The Abrahamic Covenant: Part 3
John Plunkett
September 27, 2014

In Part 2, we asked what a covenant is, we looked at the Hebrew and Greek words for "covenant."  Then we looked at Sarah’s very important part in the Abrahamic Covenant promises.  We read how the covenant promises began to unfold within a very short time of them being promised by God; and also how God continually repeated them, and magnified them over and over again.  We also read some clarification which God gave us through the apostle Paul with regards to the Abrahamic Covenant, and especially in reference to the New Testament Church of God.

Today, the sub-topics that I would like to cover are as follows:

The Dual Promises of Race and Grace

We have a lot of questions today, but hopefully some answers as well.  So let’s start off with a question regarding the dual promises of “race” and “grace”:  To whom were the Abrahamic Covenant promises made? 

We will find a detailed answer to this question laid out in Herbert W. Armstrong’s book, “The United States and British Commonwealth in Prophecy,” with which many of you will be familiar.

He wrote in that book that God’s promises to Abraham were dual – two-fold, referring to what He called “Race” and “Grace.” 

In other words, and as we have already discussed a little in Parts 1 and 2, there was a physical component to the promises, which Mr. Armstrong referred to as “Race.” And there is a spiritual component, which Mr. Armstrong referred to as “Grace.” 

The physical promises were passed down to all the tribes of the children of Israel, from Abraham, through his son Isaac, and mainly through his grandson Jacob, whose name was changed to "Israel."

In the past, and perhaps even today, the Church has concentrated a lot on the “Race” part of the promises.  This accent has included accounts of how God has taken – and is taking – the physical blessings away from Israel.  We have asked, "Has that started yet? And, if so, why?" And we have answered our own questions with this answer:  "Because of the many, continuing national and individual sins of the people of modern physical Israel."

The church has concentrated a lot on the “Race” part; but perhaps not enough on the “Grace” part which, as described in the Old Testament, might be a little bit nebulous, ethereal, and maybe not detailed to the extent that we would perhaps like it to be.  Today and in the remainder of this sermon series, I would like to correct that imbalance, if I can.

The three men I just mentioned – Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – certainly did their parts – obviously somewhat imperfectly because they were human beings.  Still, they did their parts in the human side of the Covenant responsibilities.  

Please remember what a covenant is – a two-sided agreement in which God has His part and the people have their part.  

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob did their parts. The passing of the Abrahamic Covenant from Abraham to Isaac is not really detailed very much in the scriptures; but its passing on from Isaac to Jacob and then from Jacob on to his sons and grandsons is detailed – very much so.  It seems that God really wanted us to know the details about these transfers.  So let’s go first to a very well-known account of what is commonly referred to as the “Jacob’s Ladder” episode, with which I'm sure you are familiar:

Genesis 28:
13a:  And, behold, the LORD {YHVH}... 

I mention "YHVH" because the names that are used for God become significant as we go along.

13b:  ... stood above it, and said, "I am the LORD God (YHVH Elohim) of Abraham your father, and the God (Elohim) of Isaac: the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants."

This was in a vision to Jacob, of course.

14:  "Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

Last time, along with Paul’s notes on this in Galatians 3, we discussed the seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

15:  "Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you."

This was a wonderful and encouraging promise for Jacob, who was actually "on the run" from his angry brother at that time. 

Jacob's Name Changed

A little while later we see another symbolic name change, similar to those of Abraham and Sarah.  We read about this last time, when Abram’s name was changed to Abraham and Sarai’s name was changed to Sarah.  So now we have another symbolic and meaningful name change:

Genesis 32:
24:  Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day.
25:  Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him.
26:  And He said, "Let Me go, for the day breaks."  But he said, "I will not let You go unless You bless me!"

Jacob somehow knew that this was no ordinary "man."  He also knew that this being had the power and the authority to bestow a blessing on him. 

Please think about this.  This so-called "man" had just touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh and put his hip out of joint.  Imagine the excruciating pain of this awfully painful, dislocated thigh.  But he hung on!  He hung on because he very much desired to receive this blessing which he somehow knew would be of very much benefit to himself,  his family and his descendants. 

