King of Celebration

"Why do we call Him the Lion of Judah?"

TODAY, we name our children whatever we like, regardless of the meaning of their name, its word origin, and often, how difficult it is to spell. My name has been everything from Sue to Susan and Susanne and Suzan. I am used to this. Just don’t ever look me in the eye and sing the folk tune “Oh, Susanna.” That said, Hebrew names were given because of their meaning. The most well-known in the Bible is Abraham whose birth name, “Abram”, was deliberately changed by God to Abraham, meaning “father of a multitude.” We also see name meanings in his son, Isaac, meaning “laughter”, because both Abraham and Sarah laughed when told they’d have a son in their old age. Isaac’s son, “Jacob”, means “supplanter”, a fact he proved out when he stole his older brother, Esau’s, birthright. But notice, God changed his name to “Israel”, meaning “prince of God.”

READ “Prince of God.”

There are many, many other examples which open our eyes to God’s goodness and ways of working. One of these is “Barabbas”, a murderer released so that Jesus would be crucified. “Barabbas” means “son of the father.” Now, consider Jesus is and was then the Son of the Father who died to rescue those who murdered Him, and how powerful this image is!

The seven churches of John’s Revelation make up an interesting thought, a God thought, in their Greek name definitions. These are in order as presented in John’s Revelation.

Ephesus – permitted
Smyrna – myrrh, as an antiseptic it was used for embalming
Pergamos – height or elevation
Thyatira – odour of affliction
Sardis – red ones
Philadelphia – brotherly love
Laodicea – justice of the people

I leave you to consider these, but my reason for defining these examples is to define one the church uses continually, which few have given any thought. We like the mental image it paints, so we repeat it, put it in song, and shout it to the rafters. But the question is, why do we call Jesus, whose name was defined before conception – Why do we call Him the Lion of Judah? Judah was one of twelve brothers of Abraham’s grandson, Jacob. Ten of them were sons of Leah and her servant, and each one of these ten were named after her struggles. Judah’s name means “celebrated,” and at his birth, she gave praise.

“And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.” (Genesis 29:35)

A lion is considered the King of beasts. Now, they were not native to Israel, but the Romans were fond of them and imported many. You will also recall the story of Daniel and the Lion’s den, although that was in another nearby culture, thousands of years before.

So we have the King of all beasts and celebration and praise.

There are only two references to the “lion of Judah.” In Genesis 49:9, Jacob spoke these words over his son, Judah: “Judah is a lion's whelp,” prophetic. And John’s Revelation 5:5 says, “Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.” Judah, Jacob’s son, was David’s ancestor. Hence, the term “Root of David.” The capitalization tells us it refers to Jesus. He is the Lion, or King, of the tribe of Judah, or celebration.

“And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” (Colossians 2:15)

In Him, we celebrate VICTORY. Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He destroyed all the works of the devil and triumphed over darkness (1 John 3:8). This is also an interesting term, used in Colossians 2:15. It has been much taught what a triumph is. In times before television, internet, and telephones, to spread the news that a victory was won, the conqueror held a parade. In the parade were the conquered foe, their king or leader, and the spoils of battle. The conquered foe was on display as defeated, but also while walking the route of the triumph, they would give away gifts captured in the spoils.

Jesus conquered the devil and darkness and gave gifts unto men. Here are the words of Ephesians 4:8.

“Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” (Ephesians 4:8)

To us has been given all that the devil’s works has stolen. We are given eternal life, abundant life. We are given health and the restoration of health. We are given soul prosperity (3 John 1:2), and as our soul prospers, we have all other forms of prosperity. For a truly rich man is rich also in the knowledge of His Savior. What he knows of WHO lives in him comes out in his words and actions, and this man God will bless financially.

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” (3 John 1:2)

There is a well-known song by Elevation Worship which sings, “Hail, hail, Lion of Judah.” Now you know what this means. It is praise to the King of Celebration who has done so much for us. His greatest gift, the Holy Spirit, also pours out gifts. These spiritual gifts, listed in 1 Corinthians 12 are often separated in our defining them, but the thought of the chapter is UNITY. The Spirit passes out gifts to those with willing hearts, who walk faithfully in Him, when they are needed, in the form that is needed, for those who need it. And they work together as gifts, and we work together as children of God, our unity spreading the Good News (Gospel) of healing and peace.

“For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.” (1 Corinthians 12:8-11)

“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” (Ephesians 4:4-8)

Image by Claudio Henrique Claudio from Pixabay


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com