We may begin the pathway of praise at Genesis 29:35: and she conceived again and bore a son and said, “Now I will praise the Lord.” Therefore, she called his name Judah…
“Judah” means “praise”, and out of this man comes a great tribe of Israel…
- Jacob speaks important words over Judah, giving him the highest blessing in Genesis 49:8, “Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s children shall bow down before you.” Verse 10 says Judah will have royal authority (scepter) and legal authority (lawgiver) and will bring forth the messiah.
- Out of Judah, through David, comes the Christ, who in every action and detail is a praise to the Father (Luke 3:23-33).
- The tribe of Judah (Praise) led Israel through the wilderness. Numbers 2:9 says, “All who were numbered in the camp of Judah… according to their armies. These shall break camp first.
- In Judges 1:1-19, the Judah tribe led in the conquest of Canaan. Verse 1 says the children of Israel asked the Lord, saying, “who shall be first to go up for us against the Canaanites to fight against them”, and verse 2 says the Lord said, “Judah shall go up. Indeed I have delivered the land into his hands.”
- Judah is the first tribe to praise David, making him king. II Samuel 2:4 says, “Then the men of Judah came and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.
In Numbers 21:16-17 we see that praise cures “dry” times: From there they went to Beer, which is the well whence the Lord said to Moses, “Gather the people together, and I will give them water.” Then Israel sang this song: Spring up O well! All of you sing to it.
Praise is the cure for the “dry times” that comes to every believer, for here the praise of God caused waters to flow from a well. Note four truths…
- God’s instruction: “Gather the people together.” There is unity and power in corporate gathering.
- God’s promise: “I will give them water (life).”
- The people’s responsibility: they sang. “Spring up O well! All of you sing to it.”
- Our lesson: In times of pressure, anxiety, or depression, do not stay alone. Gather with God’s people, especially a praising people. Regardless of your personal feelings, join in audible praise, and sing to your well, the living God. Let your song be one of thanksgiving for past blessings and a song of faith in God’s promises for the present and the future!
Spring up Oh Well
-Author Unknown
Spring up Oh Well within my soul
Spring up Oh Well and overflow
Spring up Oh Well flow out through me
Spring up Oh Well set others free
Oh Lord, I thank you, Oh Lord, I thank you
I will thank you all the days of my life
There’s a river of life flowing out through me
It makes the lame to walk and the blind to see
It opens prison doors, sets the captive free
There’s a river of life flowing out through me