Judah, A Type of Christ

Q: What does the Bible say about Judah as a type of Christ?

The Bible depicts Judah as a type of Christ, symbolizing His kingship and the praise due to Him. In Genesis 49:10-12, Jacob blesses his son Judah, foreshadowing the Lord Jesus Christ. Judah, meaning 'praised,' reflects the nature of Christ, who is praised by His people. This passage emphasizes that Christ is the lion of the tribe of Judah, symbolizing His royal authority and power to save. Just as Jacob foretold that Judah's descendants would receive praise and acknowledgment, this points to the ultimate praise accorded to Jesus as the King of kings, highlighting His sovereign rule and the reverence of His people before Him.

Q: How do we know God's electing grace is true?

God's electing grace is affirmed through scriptural teachings on His sovereignty in salvation. The doctrine of election is foundational to sovereign grace theology. It teaches that God chooses certain individuals for salvation based on His sovereign will and purpose, not on any foreseen merit. Scriptures such as Ephesians 1:4-5 clarify that God chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, demonstrating His grace in election. This truth underscores that salvation is entirely a work of God, as His people are 'chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father' (1 Peter 1:2). Understanding God's electing grace leads believers to a deeper appreciation of His mercy and a humbling awareness of their total dependence on Him for salvation.

Q: Why is the sovereignty of God important for Christians?

The sovereignty of God assures Christians of His absolute control over all things, including salvation. God's sovereignty is paramount for Christians as it reassures them that God rules over every aspect of existence, including His redemptive plan. This sovereignty means that our salvation is entirely dependent on God's grace rather than human effort, as seen in Romans 8:28-30, where Paul explains how God works all things for the good of those who love Him. Understanding God's sovereign rule helps believers navigate life's challenges with faith, trust, and confidence in His perfect plan. It cultivates a sense of peace knowing that nothing can thwart God's purposes, thereby prompting His people to rely fully on His providence and mercy.

Q: What does it mean that the scepter shall not depart from Judah?

This phrase signifies the unending kingship of Christ, who rules forever as the true King. The statement 'the scepter shall not depart from Judah' in Genesis 49:10 serves as a profound proclamation of Christ's eternal kingship. It signifies that from Judah, the line of David would ultimately culminate in Jesus, who fulfills this promise as King of kings. The scepter represents authority and governance, indicating that Christ's rule is permanent and unshakeable. Additionally, this prophecy reveals the assurance that the Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah, thus establishing God's unwavering commitment to keep His covenant promises. The reign of Christ as King is a central tenet in Reformed theology, affirming that He governs all aspects of life, and His kingdom will endure forever.

Q: How does God gather His people?

God gathers His people through the preaching of the gospel and the work of the Holy Spirit. The gathering of God's people is primarily accomplished through the faithful preaching of the gospel. In Genesis 49:10, it is stated, 'unto him shall the gathering of the people be,' affirming that Christ is the one who draws His elect to Himself. This gathering is enhanced by the work of the Holy Spirit, who convicts and converts hearts, enabling them to respond to the gospel message. As believers proclaim the truth of Christ's atoning work, the Holy Spirit empowers this effort, ensuring that all those designated for salvation respond in faith. Thus, the church plays a crucial role in evangelism, trusting in God's promise to gather His sheep from every nation, tribe, and tongue.

I'm going to ask you to take your Bibles and turn with me to the book of Genesis, chapter 49. Genesis 49. Last time, time or two, that we were looking in this precious book, I dealt with verses 8 and 9 I'd like to continue with the next three verses, 10 to 12. But before I do, I just want to just make a real quick recap of what we looked at in verses 8 and 9 and bring us back up to where we are.

I'm going to look at these verses, but I want to remind us all of something. We're going to be looking at the blessing that was made by Jacob unto his son Judah. Now as we look at these verses tonight, I want us to remember one thing. Judah is actually Jacob's son, without a doubt. But these scriptures that we deal with tonight is dealing with the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. I've entitled this Judah, a type of Christ. And as we look at these verses, you'll understand why we look at it this way.

We know all the scriptures deal with Christ. We know that. But this one is so obvious. It's so wonderfully obvious. So every time you see the word Judah in these passages, You just put in your mind the Lord Jesus Christ. All right, let's look at verse 8. Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise. Thy hands shall be in the neck of thine enemies. Thy father's children shall bow down before thee. Now, the name Judah, it means praised. And certainly the people of God praise the Lord Jesus Christ.