If we read the history of Jacob (and we are not going to go through it all now), we find that he had many faults, two of which were trickery and craftiness.  We all know some of the tricky things that he did; but we repeatedly read how he very much valued the blessings which he knew could only come from God. 

He even valued blessings that were not rightfully his by the tradition of the time! 

His brother Esau had the very wrong priorities.  He should have received the birthright and all of these wonderful blessings; but he treated them as worthless.  He even sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of lentil stew.  Jacob, in effect by doing what he did, was saying to Esau, “You may think that these things are worthless, but I don’t!  I recognize the great value of this birthright and of these blessings. If you don’t value them or want them, then I will gladly take them off your hands!"

Back to the wrestling match:

27:  And He said unto him, "What is your name?"  And he said, "Jacob."
28:  And He said, "Your name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel; for as a prince you have power with God {Elohim} and with men, and have prevailed."
29:  And Jacob asked him, and said, "Tell me, I pray you, your name."  And He said, "Why is it that you do ask after my name?"  And He blessed him there.

Jacob was a really cheeky guy!  When faced with God, he said, "I've told you my name; so now you tell me yours!"

Still, Jacob received what he valued and what he strove for – this blessing.  But he also received something that he didn’t ask for – a name change!

30:  And Jacob called the name of the place "Peniel" {which means "Facing God" or "The Face of God"}: "For I have seen God {Elohim} face to face, and my life is preserved."

He was able to wrestle with God, to come face-to-face with Elohim in close combat; and yet He survived.  He didn’t die. 

So Jacob – and now his name was "Israel" – knew who it was that he had been wrestling with and who he had been hanging on to.  It was God!

31:  And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted {limped} upon his thigh.

This was to be a painful and very uncomfortable reminder of his encounter with Elohim; but it turned out be a very rewarding one. 

Along with a repeat of the Abrahamic Covenant blessing promises, God later also repeated mention of Jacob's name-change:

Genesis 35:
9:  And God {Elohim} appeared unto Jacob again when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him.
10a:  And God {Elohim} said to him, "Your name is Jacob"...

It is interesting that, this time, Elohim didn’t ask Jacob's former name as He did previously.   He told him what it was: Jacob. 

The Hebrew version of the name is "Ya’aqob."  Literally translated it means, "Heel-holder."  This refers to him, when he had not even come out of the womb yet, very significantly grabbing hold of the heel of his twin-brother, Esau (Genesis 25:21-26).

It may also, perhaps, refer to Jacob hanging on to the "Man" who turned out to be Elohim during the historical wrestling match that we just read about. 

Elohim could, of course, have won that wrestling match in an instant if He had wanted to; but one of the things I wondered about as I was going through this was the possibility that it could have been Elohim’s heel that Jacob hung onto. 

This word "Ya’aqob" can also mean "supplanter,"  which refers to Jacob’s crafty trickery in supplanting his brother Esau as the recipient of the blessings that should have gone to the firstborn.  His brother Esau should have received these blessings; but "despised his birthright" as Genesis 25:34 tells us.  

Jacob bought Esau’s birthright for a bowl of lentil stew, he tricked Esau out of his firstborn blessings, and he even tricked his own father Isaac who was aged and blind. You can read the details of those things in chapters 25 and 27 of Genesis.

10b:  ... Your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name."

 So Elohim changed Jacob's name to "Israel," which means "God prevails." 

"El" means "God" and "Yisra" means "prevails." 

It is almost like God is saying to cheeky Jacob, "Look Jacob, it is God who prevails!" (and this is my speculation implication here), "Not you, Jacob!  You are just a crafty heel-holding, supplanting trickster!  Just a mere human being!"

11a:  And God said to him: "I am God Almighty…


Even in itself, standing alone, "I AM" is a term for God. "God Almighty" is translated from "El Shaddai."  

"El" means "God" (Strong’s 410); but it can also mean mighty, the mighty one, the man of rank, great, strong, strength and power. 

The word "Shaddai" (Strong’s 7706) means "all mighty" or "most powerful."

When those two words "El" and "Shaddai" are put together, something happens almost like a chemical explosion, the result of which is an absolute superlative expression of total greatness and power.  It is almost like God is saying, "Okay Jacob, you may be a clever, crafty, trickster; but you're just a puny human being whereas I am the All-Powerful One, the Great One, the One who possesses all power in heaven and in earth!

