The Lion

"The lion was the most awesome and dangerous wild beast in Canaan. His tawny hide blended into the golden fields and sandy wastes. Lions hid in forests and sometimes pounced from the thickets near the Jordan River (Jer. 49:19).

The Bible contains many references to lions. Daniel miraculously survived a night in a lions' den (Daniel 6). Samson and David killed lions single-handedly (Judg. 14"5-6; Sam. 17:34-37). Kings hunted lions for sport. According to Ezekiel 19:1-9, lions were also captured with pits and nets.

The lion's majestic appearance and fearsome roar prompted many comparisons. The prophet Joel declared, 'The Lord also will roar from Zion' (Joel 3:16). The apostle Peter wrote: 'Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion' (1 Pet. 5:8). The prophet Hosea foretold that God would be like a protective lion for the nation of Israel (Hos. 5:14;...)

Largest and grandest of cats, the lion is filled with power. A swat of his paw can kill. His massive body forces him to rely on strength instead of speed in hunting.

A lion looks and sounds so imposing that he symbolizes royalty and courage. The highest compliment that biblical writers could give was to indicate that a person had the face or heart of a lion. Ari is the most common term for lion. In Isaiah 29:1 Jerusalem is called 'Ariel,' perhaps implying that the capital of Israel is 'the strong [lion-like] city of God.' In some translations of the Bible, a young lion is called a cub (Gen. 49:9, NIV), while other translations use the word 'whelp.'

The Israelite tribes of Judah, Dan, and Gad - and also the nation of Babylon - adopted the lion as their symbol. Jesus is called 'the Lion of the tribe of Judah' (Rev. 5:5). Isaiah the prophet foretold that at the end of time, the Prince of Peace would tame even the fierce heart of the lion (Is. 9:6-7; 11:1-9)." New Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Ronald F. Youngblood, Nelson, 1995

Holy Bible, KJV:
Rev. 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Ju'da, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

Is. 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there shal be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his Kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform it.

Isaiah 11:1-9 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow
out of his roots:And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of
counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the
sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth:
and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay
the wicked.And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf
and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat
straw like the ox.And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on
the cockatrice' den.They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge
of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.

Joel 3:16 The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens
and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the
children of Israel.

The reason I am writing and doing a lion study is because the Holy Spirit has brought this beautiful beast to my attention. When a lion walks, he is not like a kitty. He doesn't pussy-foot around, or get skittish.
The lion walks like who he is. He walks like a majestic being who is simply who he is.
We are called to be lions and lionesses for the kingdom of God. Proverbs 28:1 "The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are as bold as a lion."
Now, David is tied into all this lion study. He killed the lion before he killed Goliath.

So, the text for my Giant Slayer song may be appropriate:

1- It all started a long, long time ago
In the middle of a field, in the center of a soul.
David saw a lion coming and stood upon his feet.
Little Bo Peep ain't gonna lose no sheep.

Refrain: He was the first giant-slayer.
He ain't gonna be the last.
I got something to remember. (There is something to remember)
I surrender all my past. (When you surrender all your past.)
There is one God of Power.
There is One Truth Alive.
I've got everything revealed (When everything's revealed)
In freedom I reside. (In freedom you can reside)
Giant Slayer.

2- That Philistine, Goliath, stood out in the field
Taunting all the Israelites who were smaller than his shield.
He said, Send a man to me. I'll fight him one on one.
For your God is nothing. This war will soon be done.
David was a young man too small to wear the armor.
He said, I'll fight him. For God will overcome here.
The King tried to dissuade him, but David had to go.
And with one stone, he killed the taunter of his soul.
Giant Slayer.

This is extremely important to remember, that God sees the heart. Man looks on the outside, but God sees where you are at, and where you have come from.

He wants to raise up an army of lions who are not afraid to stand up and preach the Gospel. The Gospel is not about condemnation, rather repentance.

Once repentant and turning from the error, the child should be received back, like a prodigal son or daughter. The older lions and lionesses should protect, and guide, and be gentle.

Sometimes we expect a young believer, or a wounded believer to act normal. It won't happen. Let the lions stand up and protect.

And the let the Giant Slayers be all of us.
More later... on the lion