I want to just make a real quick comment. When we think of praise, I'm just going from memory. You know, what I used to think. When we say we're going to praise the Lord. Now, I've told you what I think because this is the way I grew up. You know, the way I always thought You know, the Lord was praised, was close your eyes, cock your head back 15 degrees, and wave your hands back and forth in your head too. You know, we're going to praise the Lord. That's not what the word means. This is what the word means. The word means give thanks. Give thanks. Praised is certainly that which the people do, but we give thanks unto the Lord. I wish that I did know how to give thanks as I should. And you that know him, you say the same thing. You don't know how. We don't know how.

No believer in the Lord Jesus Christ perceives the depth, the magnitude of the grace of God that has been shown unto him. The triune God, God Almighty, has been pleased to save a remnant, just a very small remnant, out of the mass of humanity. And when the Lord gives us, graces us, our minds, to even think, comparatively speaking, and I know, I know, I've told you this before, I know what the world thinks. They think, you think you're the only ones. No, I don't think we're the only ones.

I think that the people of God are the ones that know God to be sovereign. in salvation, in creation, in providence. I know He rules in the army. I know this, that man by nature has no power, no will to do anything. I know that man by nature is dead in trespasses and sins. And if Almighty God is pleased to do anything for that person, giving them a new heart, can you imagine I'll give them, the Lord said, I'll give them a new heart. I'll be their God, they'll be my people. They're gonna be with me forever.

How can we praise Him as we ought? We just don't have the ability. But that which the Lord has been pleased to do, we praise Him. Here's another word. Confess. To praise the Lord, you look it up, it's to confess and to give thanks unto the Lord. God's people are not ashamed to confess Him, to confess His glory, His sovereignty. They confess Him. He's the Lord. The believer praises the Lord that he's been pleased to show arresting and subduing power by his hand. Now, looking at Genesis 49, here's what the scripture says. Judah, verse 8.

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. Thy hand. The hand of his grace shall be in the neck. I looked up that word neck. You know, you take one of your kids acting up, two of your kids acting up, and you're going to kind of grab hold of them. You might grab their arm, but I tell you, if you grab their neck, grab them by the back of the neck, you got them. You got them. My dad had a good way of doing that. Me and my brother would kind of get into a little scuffle every once in a while. My dad knew how to stop it real quickly.

But here the scripture says, concerning the Lord, the one that we praise, his hand shall be in the neck of his enemies. When I looked up that word neck, I know what we're all thinking. We're thinking of this right here. This is the neck. The word neck means apostasy. It means the back neck of a fleeing foe.

Someone that's fleeing and whenever God Almighty is pleased to get them in the back with their neck, grab them by the neck, he gonna stop them. He gonna arrest that man. Thank the Lord for arresting grace. Thy hand, thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies.

The apostle Paul, hold your place, turn to Ephesians 2, Ephesians chapter 2. Let's just look for just a second here at a resting grace where God Almighty was pleased to grab hold of his people with the back of their neck. Ephesians chapter 2, verses 1 to 7. And you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins, wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience, among whom also we all had our conversation in time past in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind And we're by nature the children of wrath, even in others.

But God, who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ by grace you're saved, raised us up together, made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come, he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. The scripture says back in Genesis 49, verse eight, Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise.

Thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies. He's gonna stop his people. You that know him, where were you going? whenever the Lord was pleased to cross your path with the gospel. You were going in the direction of your evil, wicked heart. But God, when it pleased Him, He grasped hold of you and held you according to these words here. He grasped you by His power and He stopped you. And He moved you. and arresting you. Thank the Lord for arresting grace.

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. Psalm 18 verse 40, I'll read this. Thou hast also given me, the Lord said, the necks of mine enemies.

All of us were enemies in our mind. That's what I just read at one time. We despised the gospel. We despised anything that gave glory to God only and took glory away from us. Thou has also given me the necks of mine enemies that I might destroy them that hate me. He's going to destroy all men All women that hate Him. You say, well, I don't hate God. The Lord said, if you're not with me, you're against me. You know, by just not bowing to Him, you resist Him.

