יָדָה (yadah)

Judah means “Praise.”

I love books. I love reading the Bible in particular.
I believe what it says and I try to do what it tells me.

But praise? It is not always easy to do. Has life been difficult? Perhaps we feel nothing but God’s severity and we become as dumb and unable to offer any praise or accolade or song to our Creator. As one source puts it, “overwhelmed with shame; but when he frees us from our afflictions, and causes us to recover, He at the same time opens our mouth; for he supplies us with ground of praise and thanksgiving.

Jesus or Yeshua is from the Tribe of Judah by lineage. If you are familiar with the story of Jesus, you know that He suffered many things for our sake. He lived a purposeful life on earth, but had an immortal soul. He was the Spirit of God incarnate and He brought freedom and justice through God’s mercy to us, sinners. He is called, God’s only Son and through Him many are now called “children of God.”

nor give Him any rest until He establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.

Isaiah 62:7

Source: studylight.org

And give him no rest – Margin, ‹Silence.‘ In Hebrew the same word (דמי dŏmiy ) as in Isaiah 62:6. The idea is, ‹Keep not silence yourselves, nor let him rest in silence. Pray without ceasing; and do not intermit your efforts until the desires of your hearts shall be granted, and Zion shall be established, and the world saved.”

Wait! How can we help but be silent? Do not our sins or afflictions make us unable to speak? Does God not Himself cause us to be dumb?

It was not too many years ago that I titled a journal entry, “A year without words.” It was an admission, “I am afflicted and dumb.”

Praise is what belongs to us. It has a deeper meaning which is to render something glorious, that joy might shine forth from it. Where there is no praise, there is no rest. Where there is no rest, there is quite often, sin.

Judah is more than a name, lineage and tribe. It embodies the realm of giving God glory. It embodies the pain and struggle we face as people living in the midst of unclean people, sin and disappointment.

It calls us out of the mud and mire. It calls us to a deeper place of holiness where we can be washed clean. A place of purity and hope.

Sin is death.

O’ Judah! Praise the God who loves you!

Trust Him and let your soul delight in Him!

God sent His prophets many times to His people to warn them. Often, they were found worshipping other gods. One god in particular was called Baal. This god was associated with many sexual sins, the offering up of children to be burned or killed and in more subtle ways led the people of God away from purity, holiness and true worship. Jeremiah was a prophet of God and was sent to warn them.

Why, (you might ask) would anyone want to worship such a hideous god? Well, sin is not so obvious. Many small choices that we make in life, or perhaps were raised in a cycle of sin or behavior all equate to worship.
How we live, speak and walk…the things that come out of our hearts. God was concerned for the hearts of His people and His holiness required judgement of sin.

Would they listen and turn away and find mercy? New Life? Help in time of trouble?

Dear Reader, there is a God of love who has made a Way for us to walk in new life. But we must turn from our way of doing worship. We must turn away from false gods and choose the One, true God. The God of Israel, Isaac and Jacob. A God, full of mercy.

The following is what the prophet Jeremiah spoke to the people as a warning. So serious, was their transgression that He even urged that no prayers be made for them. However, Jeremiah also shared good news: that if they turned away from their sins, God would also relent from His anger.

I don’t know about you but I want to “Judah.” I want to give praise and to be a place of joy that shines in the midst of sin and darkness. It isn’t easy but did you hear the heart of God, even in His warning? Will you respond?

Judah, is the one I love.

And He remembered His covenant with them, and relented by the abundance of His loving devotion.

 

Psalm 106:45

Jeremiah 11:13-17

People of Judah, you have many idols—there are as many idols as there are towns in Judah. You have built many altars for worshiping that disgusting god Baal—there are as many altars as there are streets in Jerusalem.
14 “As for you, Jeremiah, don’t pray for these people of Judah. Don’t beg for them. Don’t say prayers for them. I will not listen. They will suffer and then call to me for help, but I will not listen.

15 “Judah is the one I love, but why is she in my temple?
She has done too many evil things.
Judah, do you think vows and sacrifices will keep you from being destroyed?
Will I then allow you to enjoy your evil ways?”
16 The Lord gave you a name.
He called you, “A green olive tree, beautiful to look at.”
But with a powerful storm, he will set that tree on fire,
and its branches will be burned up.

17 The Lord All-Powerful planted you, and he said that disaster will come to you. That is because the family of Israel and the family of Judah have done evil things. They offered sacrifices to Baal, and that made him angry!

and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned.

Jeremiah 18:8

He remembered His covenant for their sake, And relented according to the greatness of His lovingkindness.

Psalm 106:45