THE BIRTH OF PRAISE

THE BIRTH OF PRAISE

Genesis 29:31-35. And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. 32And Leah conceived, and bare a son and she called his name Reuben: for she said, surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me. 33And she conceived again, and bares a son; and said, because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon. 34 And she conceived again, and bares a son; and said; Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi. 35And she conceived again, and bares a son: and she said, now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.

I.                   The story of Leah

A.                Her beauty

1.                 Leah knew that she did not look as good as her little sister Rachel

a)                Whether it was in her face or her figure

b)                She understood that Rachel was more attractive than her

(1)             The Bible even declares that Rachel was beautiful

c)                 She suffered with feelings of inadequacy

2.                 This was reinforced in Leah on the day of her wedding

a)                She was only able to be married to Jacob due to deception

b)                Her Father, Laban was basically saying, “You’ll never be able to get married on your own

c)                 Jacob never chose Leah, she was never special to him

B.                 Her Marriage

1.                 After she was married to Jacob, he worked another seven years to be able to marry Rachel.

a)                He was never content with her.

b)                She could never please or satisfy her husband

2.                 She was hated – disfavored

a)                Jacob was indifferent to her

b)                He did not care for her at all

c)                 Jacob never failed to express his love for Rachel

C.                 The Lord Saw Leah

1.                 Leah had a secret pain

a)                She couldn’t find comfort with her husband

b)                She couldn’t find comfort with her sister

(1)             She really didn’t have anyone that she could talk to about it

2.                 But God saw her pain

a)                God saw the secret hurt in her heart

b)                When no one else knows, God knows

II.                 Leah’s Sons

A.                Biblical names

1.                 Biblical names mean something

2.                 People were named for the circumstances that surrounded their birth.

3.                 Leah named the children, Jacob

B.                 Reuben

1.                 Reuben means – seeing or sight

a)                This is on two levels

(1)             First God has seen me and blessed me

(2)             Second, now my husband will see me and love me

b)                But nothing changed

C.                 Simeon

1.                 Simeon means hearing or heard

a)                Again this is on two levels

(1)             First God has heard me and blessed me

(2)             Second, now my husband will listen to me and acknowledge me

b)                But again nothing changed

D.                Levi

1.                 Levi means to be joined or together

a)                This is only on one level

(1)             Unlike the other two, God is not even mentioned at the birth of Levi.

(2)             I want to be joined to my husband

(3)             I want us to be a family

b)                But nothing changed

E.                 Judah

1.                 Judah means praise

a)                After trying to get Jacob’s attention for all these years

b)                Leah made a decision that this next boy isn’t going to be about Jacob at all.

c)                 I’m going to name him Judah, and I’m going to praise the Lord

III.              The Lineage of Praise

A.                The Tribe of Judah

1.                 Judah’s descendents became a great tribe in the nation of Israel

a)                Over 1 million people by the time of the Exodus from Egypt

2.                 Praise makes the church grow.

a)                When you start praising God, it just has a tendency to grow and become bigger

b)                Because as you lift up Jesus, he draws all men unto him

B.                 Judah at the Door

1.                 After the Exodus and during the time of wandering in the desert

2.                 Israel created the Tabernacle in the Wilderness

3.                 Every time that they stopped to make camp, the first thing that went up was the Tabernacle.

4.                 The tribe that set up their tents right at the door of the Tabernacle was always Judah

a)                You couldn’t get to the door without going by praise

b)                All the other tribes were looking at the walls, but Judah was looking at the door.

5.                 You can’t find your way out of your situation?

a)                It’s time to praise the Lord

b)                Your praise might show someone else the door to the presence of God

C.                 David

1.                 Was the greatest earthly king that Israel ever had.

2.                 He was anointed and chosen by God to be the king of Israel

3.                 David was a descendent from the Tribe of Judah

a)                After countless defeats – Israel’s greatest victories came under the rule of David

b)                You can’t get the victory over your enemy?

c)                 It’s time to praise the Lord

d)                Your praise can bring you the victory

(1)             Walls of Jericho came down

(2)             Sis. O’Donell

(3)             Paul & Silas released from Prison

(4)             From Jerry Jones, death-row inmate – baptized and the chains fell off

(5)             Both guards got baptized as well

D.                Jesus Christ

1.                 Jesus was born to Joseph and Mary

a)                Joseph was the descendant of David – he was from the Tribe of Judah

b)                Jesus was born in Bethlehem – which is called the city of David

c)                 Your praise can bring you salvation

(1)             You receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit when you start praising God

IV.              Let’s praise the Lord

A.                Those who can praise God

Psalm 115:17 The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.

1.                 The only ones that cannot praise the Lord are those that are dead.

a)                If you’ve got life you can praise the Lord

B.                 From the Heart

1.                 I praise God in my heart, God knows that I praise Him from within

Matthew 12:34 …for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

a)                Praise in your heart comes out of your mouth

b)                Praise in your heart comes out in your hands

c)                 Praise in your heart comes out in your feet

d)                Praise in your heart comes out in your life

C.                 How can we praise the Lord?

Psalm 150:1-6
Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.