Let’s go to a very interesting verse in Matthew's gospel account and let’s see what Jesus told His disciples about this very thing shortly before His resurrection:

Matthew 28:18: 
And Jesus came to them, and said, "All power is given to me in heaven and in earth."

Not to ice hockey star, Wayne Gretzky.  He is not and never was "the Great One," as his many fans called him. 

Not unto boxing star, Mohammed Ali, who always bragged that he was 'the greatest."  Look at the poor man now, humbled by his Parkinson's. 

No!  All power was given to Jesus Christ.  He is the greatest!  Elohim is the Great One!

Again, it was like He was saying to Jacob (and once again, this is my own personal speculation), "I held off using even a fraction of my power when we had that wrestling match.  I let you wear yourself out when we were wrestling that day.  But remember this: I AM El Shaddai!  I AM the All-powerful One; not you Ya`aqob!  You are a weak, physical, human, supplanting heel holder.  That's what you are!  But I AM El Shaddai!"

The Sceptre

Back in Genesis 35 again, perhaps after having put Jacob firmly in his place, He is basically telling him, "Only I can do this.  Only I am able to do what I am about to do for you and your family."  Then Elohim – El Shaddai – proceeded to repeat the Abrahamic Covenant promises to Jacob, to Israel:

11b:  ... Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of you, and kings shall come out of your loins;
12:  And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to you I will give it, and to your seed after you will I give the land.

There we see another mention of the seed that we discussed last time in Part 2.

Please notice also in verse 11 God's promise of kings, a repeat of those same promises given to Abraham and Sarah of royalty in their family. 

Imagine being told that!  Apparently, the whole family of Abraham did come from a very important line of nobility even before all of this; but now here is a repeat of God's promise of royalty.

We will now skip through the years to the time just before Jacob's death.  Just before he died, he gathered all his sons together and he was inspired with specific prophecies for the descendants of each one.  It is obvious that God gave these specific prophecies to Jacob to pass on and that he didn't just get them out of his own head.  They are recorded in Genesis 49.  Let's skip the first few verses dealing with Jacob's first three sons and let's begin with a brief mention of Jacob's fourth son, Judah.  As we will read in verse 10, to Jacob's fourth son, Judah, God promised the "sceptre" – the royal throne and monarchy of the nation of Israel.

Genesis 49:8: 
Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise: your hand shall be in the neck of your enemies; your father’s children shall bow down before you.

The siblings of a monarch even today are required to pay appropriate homage to that monarch. 

The prophecy of verse 8 is interesting.  It reminds me of Joseph’s brothers –  including Judah! – bowing down before him in Egypt (Genesis 42:6; 43:26) in fulfillment of the prophetic dreams of his youth (Genesis 37:5-11).

For this and other different reasons, I find it intriguing that God chose to give the sceptre to Judah’s line, rather than to Joseph's.

Judah was not the firstborn.  He was the fourth-born after Reuben, Simeon and Levi.  God and Jacob rejected them for very valid reasons.  Let's back up to verse 3:

3:  Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:

That's the good news; but the bad news is this:

4:  Unstable as water, you shall not excel; because you went up to your father’s bed; then defiled you it: he went up to my couch.
5:  Simeon and Levi are brothers; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations.
6:  O my soul, come not you into their secret; to their assembly, my honour, be not you united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their self-will they digged down a wall.
7:  Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.

These prophecies did actually come true.  We will go into them and discuss them in more detail next time in Part 4.

But Why didn't God choose the line of Joseph who was the obvious favourite of Jacob?  Why didn't God choose Joseph for the throne?  After all, he had experience with royalty.  At one point he was Egypt's number-two man.  He was virtually a pseudo-monarch. (Genesis 41:38-45).  And from what we read, he handled the position very well. 

Also, as already mentioned, in addition to this, Joseph`s "fathers children" (Genesis 49:8) – including Judah! – had already bowed down to him in fulfillment of those inspired dreams of his youth. 

Still, no matter what our choices would be, God's will be done!  And it is evident that God had other special plans for Joseph and for his line.

But what about Judah?  In comparison with Joseph, he may not have been much; but was he such a bad fellow, after all?

