chronicles 5:1 (ESV) — 1 The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s couch, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel, so that he could not be enrolled as the oldest son;

  • Genesis 35:22 (ESV) — 22 While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine. And Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve.
  • Because of his lustful actions with Bilhah, Jacob’s concubine, Reuben forfeited his succession as the firstborn.
  • There is right sex, and then there is wrong sex.
  • Saying it another way: there is God sanctioned sex, and there is sinful sex.
  • Reuben lost his birthright because of the wrong kind of sex.
  • God didn’t approve of it, and neither did Jacob.
  • So this is just a couple of examples of lost birthright.
  • Now we come to the other end of the spectrum; blessings doled out by the head of the family at the end of his life.
  • So, the head of the family is about to go to his reward and before he does, he calls all of his children around his bed and pronounces on them a blessing.
  • Isaac did this very thing.

The Concept of Blessings

Genesis 27:1–4 (ESV) — 1 When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son”; and he answered, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Behold, I am old; I do not know the day of my death. 3 Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me, 4 and prepare for me delicious food, such as I love, and bring it to me so that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.”

  • Blessings or curses pronounced by the patriarch of the family were always taken seriously and considered binding, so says the IVP Bible Background Commentary.4
  • You have to believe that these blessings originated by the unction of the Spirit of God.
  • These blessings were not just some emotional ‘fatherly feeling’ displayed by the head of the family.
  • The astounding accuracy of the fulfillment of these blessings in the lives of these children is proof positive that God was in it.

Jacob’s Deathbed Blessing

  • So, here is Jacob pronouncing his ‘end of life’ blessing on his twelve sons.
  • Jacob gathers them around his death bed and goes down the list; when he gets to Judah, this is what came forth.

Genesis 49:8–12 (ESV) — 8 “Judah, your brothers shall praise you; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons shall bow down before you. 9 Judah is a lion’s cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him? 10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. 11 Binding his foal to the vine and his donkey’s colt to the choice vine, he has washed his garments in wine and his vesture in the blood of grapes. 12 His eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth whiter than milk.

  • Since Judah joins Jesus and a life of praise, these blessings should perk up the ears of a child of God.
  • There are several lessons we can glean from the blessing of Judah that can add value to a believers life.

Blessing of Judah Lesson One: Praising God Breeds Praise

  • Judah, your brothers, will praise you.
  • Praise brings you to the forefront of God’s attention.

Psalm 69:30–31 (ESV) — 30 I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. 31 This will please the LORD more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs.

  • The Hebrew word ‘praise’ here means to extol the greatness of God or God’s works as an act of worship.
  • Hone in on the word ‘magnify.’
  • The word in Hebrew means to make excellent in size, scale, magnitude, or importance.
  • Magnify means to make bigger.
  • Now, when you are praising God, you are not making God bigger.
  • God is huge all by Himself.
  • No, you cannot make God bigger, but you make Him bigger to you.
  • So, when you are praising God, He becomes more significant or more real to you.
  • If God is distant, if you feel like you’re not as close to Him as you could be, then praising Him maybe your answer.
  • But, not only does God become bigger to you when you magnify Him, but you, in a sense, become bigger to Him.
  • That’s what happened to Judah.
  • He became bigger and more prominent in the family of Jacob.
  • Praise put Judah at the head of the line.
  • The Lord does stuff for you when you are praising God, know it.

Proverbs 16:7 (ESV) — 7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Blessing of Judah Lesson Two: Praising God Breeds a Life of Victory

  • The next blessing came forth; “Judah your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons shall bow down before you.”
  • Praise brings you into a life of victory.
  • It is a weapon against the forces of darkness.
  • The power of praise is not some theoretical religious mumbo jumbo.
  • The effectiveness of praise is a fact of God’s Word.
  • Look at the power of praise as a weapon in Second Chronicles twenty.
  • The Moabites, the Ammonites, and the Meunites came up in overwhelming force against the Israelites.
  • God’s disintegrating weapon of choice? – Praise.

2 Chronicles 20:21–23 (ESV) — 21 And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever.” 22 And when they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed.

Praise and God’s Presence

  • Remember, praising God is the highest expression of faith towards a God you cannot see.
  • You have to remember when you are praising God; He shows up with His real Presence.

Psalm 22:3 (AMP) — 3 But You are holy, O You Who dwell in [the holy place where] the praises of Israel [are offered].