Thy father's children shall bow down before thee. Oh, how comforting of the shalls. that we find in God's word. This shall be the case. Thy children, they shall bow down. Look at verse nine, back in Genesis 49. Judah is a lion's whelp from the prey. My son, thou art gone up. He stooped down. He couched as a lion, as an old lion, who shall rouse him up. Judah, Lord Jesus, Lord Jesus, you who are the Christ, is a lion's whelp from the prey. Now this verse reminds us that the Lord Jesus Christ is the lion of the tribe of Judah. What does that mean?

He rules. He rules. The lion in the jungle, what do they call him? The king of the beast. He's the boss. And this lion that's being spoken of here, you know who he is? He's the boss. I love the thought that Christ rules. And whatsoever He is pleased to do, that He does. in heaven and earth. Look at it. Judah is a lion's whelp. Actually, when you see that line, it means a little cub. It means a cub, just a little one.

But think of the setting forth of Christ who came into this world, made of a woman, made under the law, came in this world, As a child, the scripture describes him as that holy thing. I told you before, I would never have said that if the Lord had not said it. Just in my mind, I just can't bring myself to think that I would say that, but God was pleased to say it. So with boldness, I can say it, this holy thing. This marvelous thing. He came into this world, a young cub, A lion's whelp from the prey.

Oh, without controversy, the scripture says, 1 Timothy 3, 16, great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh. justified, or shown to be righteous. That's what that justified means. Shown to be righteous. Justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached among Gentiles, believed on in the world, and received up from glory. Judah is a lion's whelp from the prey. Now that's an amazing passage of Scripture.

And here again, you've heard me say, look the words up. If I didn't look these words up, I would not know exactly what that meant. I'd read it, and it just doesn't enter my mind exactly. But when I read the words and look them up, here's what it was. From the prey. That phrase right there, from the prey. I think, what would you think that meant? You don't know either. I didn't know. But here's what it means.

Something plucked off. From the prey, you say, how do you get that? I'm just looking up the meaning. From the prey, something plucked off, or in other words, for the sake of the fragment or the remnant of God's electing grace, those chosen by the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ was plucked out of the land of the living. and made to be sin. He made himself no reputation. Something plucked off. That phrase just amazes me. He stooped. Scripture. He stooped down. He couched as a lion. He had gone up, but he stooped down. Stooped down from heaven to hell. made flesh, he who possesses all power in heaven and earth, obediently humbled himself.

I told you before, none of us can, because of the weakness of our flesh, truly humble ourselves. If we tried to appear that way, we'd just be proud of it. Boy, I tell you what, I sure am glad You know, I'm sure I'm proud that I look so humble. You know, people think I'm so lowly. He alone humbled himself to take away, to bear the sins of his people in his own body. Again, these things are too high for me. The more I read them, the deeper they get.

He who knows All things humbled himself, made himself the servant of the Father, and satisfied the debt owed by his sheep. Scripture says in the passage we're reading, verse 9, Judah is a lion's whelp from the prey, my son, thou art gone up to Calvary, to glory itself.

He stooped down. He couched as a lion, squatted, bent down. I thought of a, just in my simple mind, he couched down. What it means, he went down. In humility, yes, but I think about these shows that I watch on television, and you watch when a lion or a cat will do the same thing, but when they crouch down and they're looking at something, they're getting ready to get it. He couched down. In humility, humbled himself, but in all authority, he made himself of no reputation. He humbled himself.

Who shall rouse or who shall provoke Him? Who would dare to question what the Lord does? Who would dare to question Him? If Almighty God says He's got a remnant according to the election of grace, who would dare to question that? If He says in John 17, I pray for those that thou hast given me. I pray not for the world, but for those that thou hast given me. Who would dare to question that? Who would dare to say, well, I just don't believe that God, that the Lord Jesus Christ only prays for the elect. Who would dare to question what he has said?

Verse 10. Now here's where we're going to pick up. The scepter shall not depart from Judah. The scepter, the rule, that scepter, that symbol of authority. And this is what God's people, they are in total agreement. The scepter, that scepter that crown, stick, you know what a scepter looks like. The scepter, that symbol of authority, that's what it is, shall not depart from Christ.

When he came into this world, when he humbled himself, when he made himself of no reputation, when he came into this world born of a virgin, those wise men came into that manger, and by the grace of God, they bowed before that little child that was in that manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes. They knew who that was. And God's people, by the grace of God, they read these scriptures and they see the glory of God's majesty, power, There's not a believer in this room that doubts the power of Almighty God to do as He will, when He will, with whom He will. Jacob blessed his sons and moved to instruct them that Christ rules. I know that this was Judah. Humanly speaking, this was Judah. I know that this was the son of Jacob. I know this, but these scriptures speak of Christ.