No.  I don’t think that he was so very bad, although along with his brothers, he envied and hated young Joseph, and he participated with the others in his kidnapping.  Still, to Judah's credit in that same episode, he and Reuben interposed on Joseph’s behalf in order to spare his life, when the others were planning to kill him because they were so jealous of the things that he was saying (Genesis 37:18-27).

More importantly, though, were Judah’s descendants who were then in the bowels of Judah up to the job of kingship?  If we look at Judah’s history a little, we see that, on some occasions Judah did show signs of taking a leadership role in the family.  Part of that, as we have just mentioned, was to prevent Joseph's murder.  But also, on a a number of occasions when the brothers were going backwards and forwards between Canaan and Egypt during the time of the famine, Judah took a very commendable  leadership role (Genesis 43:1-10; 44:15-34; 46:28).

Many years later, the prophet Samuel wrote some brief but very complimentary words about Judah’s leadership abilities:

I Chronicles 5:2: 
For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph’s.

Judah was given the throne and the sceptre, and the physical birthright was given to Joseph.

Now let’s read the aging Jacob’s prophetic words about Judah and his descendants:

Genesis 49:9: 
Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, you are gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?

We do not know very many details of Judah’s lion-like attributes as they turned out in his life and we know even less of the specific events that Jacob is referring to here. 

Jacob likened Judah to a lion cub (whelp), then a lion – possibly a mature one, and then an old lion.  In the three stages of his life there were lion-like (leonine)  characteristics. 

But, there are many questions that arise from this verse.  For example: 

There are a lot of questions and not many answers here. 

I looked up John Gill’s commentary on this verse.  Although it is interesting what he wrote, I don’t know whether they were just ideas out of his own head, or whether he knew more about this than I was able to find in the scriptures. 

Here is what John Gill wrote on this verse:

Judah is a lion’s whelp
 Or as one; the note of similitude being wanting, as Aben Ezra and Ben Melech observe; he was comparable to a young lion for his strength, courage, and generosity; and it may refer to the infant state of this tribe in the times of the judges, who first went up against the Canaanites and overcame them, (Judges 1:1-4)

From the prey, my son, thou art gone up; 
Alluding to the lion going up to the mountains, where it chiefly resides, after it has found its prey and satiated itself with it:

He stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; 
One that is grown up, and has arrived to its full strength, such an one is a proper emblem of David king of Israel, of his royalty, courage, valour and conquests; and who having subdued the nations round about him, couched like a lion, and had rest from all his enemies; and especially this was verified in the times of Solomon his son, when he had peace on all sides, and Judah and Israel dwelt safely under their vines and
fig trees, (1 Kings 4:24-25)

Who shall rouse him up? 
A lion grown up and in its full strength, or a lioness, as some choose to interpret it, and which is the fiercest, and therefore the most dangerous to rouse up when laid down, either in its den, or with its prey in its paws: so dangerous it was to provoke the tribe of Judah, as its enemies after found, especially in the times of David: all this may be applied to Christ, the lion of the tribe of Judah; the lion being the king of beasts, and the strongest among them, may denote the kingly power and authority of Christ, his great strength as the mighty God and mighty Saviour, his courage in engaging with all the powers of darkness, and valour in vanquishing all enemies; his generosity and lenity to those that stoop to him, and his fierceness to his adversaries, who took the prey from the mighty, and then ascended on high, leading captivity captive; where he sat down at the right hand of God at rest and ease, and who will dare to rouse him up, or be able to stand before him when once he is angry?  This verse in some ancient writings of the Jews is interpreted of Messiah the son of David.

As in other Bible commentaries, there are some interesting points here from John Gill; but whether they are right or wrong, I don’t know. 

Let’s continue in Jacob's Genesis 49 death-bed prophecy:

10:  The sceptre 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.

The Hebrew word for ‘sceptre’ is shebet Strong’s 7626) which is most frequently translated as tribe; but it is also translated as rod and staff.  But it certainly can mean a sceptre which is a very appropriate translation.  We could do a whole Bible Study on that one word alone; but I don’t think we need to really dwell on it too deeply today.  We will accept the term as "sceptre" with regards to royalty. 