  • He dwells in the praises of His people.
  • So, when the enemy is attacking you, and amid that attack, you lift your hands to magnify and worship the Lord God from heaven, He is in those praises.
  • You want Him in those praises because that puts Him directly on the scene of the enemies attack.
  • God does not take kindly to anyone messing with is kids.
  • No wonder why after the children of Israel praised the Lord, and the singers sang unto the Lord, an ambush was set against the people of Ammon and Moab.
  • Look at the Psalmist David’s experience with praise.

Psalm 18:3 (AMP) — 3 I will call upon the Lord, Who is to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.

  • When tribulation troubles confront you, call upon the Lord as David did.

Blessing of Judah Lesson Three: Praising God Identifies You With the Redeemer

  • The third part of the blessing of Judah comes forth from Jacob’s lips.
  • Judah is a lion’s cub or as some translations have it, ‘a lion’s whelp.’
  • This part of the blessing goes towards your identity in Christ.
  • A cub is the offspring of its parent, so Judah as a lions whelp does not directly refer to Jesus but to His offspring.
  • You are the offspring of God.
  • That fact makes you as a believer in Jesus lion like at your core.
  • The Spirit of God rises within you with all the characteristics of a roaring lion.
  • Stop being a kitty cat and rise to your ‘lion’ status.
  • The lion is one of the most feared animals in the whole animal kingdom.
  • In the Bible, the lion appears over 150 times.
  • The lions of ancient Palestine were the of the Asiatic subspecies and were fierce carnivores that were also found in Syria, Asia Minor, Greece, Mesopotamia, and northwest India.5

Lions and the Righteous

  • Look at how the righteous compare to lions in scripture.

Proverbs 28:1 (ESV) — 1 The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.

  • That’s the will of God for your life: bold as a lion.
  • But boldness is not the only gene a believer of Jesus has in their DNA.
  • Lions are known for there ponderous strength.
  • Sampson used the lion’s strength in his riddle in Judges 14.

Judges 14:18 (AMP) — 18 And the men of the city said to [Samson] on the seventh day before sundown, What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion? And he said to them, If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle.

Believers Should Be Lion Like in their Strength in God

  • Paul admonished us to pray for strength in Ephesians three.

Ephesians 3:16 (AMP) — 16 May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].

  • As a believer in Christ, you should always operate from a spirit of strength.

Proverbs 18:14 (AMP) — 14 The strong spirit of a man sustains him in bodily pain or trouble, but a weak and broken spirit who can raise up or bear?

  • You should know that the devil tries to imitate all things, God.
  • He tries to act like he is the big shot lion.

Satan As a Lion

1 Peter 5:8 (AMP) — 8 Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.

  • But he isn’t the strong and fierce lion full of strength, you are.

1 Peter 5:9 (ESV) — 9 Resist him, firm in your faith…

  • If you can resist him, you must have more power than he has.
  • When the enemy comes around trying to roar with his hot breath of unbelief, remember the story of Sampson and the lion.
  • We’ve already referred to it in this post.
  • The story is a type of how Jesus defeated Satan and how you can walk in the conquering of Christ.

Judges 14:5–6 (ESV) — 5 Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah, and they came to the vineyards of Timnah. And behold, a young lion came toward him roaring. 6 Then the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him, and although he had nothing in his hand, he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a young goat. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.

  • The lion roared, and the Spirit of God came upon Sampson.
  • The result? A decimated ripped-up jacked-up, lion.
  • A broken down carcass was all that was left.
  • That’s how Satan’s devices are rendered useless in your life.
  • It happens through the action and the unction of the mighty Spirit of God.
  • Boldness and strength, that’s what you have in Christ.
  • You have Lion blood in your blood, that is the lion of the tribe of Judah blood.
  • So, let the lion in you rise and roar.

The Value of Humility and Consecration in the Miracles of God

References:

  1. Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc., 1996), 1640. ↩
  2. Victor Harold Matthews, Mark W. Chavalas, and John H. Walton, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament, electronic ed. (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000), Ge 48:12–19. ↩
  3. William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 754. ↩
  4. Victor Harold Matthews, Mark W. Chavalas, and John H. Walton, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament, electronic ed. (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000), Ge 27:1–4. ↩
  5. R. K. Harrison, “Lion,” ed. Geoffrey W Bromiley, The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1979–1988), 141–142. ↩

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One thought on “How The Blessing of Judah Adds Value to Your Life”

  1. Great message combining OT and NT. I’ve found application of study of God’s Word with fellowship and worship with church and groups have helped my restoration from past sin and abuse. Occupying those areas with constructive pursuits and reaching for more of Him in my daily walk ,making a difference to me and those around.

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