The scepter 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. That was such a precious promise that was given there The scepter is not going to depart from him. He's going to rule. How long is he going to rule? He's going to rule forever. Why? Because he's God. He's God Almighty.

The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a law giver from between his feet till Shiloh come. Jacob blessed his son and he was moved to instruct them that the Lord Jesus Christ is in heaven and he's never gonna be without a people. He's never gonna be without a people. He's never gonna be without having them with his presence.

The scripture declares when the Lord was speaking to His disciples, He said, go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. Unto Him, the scripture says. Unto Him will the gathering of the people be. the gathering, the cleansing, or the purging. That's what it means. Unto Him will the gathering of His people be. His people, out of every nation, kindred, tribe, and tongue, are going to be gathered. Unto Him shall the gathering of the people be. He's going to get them. He's going to get them. He's going to have them. He's going to have His own. And He's promised them, I'm not going to leave you comfortless. I will. Stop and think again with me. The Lord is in this place. God is here. The Lord is here. Didn't everything just change? Just think on that a minute. The Lord is here. The Lord is with us. I believe that.

I believe that God Almighty has raised up a little church in Katy, West Virginia, and He's established a congregation here, and He's kept it here all of these years. And He's promised, I'm not going to leave you. I'm not going to forsake you. Well, we don't have as many people as we once did. We have all that the Lord has been pleased to send. All of them that He's been pleased to keep are still here. And He's promised, I'm not going to leave you. I'm not going to forsake you. And unto Him will the gathering of the people be.

We used to have visitation night when I was in false religion. We all would meet on Tuesday night. And we'd go out and we had a plan. It's called a Roman road. I don't know, you might not have ever heard of a Roman road. I bet you some of you have. And it was just a set of scriptures that we, you know, that we were taught.

Now this is how, you know, you tell them all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. And it's not, God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to, everything's taken out of context. But we go, and what we try to do is we gonna get them on their knees and get them to pray the sinner's prayer. We even had to tell them how to pray, but we tell them how to pray. And we tell them, say, now listen, pray the sinner's prayer.

And they would do it, and then you tell them, say, now listen, according to God's word, you're saved. You believe God saved you, don't you? Well, they're not going to say no. They're going to say yes. Well, you're saved. Now you need to be baptized. And that would be just another notch in our spiritual gun, you know. How many souls did you save? Well, I saved four this week. I've got a total of X amount for this year, but I'm going for a hundred.

I told you about the man when I was in Louisiana, when the Lord began to reveal himself to me. And I was in a little church, and God had been pleased to teach me the gospel. And I realized the waywardness of my ways. But I had gone to this little church, and it just Just a group of people came there. The little church had about three or four people in it, but they had a split. And so a big group of people got mad at this group, so they came over to where I was pastoring. Well, statistically, I had the number one, statistically, the number one growth Sunday school in the state of Louisiana that year, just because A group of people got mad at the other ones and they came over.

Well, they credited me with being such a dynamic preacher, you know, to have such an exponential growth. So I went over there and I was going to speak. They didn't like what I was saying and they asked me to leave. I mean, about two minutes into my little speech. They did. They went up and pulled me out of the pulpit. But here was the thing, here's my point.

The gathering of God's people is not left up to a man. Do you know what the Lord has instructed His people to do? You go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. You preach the gospel. This is what we do. This is what I'm accused of and I'm sure you have been too. Don't you have any other Literature, don't you have any other things to say except this same thing over and over? No. No, I don't. Paul said, I'm not ashamed of the gospel.

It's the power of God unto salvation. You tell men what they are by nature. You tell them who God is. You tell them who God is sovereignly, mercifully, sovereignly merciful. But the scripture declares, unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Lord, I'm going to trust you. And you're going to gather your sheep. And you've said that you're going to gather them through the hearing of the gospel. So here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to, by the grace of God, I'm going to preach the gospel to you. Verse 11.

Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's coat unto the choice vine. He washed his garments in wine and his clothes in the blood of grapes. His eyes shall be white with wine and his teeth white with milk. The Lord Jesus Christ is the vine. Now we know that because he said he was the vine. He said I'm the vine, you're the branches. He's the source. He's the vine. And He justly binds, I love this, binding His foe unto the vine. The vine, when it says binding, you know what the word means?

