Genesis 49-50; Ps. 8; Luke 20

“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.” (Gen 49:10).

Jacob is in the last days of his life and gathers his twelve sons to himself and begins to prophesy over them about their future. When he comes to Judah he gives this amazing prophesy that the scepter (that is the rod of authority or ruler ship) would be through the tribe (family) of Judah until Shiloh come. The word Shiloh has several meanings referring to the coming Messiah and all are implied here. It means the sent one, the seed (as a reference to the seed of the woman in Genesis 3), the peaceable one, and the prosperous one. Jesus is the Prince of Peace and fulfilled all of what this prophecy points to. In yesterday’s reading you recall Jesus said, "If you only knew the things that belong to your peace in this thy day but they are hid from your eyes.” Looking over the city that day, weeping over the city, He cried, "If you only knew the things that belong to your peace, shalom, until the Shiloh, shalom, come.” Now the scepter did not depart from Judah until the time of the coming of the Lord but forty years after Jesus was crucified, Rome destroyed Jerusalem and dispersed Israel, they never again had a ruler from the tribe of Judah. Thus the scepter departed from Judah. So that means that the Messiah would have to have come sometime before 70 A.D. in order that this prophecy of Jacob be truly fulfilled, I wonder who that could be? Think maybe Jesus. Today we know him as the Prince of Peace and if you find yourself in turmoil today simply reconnect with Him who is your peace.

Pastor Rick

Next Reading: Exodus 1-2; Ps. 88; Luke 21