Tag Praise and worship

Why Judah? Why Praise?

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

1. Judah’s name was prophetic from birth

When Leah gave birth to her fourth son, she said:

“This time I will praise the LORD.”
— Genesis 29:35

The Hebrew word she used was “yadah” — to lift hands, to confess, to declare praise.

So the child was named Judah (Yehudah) — literally “Praise.”

Judah wasn’t named after a tribe.
The tribe was named after praise.

This matters because in Scripture, names reveal assignment.

Judah’s assignment was praise.

2. Judah was chosen to go first in battle

God commanded:

“Judah shall go up first.”
— Judges 1:2

Not because they were the strongest.
Not because they were the largest.
Not because they were the most skilled.

But because praise is the spiritual breaker.

Praise:

  • disarms fear
  • shifts atmosphere
  • invites divine strategy
  • confuses the enemy
  • opens the way for God to move

Judah went first because praise breaks open what human strength cannot.

3. Judah carried the scepter — the authority

Jacob prophesied:

“The scepter shall not depart from Judah…”
— Genesis 49:10

Meaning:

  • authority flows through praise
  • kingship flows through praise
  • Messiah Himself would come through praise

Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah — the Lion of Praise.

This is why worship is not warm‑up.
It is governmental.
It is warfare.
It is kingdom alignment.

4. Judah camped on the EAST side of the tabernacle

East = the place of rising, the place of first light, the place of new beginnings.

Judah was positioned:

  • at the entrance
  • at the front
  • at the place where the glory would rise

Praise always stands at the gate of what God is about to do.

5. Judah led the procession when the ark moved

Whenever the presence moved, praise moved first.

This is why worship is not optional.
It is protocol.
It is order.
It is alignment with heaven’s pattern.

Why Judah Still Goes First?

There’s a truth I’ve learned over 30 years of worship ministry:
what happens before a single note is played determines everything that happens after.

Worship cannot be improvised.
Worship must be carried.

Why Judah — Not Levi — Goes First

Most believers assume Levi (the priestly tribe) should lead the way. After all, Levi handled the sacrifices, the tabernacle, the holy things. But God didn’t say, “Let Levi go first.” He said:

“Judah shall go up first.”
Judges 1:2

Why?

Because Levi represents ministry to God.
Judah represents movement with God.

Levi tended the altar.
Judah opened the way.

Levi maintained the sanctuary.
Judah broke the ground.

Levi handled the rituals.
Judah carried the roar.

Levi served inside the camp.
Judah led outside the camp.

Levi ministered in order.
Judah ministered in authority.

This is why the Messiah did not come as:

  • the Lamb of Levi
  • the Priest of Levi
  • the Teacher of Levi

He came as:

“The Lion of the tribe of Judah.”
Revelation 5:5

Because the Lion leads.
The Lion breaks.
The Lion goes first.

Why This Matters for Worship Today

Most churches have reversed the order.

They treat worship like:

  • warm‑up
  • emotional prep
  • filler
  • a musical appetizer before the sermon

But in Scripture, worship is warfare.

Judah wasn’t chosen because they could sing.
Judah was chosen because they could shift the battle.

When Judah went first:

  • enemies were confused
  • atmospheres changed
  • fear broke
  • God’s presence manifested
  • victory was secured before the fight began

A church service is not a call of duty — it is a battleground.

People walk in carrying:

  • bondage
  • depression
  • spiritual heaviness
  • confusion
  • generational patterns
  • demonic oppression
  • fear
  • unbelief

And the first line of spiritual engagement is not the sermon —
it is Judah.

If Judah is weak, unprepared, distracted, or spiritually empty, the entire service suffers.

If Judah is strong, aligned, prayed up, and surrendered, the entire service shifts.

Those called to lead worship must prepare for battle, not just fulfill an obligation.

A worship leader who doesn’t prepare spiritually is like a soldier showing up without armor.

This year start off by making room for the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Let praise be forever on your lips.

SELAH

Worship Is Our Warfare: Reclaiming Praise with Purpose

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

Worship is more than a song. It is a weapon we wield.



In a world noisy with distraction and heavy with unseen battles, worship remains one of the most powerful weapons God has placed in our hands. Not a soundtrack for Sunday. Not an emotional indulgence. But a deliberate, Spirit-anchored declaration that God is God — and we are His.

📖 More Than a Melody — A Battle Cry

Throughout Scripture, we see worship wielded like a sword:

King Jehoshaphat sent singers ahead of soldiers (2 Chronicles 20:21–22), and God Himself set ambushes.

Paul and Silas sang in chains (Acts 16:25–26), and the foundations of the prison trembled.

The psalmist spoke of praises paired with a double-edged sword (Psalm 149:6–9), symbolic of divine authority.

These weren’t acts of passive praise. They were bold movements of faith that invited divine disruption.

