Daily Devoion

Particularly in Old Testament times, the territory assigned to the tribe of Judah consisted of rugged wilderness, inhabited by wild beasts, and lions in particular. The lion was renowned for its fierceness and strength.

Jesus was descended from David and, therefore, from the tribe of Judah. In the book of Revelation, Jesus is most often referred to as a lamb. However, he is also called the “Lion of the Tribe of Judah.” This highlights his power and fierceness in defending his people, by protecting them and defeating their enemies.

This title goes back to Jacob's final blessing of his sons before his death. In that blessing he calls Judah "a lion's whelp" ( Genesis 49:9). If Judah himself is a lion's whelp, it is fitting to call the greatest member of the tribe of Judah The Lion of Judah. In the books written between the Testaments this became a messianic title. 2 Esdras speaks of the figure of a lion and says: "This is the Anointed One, that is, the Messiah" ( 2 Esther 12:31). The strength of the lion and his undoubted place as king of beasts make him a fitting emblem of the all-powerful Messiah whom the Jews awaited.

The lion of Judah has long been a symbol of bravery, nobility, and strength. This symbolism is used in the bible over 150 times but is most commonly equated with the House of Judah and the descendants of the House of Judah, including Judah himself, King David, King Solomon, and finally Jesus.

For me, the most startling part of Jesus courage was that he seemed to have a very clear idea of what was going to happen. As his ministry slowly weaved its way towards Jerusalem he knew exactly what he was walking towards.

When we stand up for something good even though it will cost us, or when we put someone else’s needs above our own, or perhaps we decide to sacrifice something so that others can prosper then we are immersing ourselves in the courage of Jesus. That’s real courage.

Almighty Father, thank You for giving me another day to share my blessings with others and live out Your will. I offer this courage prayer to You, humbly asking that You grant me the courage to overcome any challenges I may face today. I know I can do anything with You, so I pray that You continue to watch over me today. May I find the courage to push through and come out of today’s troubles stronger than ever. This I ask through Christ our Lord, Amen.