Until Shiloh Come

What I do want to concentrate a little more today is another very interesting word in this verse, and that is “Shiloh.” 

Who or what was this Shiloh?  It is a Hebrew word (Strong's 7886) that is left untranslated in the King James Version; but it stems from the root verb Shalah or Shalav (Strong’s 7951) which can mean to prosper, to dwell in safety, to be happy, to be at rest, to have quiet or to be at ease.  All Interesting terms, which might be symbolic of conditions in the World Tomorrow.

But that is only one appearance in the scriptures that puts it that way. There are thirty other scriptural appearances other than this one in Genesis 49; and in all of the others “Shiloh” refers to a place of rest.  (See Strong's 7887).  There was a city in the Ephraim territory, where the prophet Samuel grew up, that was named Shiloh.  At one point,  that town was a temporary home of the Tent Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant. 

But, here in Genesis 49:10, in this appearance only, it is obviously referring to a person.  Who is that person?  In this personal usage, the Hebrew word Shiloh means He whose it is or That which belongs to Him. 

Who do all things belong to?  There are many, many scriptures that reveal who it is that all things belong to.  We will go through a couple of them here and we'll see that it is Jesus Christ, the One who is the central core of the Abrahamic Covenant "Grace" promises:

Matthew 11:27a:
All things are delivered unto me of my Father…

John 3:35: 
The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand.

John 16:
15a: All things that the Father hath are mine...

If we take this concept of Jesus Christ being the owner of all things and Shiloh being the One that all things belong to, then feeding that back into Genesis 49:10, it can come out like this:

The Sceptre shall not depart from Judah until the One who owns all things comes – until Jesus comes.

Over and over again, we see that the covenant promises do not point primarily to human beings, nor to physical things.  The physical things including in the "Race" part of the Abrahamic Covenant promises (through Joseph's line) are only secondary, at best. 

Over and over again, we see that the covenant promises –  especially the Grace part (through Judah's line) – point primarily to eternal things, and more especially to the Eternal One. 

So let’s follow this through: “The Sceptre shall not depart from Judah until Shiloh comes – until Jesus comes.”  So then we have to ask, until He comes the first time?  Or until He comes the second time?  Or, possibly both! 

We will see as we continue in a moment when we follow these genealogies through, that the birth of the human Jesus was actually the culmination of one branch of the royal line of Judah.  Let’s just call that branch, "Branch Number 1," which was Jesus’ branch and we will come back to that one in a couple of minutes. 

But there was another branch of Judah’s descendants that we believe carried the royal line of Judah to the British Throne from whence it will continue through to Jesus second coming.  We'll call that one "Branch Number 2." 

Thinking back again to Jacob’s Genesis 49 prophecy about Judah’s royal line, the actual start of the fulfillment of this prophetic promise was deferred for over 600 years after Jacob died.  From the time of Jacob’s prophecy, God deferred the fulfillment of that promise for over 600 year until He gave the sceptre to David.  Please note: to David; not to Saul!

But why not to Saul?  

Yes, it is true that Saul was Israel’s first King; but Saul was not of the tribe of Judah; he was of the tribe of Benjamin (I Samuel 9:21; 10.21); so could not have been part of the fulfillment of Jacob's "sceptre" prophecy.

I was wondering why God initially gave the throne to Saul.  I think that, maybe He was withholding the fulfillment of Jacob’s prophecy because of Israel’s sin in wanting to emulate their Gentile neighbours in their demand for a human king.  Why did they want a human king?  Because all of the nation’s around about them had human kings (Deuteronomy 17:14-15; I Samuel 8:19-29).

We don’t know exactly, as we can’t read God’s mind; but I wonder why He did this.  Did He perhaps say, "Okay, I will give you a king; but I'll tell you up-front about all the down-sides of having a human king and I'll make sure that your first one will be a disappointment to you as well as me; and he will not be the fulfillment of my "sceptre" promise to Jacob and Judah.  The initial one will be of the tribe of Benjamin." 

The Judah-line sceptre went first to David, then to his son, Solomon, and then to Rehoboam and the other kings of Judah. 

