Revelation 5:1-4 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.… It is needless to say to the Biblical student that this imagery has its base on Genesis 49:8-10. I. THE VICTORIOUS LEADERSHIP AND POWER OF JUDAH. Of Judah, the old man says that he shall be chief amongst his brethren. "Thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise;... thy father's children shall bow down before thee." He is to be a victorious power. "Thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies... from the prey thou art gone up." His is to be a legislative and regal power. "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet." He is to be the true centre of government, the rallying point of the world's hopes; "to him shall the gathering of the people be." Let us trace the history to see the facts that fulfil the prophecy. Two hundred years after the old man's dying words were spoken, we find the children of Israel going up out of Egypt, and God gives directions about the order of their encampment. "On the east side shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch" (Numbers 2:3). Why is Judah assigned the principal place in the front of the tabernacle? Why is he here the chief tribe? Why should not Reuben, the first-born, be appointed here? There is no explanation to be given except that for his sin he had been displaced, "and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright," and "Judah was made the chief ruler" (1 Chronicles 5:1, 2). Again, in Numbers 7:12, when the offerings were to be made, Nahshon... of the tribe of Judah was assigned the dignity of offering first. When the tribes had passed into Canaan the remnants of the people were to be overcome, and Israel requires of the Lord who shall be put in the forefront of the fray, who should lead to battle. "Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them? And the Lord said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the lands into his hand" (Judges 1:2, 3). Still later the tribe of Benjamin revolt (Judges 20:18) and the people "went to the house of God" and "asked counsel of God. Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the Lord said, Judah shall go up first." II. But this all-conquering and all-controlling power of Judah but symbolised THE REAL ROYALTY AND SUPREME SWAY OF JESUS CHRIST, and hence we go on to the New Testament — the family record of the Lord Jesus, "the book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the Son of David." The old promise of Jacob in Genesis was that this regal might, this conquering splendour, should abide with Judah till the Peace-bringer, the Shiloh, should come (Genesis 49:10). (J. T. Gracey, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. |
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