Sharon Reformed Presbyterian Church · Sermon study sheet

Judah's Inheritance

Bryan Schneider · May 21, 2022

Joshua 15

sharonrpc.org/sermons/judah-s-inheritance

Summary

Joshua 15's long boundaries and city lists are inspired testimony that God gave Judah a real, particular inheritance rather than an abstract promise.
Judah receives the first western allotment because Jacob's blessing assigns the scepter and the obedience of the peoples to Judah.
Reuben, Simeon, and Levi show the destructive consequences of instability, sexual sin, anger, cruelty, and self-will, while Judah is appointed to lead.
Judah's inability to remove the Jebusites from Jerusalem exposes the incomplete character of Israel's conquest and mirrors the believer's continuing struggle with sin.
David later captures Jerusalem, but even David cannot fulfill the full royal promise or provide the sinless King God's people need.
The overlooked town of Bethlehem becomes the birthplace of the everlasting ruler, Jesus Christ, the Lion of Judah and greater David.
The Christian inheritance is not finally land, possessions, or an earthly kingdom, but Christ himself and everlasting joy with him in the heavenly Jerusalem.

Do I receive difficult lists and geographical details as part of God's inspired and purposeful Word?
What do the failures of Jacob's older sons teach me about the lasting damage of lust, instability, anger, and cruelty?
Where is there an unconquered stronghold of recurring sin in my own conduct or desires?
Why can neither Judah nor David provide the complete victory and righteous rule God's people need?
How do Bethlehem and the promise of the scepter point to the identity of Jesus?
Which temporary inheritance am I tempted to pursue as though it could satisfy forever?
Is my chief hope possession of a kingdom, or communion with the King himself?

Judah: Jacob's fourth son and the tribe appointed to royal leadership, from which David and ultimately Jesus the Messiah come.
Allotment: The concrete territory distributed under God's direction as Judah's share of the promised land.
Scepter: The symbol of royal rule promised to Judah until the coming of the ruler to whom the peoples belong.
Jebusites: The inhabitants of Jerusalem whom Judah did not dislodge, leaving the conquest incomplete until David's later capture of the city.
Greater David: Jesus Christ, the final King from Judah who fulfills the royal promise and defeats sin, death, and Satan.
Heavenly Jerusalem: The perfected dwelling of God with his redeemed people, secured and ruled by Christ rather than built by human conquest.