Imprisoned. He puts them in prison. He captures them and He keeps them by His power. They're not going to get away. Imprisoned, that's what it means. Bind, imprison. It's on making them willing in the day of His power. You know how He keeps them? He makes them willing. They don't want to go. They don't want to leave. If somebody comes and sits under the gospel, and they leave, you know why they left? Number one, it's because they wanted to. I know that. But it's because God did not give them a heart to stay.

If God Almighty gives a man or woman a heart to stay, they want to stay. You know what I want to do as far as Katie Baptist Church? I want to stay here. As long as the Lord gives me strength to stay here, I want to be here. I want to be here. I thank God that you put up with me. Y'all have done a beautiful job for the last couple of years putting up with me. And I thank God for that. Binding, binding, scripture says.

His fold. Whose fold is it? It's his fold. It's his fault, binding his fault. And his ass is cold. Ass is cold. You know, an ass by nature is this ornery, rebellious. But what he does, he binds his ass is cold. Those who by nature are rebellious. Rebellious, that's what we are by nature. And makes us willing. Thankfully, here's what it says here. I love this right here. Verse 11, binding his foe. I love the thought that by God's grace, I belong to him. Man by nature, an ass is cold. Does that offend you? It doesn't offend me because I know it's the truth. I know what it is. But he takes and binds those who by nature are rebellious.

He washed his garments in wine and his clothes in the blood of grapes. I realize that by nature we're worthless, by nature, but for him to to bind us to himself and wash them. This washed his garments in wine and clothes in the blood of grapes. It's a picture of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ who was crushed. Crushed in that blood that ran forth. He was crushed as a grape whose juice, I wrote down, flows forth. But he did that for his people. He laid down his life for his own.

Then verse 12. And this one, the more I went, the sweeter it became. His eyes shall be red with wine, his teeth white with milk. Now, this last verse, I totally agree. When I first read it, it was so I didn't understand it. I did not understand it. And here again, this is where it's so important.

Look at it. His eyes are actually referring to the apple of his eyes. That which is precious to him. His eyes shall be red. When you look up that word red, here's what it means. Dark flashing. A flashing. Brilliance. Brilliance. It's a word that sets forth joy. Just the joy. The manifestation of that which pleases the Lord. Those who are the apple of His eye. When He sees them. When He looks upon them. You read Song of Solomon. I can go back and read Song of Solomon. And you see how the Lord spoke of His bride. He said, you've ravished me with one of your eyes just looking upon you. The one that the Father had given Him in electing grace. The one He redeemed by His shed blood. The one that He called by grace. The one that comes to Him for mercy. He said, you just stole my heart.

This is what's been said, he said, his eyes shall be red with wine. And again, that word red, they'll be flashing or brilliant. That's what it means, brilliant, brightness. With wine, and here again, you can just let your mind run wild and think whatever, here's what it means. With wine, banqueting. Banqueting. His banqueting is to be with His people, to see them call out of darkness, to see them come to Himself.

The joy of the Lord by strength. Judah was moved to say this is the Lord's thoughts toward His people. This is the Lord's joy in redeeming them, calling them, keeping them. I wrote down this last statement here. It says, I wrote down, I said, the meaning must be looked upon as that which pleases the Lord, which satisfies Him for His joy, for the redeemed, the regenerated saints, the Spirit revealed through Jacob in His blessing to His sons, And we learned that all that was required for the feasting of God's sheep is found in the person of Lord Jesus Christ. He said His eyes will be red with wine, His teeth white with milk. He's speaking of that which is fulfilling. Milk. Wine for joy of the Spirit. His sheep have been called by His grace, He rejoices in them.

And this blessed passage of Scripture, though as I told you a minute ago, just reading it is hard to be understood. But when you delve into the words and you look at those meanings and you see what's being said, you think, Lord, how is it that You could be so merciful, so kind to someone so wretched as me? And show Your loving mercy, redeeming me by shedding Your own blood.

Judah, A Type of Christ

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about Judah as a type of Christ?

How do we know God's electing grace is true?

Why is the sovereignty of God important for Christians?

What does it mean that the scepter shall not depart from Judah?

How does God gather His people?

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Judah, A Type of Christ

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about Judah as a type of Christ?

How do we know God's electing grace is true?

Why is the sovereignty of God important for Christians?

What does it mean that the scepter shall not depart from Judah?

How does God gather His people?

Sermon Transcript

About Marvin Stalnaker

Comments

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