“Judah, your brothers will praise you. You will grasp your enemies by the neck. All your relatives will bow before you. Judah, my son, is a young lion that has finished eating its prey. Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness – who dares to rouse him? 10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from his descendants, until the coming of the one to whom it belongs, the one whom all nations will honor. 11 He ties his foal to a grapevine, the colt of his donkey to a choice vine. He washes his clothes in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes. 12 His eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth are whiter than milk.”
Genesis 49:8-12 New Lining Translation
God our promise keeper,
How we are blessed, encouraged and assured when we see the future in the past come true to Your word. Judah the family You placed Jesus into through Joseph, husband of Mary, who adopted him as his own firstborn. The royal sceptre passed down through Jacobs line to the King of Kings. It can never be taken away not even by death itself.
There as we travel through the Old Testament we see the picture of the King riding on a donkey the foal of a donkey as Jesus enters Jerusalem (Mark 11:7-10). The donkey symbolised – coming in peace and not war. Jesus came in peace and yet we killed Him. But he also came to war against our enemies of sin and death. I cannot watch gruesome war films but love the happy ever after endings. Lord it is hard to travel through the crucifixion but it is the only way we can truly know what it cost You. Keep us as it were journeying with You but always at the cross!
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Wednesday 23rd January 2025
Had to be this hymn which has stood the test of time. Says it all.
Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain;
Free to all, a healing stream,
Flows from Calv’ry’s mountain.
In the cross, in the cross
Be my glory ever,
Till my ransomed soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.
Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the Bright and Morning Star
Shed His beams around me.
Near the cross! O lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day
With its shadow o’er me.
Near the cross! I’ll watch and wait,
Hoping, trusting ever;
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river.
Lyrics: Fanny Crosby