Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Jacob is about to die
• He speaks to his sons
• He speaks to his son Judah (v8-12)
• Jacob is now 147 years old and about to die
• Jacob's life
• Jacob and Esau
• Jacob's ladder
• Jacob met God on two occasions
• Jacob's name was changed to Israel
• Jacob's sorrows
• The (supposed) death of Joseph
• The famine in the land
• Joseph arose to be prime minister
• The 11 brothers became repentant
• Jacob is now in Egypt and the 12 sons are around his bed
• Jacob is prophesying
• Jacob is an old man dying with great faith
• Why looking at Judah?
• The rule is not going to depart from Judah "until Shiloh comes" (v10)
• Shiloh speaks of the Lord Jesus
• Speaks about Psalm Sunday (v11)
• Zech 9:9
• The vine speaks of the people of God
• Christ will be bound to His people
• Imagery
• Lion - The Lion of the tribe of Judah
• Milk and wine - Isa 55:1

Fulfillment in the Tribe of Judah

• Who was Judah?
• He was the one persuading the brothers to sell Joseph to the traders
• He had a daughter in law called Tamar
• He neglected his duty to provide a husband for her
• He was an immoral man
• Why not another tribe?
• Why not Joseph, Manasseh or Ephraim?
• It speaks of grace
• Judah became a transformed man, an utterly transformed man
• Judah begged for Benjamin

Judah's Preeminence

• 1 Chr 5:2 - The birthright was still to Joseph but the blessing came to Judah
• v8 - The brothers and children will bow down to Judah
• Judah shall have the ascendancy
• Joseph's dream was fulfilled, but now Judah (and the tribe of Judah) was raised up
• As you read the history of Israel you see that Judah becomes the prominent tribe
• Kingship came to Judah
• Judah means 'The Lord shall be praised'

Judah's Power

• v9 - Speaks of Judah first as a young lion, then growing in strength, then become so strong that it would be dangerous to arouse him
• Judah prevailed
• Because of sin and rebellion the ten tribes in the north were taken away
• Judah was never taken away, even under captivity
• The Jews were called from Judah

Judah's Prosperity

• There were many vineyards (v11-12)
• There was an abundance of grapes
• There was beauty in Judah (picturesque language)

• This was a foreshadowing of Jesus
• This all pointed to something greater

Fulfillment in the Lord Jesus Christ

The Lion

• Rev 5:5 - "Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David"
• Jesus was born sinless but grew in wisdom and stature
• Remember when Jesus was in the temple
• It was recorded by the Rabbi's that the scepter had been removed from Israel
• Herod was ruling over the Jews
• They did not realise that Jesus was the scepter
• Many people were amazed at Jesus
• Jesus had come to set His people free, to reign and to rule

Shiloh

• When Jacob wrestled with God He wanted to know God's name
• On his death bed one of the names of God was revealed to Him
• This is a difficult word to interpret with different meanings

• The one who has the power
• To him shall be the obedience of the peoples
• He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords
• Ps 72:7
• The rule of Christ is different to the rule of men
• It is an invisible rule in the heart of men
• It is a rule of peace
• There are hardly any countries where there is no Christian Church - He is ruling amongst His people
• All kings and nations shall serve Him
• This was the first prophecy of Jesus by a person (Ps 72:11-12)
• Gen 3:15

• It also means peace giver
• Whatever our circumstances we can draw near to Jesus and find rest
• Jesus came to give us rest
• Jesus comes to us and tends our needs, binds up the broken hearted and sets the captives free
• Think of the words of John Wesley

Poetic Language

• The poetic language of the donkey
• When Jesus rode into Jerusalem, He came not to be served but to serve
• He washed His disciples' feet
• The great characteristic of Christians is that they are humble
• We are only what we are by God's grace
• A humble person is not concerned for self, position or power
• A humble person serves in quietness
• Jesus would bind His humility to His people
• His appearance
• The words speak of Jesus' appearance
• Every spiritual blessing is found in the Lord Jesus Christ

Is there any fulfillment in us?

• Is there to be any fulfillment in us?
• Have we trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ?
• There will be a judgement just as when Judah's hand was on the neck of his enemies
• Tonight there is a choice: life or death?
• Pilate had a choice - he was weak and cowardly
• In our weakness, what shall we choose?
• Let be that we will choose Shiloh