We tend to think that the sceptre and kingship of Judah lasted for millennia; but it didn’t.  It only lasted for a little over 400 years from about 1010 BC to about 586 BC when the southern House of Judah were taken into captivity in Babylon.  (Actual dates are admittedly debatable depending on the source).  The British Throne has been in existence longer than Jewish kings reigned in Judah. 

When the southern house of Judah was taken into captivity into Babylon, we believe that this Branch 2 of the Royal Family continued via one of King Zedekiah’s daughters (one of whose names is Tea Tephi), whose brothers were executed by Nebuchadnezzar’s forces.  There is some evidence that she escaped with Jeremiah, and emigrated to Ireland (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_legendary_kings_of_Britain#Tea_Tephi).

From Ireland, we understand that, along with the Stone of Scone, the sceptre –  the Royal Family of Judah – was moved to Scotland and eventually to England, possibly a fulfillment of the "three overturns" prophecy of Ezekiel 21:25-27:

1. Judah to Ireland
2. Ireland to Scotland
3. Scotland to England

But Branch 1, still of the royal line of Judah, continued very low-key in Babylon in captivity in Babylon and in Palestine after the captivity for another 580 years, until the birth of Jesus who, right from His human birth was known as the "King of the Jews."  We hear or read this title; but we tend to take it for granted.  We shouldn't because it is very significant.

Matthew 2:1: 
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

Let's pause for as moment because "Herod the king" is mentioned here.  Have ever wondered about him and the line of Herods?  Were they not the rightful "kings of the Jews" as they certainly considered themselves to be?  

No!  They were not even of the tribe of Judah.  They were not even Israelites!  They were Edomites!  Descendants of Jacob’s brother Esau!  And as such they were what we might rightly term illegal kings in Judea in New Testament times. 

But what about "the King of the Jews" who was mentioned 17 times throughout the gospel accounts?  Continuing in Matthew 2:

2:  Saying, "Where is he that is born King of the Jews?  For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship Him.

It is easy to understand why this Herod was upset at what the wise men (Magi) were asking him here.

As this symbolism frequently appears throughout the scriptures, we believe that the "star" mentioned here could have been an angel.

But who was it who told the Magi that Jesus was a King – the king of the Jews?  Was it an angel – perhaps the same "star angel" who led these wise men via Jerusalem to Jesus’ birth place in Bethlehem?  We don’t know; but they certainly did know.  They knew that He was rightly to be called "The King of the Jews." 

As we look through Jesus’ human life, other than a few instances, He appeared to be anything but a King.  Was the human Jesus really a King?  Was He really born of the royal line of Judah?  Let’s briefly go through a couple of verses from the two genealogies in Matthew and Luke.  I admit that I always get mixed up between the two, so I always need to look them up.  Matthew's is from Jesus' step-father, Joseph, and Luke's is from His mother, Mary.  Still, both include the royal line back to Judah:

Matthew 1:1: 
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

We all know the royalty that is there.  David!

2:  Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
3: And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;
4: And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;
5:  And Salmon begat Booz {Boaz} of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
6:  And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias.
7:  And Solomon begat Roboam {Rehoboam}; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa...
11:  And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon...

So we see the royal line going through there.  But this branch continued low-key in and after the captivity:

12:  And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel...
16:  And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

Now here is Luke's genealogy:

Luke 3:
23:  And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli... 
31:  Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David,
32:  Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Booz {Boaz}, which was the son of Salmon, which was the son of Naasson,
33:  Which was the son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, which was the son of Esrom, which was the son of Phares, which was the son of Juda,
34: Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham,

The two genealogies separate after David: Matthew's one through Joseph goes back through David's son Solomon.  Luke's one through Mary goes back through David's son Nathan.  But please notice that in both genealogies, Jesus' line runs back through King David through the line of Phares to Judah.  Over and over again in the gospel accounts, Jesus is referred to as "the son of David." 

Even the demons that Jesus encountered knew this, and they called Him by that name, "son of David."  We know that David certainly was of the royal line of Judah.

Shortly before His arrest, trials and death, Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9 by riding into Jerusalem on a donkey.  The wording is very relevant to our study:

John 12:
12:  On the next day much people that were come to the Feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
13:  Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet Him, and cried, "Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that comes in the name of the Lord."
14:  And Jesus, when He had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,
15: "Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, your King comes, sitting on an ass’s colt."

