ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Pulelulu Fepueli 15, 2023 

The Rise of Leah's Fourth Son יהודה

HOPO HAKE ‘A E FOHA HONO FA ‘O LIA

GENESIS 29:35

AND [LEAH] CONCEIVED AGAIN AND BORE A SON, AND SAID, "THIS TIME I WILL PRAISE THE LORD." THEREFORE SHE CALLED HIS NAME JUDAH. THEN SHE CEASED BEARING.

SENESI 29:35

Pea ne toe feitama, ‘o fā‘ele‘i ha tama tangata; pea ne pehē, Ko e taimi ni te u fakamālō kia Sihova: ko ia na‘a ne fakahingoa ia ko Siuta [ko Fakamālō]; pea motu ai ‘ene fanau.

When Leah's fourth son was born, she chose a more positive name for him than her prior three sons. She named him Yehudah ("Judah"), from the verb yadah, "to praise." Our first impressions of Judah, however, are not exactly praiseworthy. He was the unfraternal mastermind behind selling Joseph into slavery (Gen. 37:26-27). Later, thinking his disguised daughter-in-law, Tamar, was a prostitute, he had sex with her (38:12-30). But by the end of the Joseph story, Judah has undergone a change. He assumes responsibility and leadership. He becomes the humble spokesman for his brothers. And by the time Jacob blesses his sons, our friend whose name means Praise is told "your brothers shall yadah [praise] you" (49:8). What's more, Jacob prophesies that Judah shall rule over his brothers (49:8-12).

This prophecy was true in more than one sense. David, from Judah's tribe, did indeed rule over Israel. But David was a king, not the King of kings. That kingliest King, the Messiah, would himself be born in the tribe of Judah. He himself is our praise, our Hallelujah to the Father, for his is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.

King Jesus, Lion of the tribe of Judah, reign over us that we might serve you in freedom.