🎺 Jericho Jazz & the Wall-Fall Waltz

Now imagine the folks in Jericho watching this parade of priests and trumpeters circle their city. Day after day, they see the same scene: a mariachi band of misfits marching in silence, save for the occasional trumpet blast.

At first, they might have laughed, pointing and jeering from the safety of their walls. But as the days wore on, perhaps their laughter turned to unease. What kind of army fights with music? What kind of strategy is this?

And then, on the seventh day, the music swelled, the people shouted, and the walls that had stood for generations crumbled like sandcastles under a tidal wave.

This wasn’t just a battle won; it was a divine declaration. Worship wasn’t their weapon — it was their witness.

🌊 Noah and the Ark: A Parallel of Faith

The story of Jericho harkens back to Noah, who built the Ark of safety while his neighbors mocked him, believing he had lost his mind. Just as Noah’s neighbors trusted in their own understanding and dismissed the warnings, the people of Jericho trusted in their man-made fortress, believing their walls were impenetrable.

But when the Shout came, their sense of security crumbled along with their walls. They were unprepared because their trust was misplaced.

Thus is the power of praise. Worship centered on God’s might and not on our own creations is our weapon; it is our warfare.

🙌 Worship with Intent, Not Emotion

Vibrant worship is heartfelt, yes — but it is also directed. It honors God not merely in volume or vibe, but in posture:

A posture of surrender, where we relinquish control.

A posture of dependency, where we declare, “You alone are my shield” (Psalm 3:3).

A posture of remembrance, where we reinforce our identity as conquerors in Christ (Romans 8:37).

Lip service may sound sweet to ears, but it does not shake kingdoms. True worship is not a performance — it’s a positioning.

🕊️ Where Praise Dwells, God Defends

When our praise rises, God defends.

Psalm 22:3 reminds us that God inhabits the praises of His people. This means that when we worship, we invite His presence into our battles.

Consider the walls of Jericho. They didn’t fall because of brute force or military strategy. They fell because God responded to the faith-filled worship of His people.

In the same way, our worship today can dismantle strongholds — not just physical ones, but spiritual ones.

Reflect & Respond

What walls are you facing? Take a moment to identify the barriers in your life that seem insurmountable.

Where is your trust? Are you relying on your own strength, or are you placing your faith in God’s power?

How can you worship intentionally? Consider ways to make your worship more than a melody — a deliberate act of faith.

As you reflect, remember that worship is not just a song; it’s a stance. It’s not just an expression; it’s an invitation for God to move.

So lift your voice, raise your hands, and let your praise rise. The walls won’t stand a chance.

Let’s Hear Your Voice

Testimony of God’s deliverance, shout your praise, sound your trumpet of triumph, and join us in marching together as we worship the King of Kings. Share your thoughts and comments — we’d love to hear from you!

This has been a View From the Nest. Be sure to like and share! Until next time, be blessed!

🌅 Wednesday Worship: Great Is Thy Faithfulness – A Hymn of Steadfast Hope

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

🎵 Intro: The Song That Refuses to Expire

There’s something timeless about a melody that echoes eternity. Great Is Thy Faithfulness isn’t flashy—it’s quietly strong, like the steady sunrise or the whisper of grace when you least expect it. This isn’t a song for the mountaintops. It was born in the valleys.

📖 Historical Backdrop

Thomas Chisholm, the hymn’s author, didn’t write from abundance—he wrote from dependence. His life, marked by frail health and modest means, shines with the truth that God’s faithfulness doesn’t depend on our circumstances. It endures.

Chisholm once said:
“I wanted to write something that would show the faithfulness of God as I had experienced it during my many years.”
And so this hymn became a testimony—not to triumph, but to trust.

✨ Lyrical Meditation: “Morning by morning new mercies I see”

How often do we overlook the miracle of “morning”? Not just the literal dawn, but the daily divine reset. The lyric echoes Lamentations 3:22–23:

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

When Chisholm wrote “new mercies,” he was reflecting on the faithful provisions of God that arrive like clockwork, not because we deserve them, but because He’s faithful.

🛡️ Biblical Anchors

  • James 1:17 — “Every good and perfect gift is from above…who does not change like shifting shadows.”
  • Psalm 119:90 — “Your faithfulness continues through all generations.”
  • Hebrews 13:8 — “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Each of these verses confirms what the hymn proclaims: God doesn’t flinch, falter, or fade.

💬 Personal Reflection Prompt

Think of a moment recently, when God showed up, not dramatically, but dependably—in a steady provision, a quiet comfort, or the grace to make it through a hard morning. That’s the kind of faithfulness this hymn celebrates. Write it down. Sing about it. Tell someone.

🔥 Closing Challenge

This week, look for mercy not in the miraculous—but in the mundane. Let each sunrise be a reminder that God remains. That His love still holds. That faithfulness isn’t an event; it’s His essence.