Twice here, the people refer to Him as "the King of Israel" and "your King" – the King of Sion, which is pen name for Jerusalem, Judah, or even all Israel.

This welcome of Jesus appears to have been very symbolic in showing that, even as a human being, He certainly was a King – logically and legally of the royal line of Judah.

However, for the time being, in order to fulfill His human role, He knew that He must remain meek and submissive, both to His heavenly Father; but also even to the earthly powers – and even unto death:

Philippians 2:
7:  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8:  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Just a few days after Jesus’ triumphant and symbolic entry into Jerusalem, He was on trial.  In one of His trials He came before Pontius Pilate, who asked Him if He really was a King.  Let's see what Jesus answered:

John 18:
33:  Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, "Are you the King of the Jews?"
34:  Jesus answered him, "Say you this thing of yourself, or did others tell it you of me?"
35:  Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew?  Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you unto me: what have you done?"
36:  Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence"...

"Not from hence" means "Not of this time and place."

37:  Pilate therefore said unto Him, "Art you a king then?"  Jesus answered, You say that I am a king.  To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.  Every one that is of the truth hears my voice."

In modern speech, Jesus was saying to Pilate, "You said it!"  Yes, Jesus was a King. Jesus is a King.  But His Kingdom was not of this world – not of this kosmos – not of this age. 

The earthly part of Jesus’ Kingdom was given temporarily into the hands of another prince: the prince of devils, the prince of this world, and the prince of the power of the air – Satan the devil.  (See Matthew 9:34; 12:24; Mark 3:22; John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; Ephesians 2:2). 

This whole physical Kingdom, ultimately belonging to Jesus, has been temporarily given into the hands of this counterfeit prince.  We need to remember that Satan is the great counterfeiter and that we really do need to be able to recognize the difference between the true King and the prince of devils.  One day, I believe that prophecies reveal and warn God's people that we are all  going to be challenged with a major, powerful deceit of Satan, so severe that it is going to be very difficult to know the difference.

We just read how Jesus humbly rode a donkey through the streets of Jerusalem, symbolizing His human meekness.  He was symbolizing His perfect willingness to serve His imperfect brothers and sisters and His perfect submission to his Father's perfect will.  But when He returns; yes, "when Shiloh comes" the second time, as we symbolize each year on the Feast of Trumpets, He will not come in meekness.  "When Shiloh comes" the second time, He will come in a blaze of great power and glory:

Matthew 25: 
31:  When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory...

He is going to have a throne; He is going to be a King.

34:  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, "Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world"...
40:  And the King shall answer and say unto them, "Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me."

I quoted these verses to point out that Jesus is the King that is being referred to here, and it is His Kingdom.  But as well as the great glory mentioned twice here, Shiloh will come the second time in great power.  Shiloh will come as a great, powerful King.  We understand that in, order to make and enforce peace, He and His faithful followers will need to overcome those who foolishly try to wage war against them:

Revelation 17:14: 
These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

So in the day that Shiloh comes the second time, not only will He be a king.  He will be the King.  He will be the King of kings.  Here it is again:

Revelation 19:16: 
And He has on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Question:  When that day arrives, will the royal sceptre of Judah have been carried all the way through the centuries and millennia, from Jacob’s deathbed prophecy of Genesis 49:10?  The answer is: Yes, it will have:

Hebrews 1:
1: God {the Father}, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 
2:  Has in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds;
3:  Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high...
8:  But unto the Son He says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of your kingdom.

Why am I telling you all of this?  Because I want to assert the fact that Jesus Christ is the ultimate promise of the Abrahamic Covenant.  Not the "Race" promises.  Not the land, although that is all very nice, the wonderful real estate that has been given to the Israelitish nations.  But we need to concentrate on the " single seed" – Jesus Christ. 

Again, let’s not get too hung up on the “Race” part of the Abrahamic Covenant promises.  Let’s get our priorities right, and let’s point our minds, and our spiritual eyes in the right direction.   Let’s focus on the “Grace” part of the Abrahamic Covenant promises, and let’s focus on the "singular seed" that we talked about last time.  Let’s focus on Shiloh.  Let’s focus on the King of Kings.  Let’s focus on Jesus Christ our Lord!

JHP/pp/jhp