Mon.’s Devo - Judah’s Lineage

Read: 1 Chronicles 2:18-4:4; Acts 24:1-27; Psalm 4:1-8; Proverbs 18;16-18 Yesterday we read the beginning of Judah’s family. He had three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. God killed his first two sons because they were so evil. The wife of the first son, Tamar was given to the second son who also died. She had no heir so it was their law that the third son would be her husband when he became of age. When that didn’t happen, Tamar took matters into her own hands. She disguised herself as a harlot and tricked her own father-in-law, Judah into giving her a son. She became pregnant with twins: Peres and Zerah. In childbirth, Zerah stuck his hand out first and they tied a scarlet thread around it, but Perez was born first. You can read the story in Genesis 38. Zerah had five sons who became know for their wisdom, spiritual insight and were musical. Peres had two sons: Hezron and Hamul. From Hezron’s son came Salmon who married Rahab, the harlot of Jericho. They had Boaz who married Ruth and had Obed, who had Jesse, who had David. David was Obed’s seventh son. Today, we continue the lineage of Judah and see how it multiplied. David became king and had six sons of six different wives in Hebron where he lived 7 and a half years. He moved to Jerusalem for 33 years and had 4 sons by Bathsheba then 9 other sons. He also had a daughter named Tamar and many other sons by his concubines. Solomon became king after David so we have his lineage. His is the lineage of the kings of Judah. In Acts, Paul was brought before the governor for his trial. On the prosecution side was the high priest and his lawyer Tertillus. They charged Paul with stirring up riots, being a cult leader and desecrating the Temple. They had many witnesses with them. Paul was his own defense and when it was his turn he stood. He gave his actions as his defense. He had been in their temple to worship God for these 12 days and had never incited a riot or caused any disturbance. He defended the law of Moses but did tell them that he belonged to a group called “The Way” which they called a cult. He explained that this “Way” had been foretold by the prophets of whom he believed was true. He told them exactly what had happened in Jerusalem as it happened. Felix had heard about “The Way” and adjourned until Lysias, the commander could arrive. He had Paul kept in house arrest. Felix returned to talk to Paul and brought his Jewish wife, Drusilla with him. Paul was able to talk to them about the Law and how Jesus fit into God’s Law. Felix kept him in prison two years waiting for him to bribe him to release him, but Paul didn’t. When Felix’s term was up, he left Paul in prison to gain the favor of the Jewish people. Lord, we can look at Paul’s life and see that carrying your truth does not mean that we will not be lied about, falsely accused or not suffer persecution. Prepare us to carry your cross in the coming days.