LION SLAYER

On some weeks I know what I am going to blog and post, and then there are others like this week when I was struggling with a topic and clueless but thank God, He gave me a useable topic in the nick of time. On yesterday He reminded me of a vital fact as I was reading the September 6, 2019 article in the Simply Christ Newsletter titled “The Lion Tamer.”

It was this illustration in the newsletter that prompted this week’s blog. “A man shares his house with a wild hungry lion. This man happens to be a “lion tamer” so he knows how to keep the lion at bay. He seems to be in full control of the lion as he uses the tools of his trade, a whip, and chair. He can make the lion back away. He can make the lion sit. He has power over the lion. As great as this “lion tamer” is, there is one thing he cannot do. He can never close his eyes in rest. If he does, all his power over the lion becomes useless, and the “lion tamer” will be devoured. As long as he lives in this house, this man can have no rest until the lion is dead or until the lion is taken away.”

This illustration reminded me of the scripture in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” To be sober means to be serious, to show self-control, and solemnity. To be vigilant means to be keenly watchful to detect danger, ever awake and alert. Therefore, knowing this scripture and definitions, I must continuously be on my guard for my enemy who has similar characteristics of a lion is ready to pounce on me when I let my guard down.

Besides knowing the lion to be a symbol of strength, power, and courage, let me share some pertinent traits about a lion to help you understand better its movement.

1. Lions live in a group, or pride which consists of several generations of lionesses, their cubs, and a smaller number of breeding males.
2. Lions are carnivores; they eat flesh.
3. Lions have excellent night vision which is an asset in hunting prey.
4. Lions usually rest in the day while it is hot and become active at night when it is cooler.
5. The lion’s roar can be heard up to five miles away, and it is usually done in the evening before a night’s hunt or in the dawn before getting up.
6. Using intelligent hunting tactics, the lionesses working as a group slowly sneak up on the prey, then pauses, crouches and hides until they get close enough to attack. As a group, they knock down the prey and kill it with a bite to the neck or throat.

David said this about killing a lion to King Saul in 1 Samuel 17:34-36a “Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear.” David understood he could not allow the lion to devour the sheep because if not stopped, the lion would think the sheep were easy prey and David’s flock was where it received its daily meal.

Additionally, David knew human attacks against him could be likened to that of an attack of lionesses for he stated in Psalm 27:2-3a “When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear.” Like the attack of the lionesses when the enemy attacks he bombards us in multiple areas to oppress us and make us feel hopeless. He will use generational curses and events to bring us down. He will attack us when we are experiencing dark periods in our life and when we can’t see clearly. His voice in our ear with negativity will be loud to cause us to be intimidated. While in a lethargic state and our guard is down the enemy sees our weakness and vulnerability and plots our demise. And please remember when things are hot the enemy becomes less active; however, when things cool down he becomes active again.

I pray the information I shared in this blog is helpful to you, as I remind you, you do have an enemy that wants to devour you, and your plan of defense requires you to be sober and vigilant.