5. The Lion – Fighting Boldly

“The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion”

(Proverbs 28:1)

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Of all the creatures you are ever likely to see the lion is surely among the most magnificent. There is something about its appearance that impresses us greatly. It is not only its size and shape but also its character. The lion speaks to us of bravery and courage.

If you have been privileged to see a lion in real life then it will have been in a zoo or a wildlife park. The lion was once common in Europe but now it is found only in Africa and India. Lions live in open, grassy plains. They belong to the group of great cats, which includes the leopard and the tiger.

A male lion may be eight feet in length and three feet tall at the shoulder. The lion’s coat is brownish yellow with traces of black and the male lion has a distinctive mane of long hair. Lions hunt at night and it is the female that does most of the stalking and killing of prey.

The lion is mentioned often in the Bible, for in the time when the Scriptures were written it was a common sight in certain places. One of its favourite haunts was alongside the banks of the River Jordan (Jer.49:19). In the Bible the lion is generally associated with cruelty. When Daniel was put into a den of lions the Lord remarkably shut their mouths but when his accusers were cast in the lions “had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces”(Dan.6:24).

At Calvary the Lord Jesus Christ was abandoned by his friends and surrounded by his enemies. Such was his suffering at their hands that he said, “They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion” (Psa.22:13). How wicked man must be to treat the holy and lovely Saviour like that!

It is another feature of the lion however which Solomon refers to in this proverb. The Lord’s people are compared to this animal for boldness. In what way is the Christian like the lion in his confidence?

Firstly the lion is sure of its place. It is a family animal and each family or ‘pride’ of lions has its own territory which is defended against other prides. The adults are protective of their young and affectionate towards them. Lions are at their fiercest when their own space is challenged.

The believer has a special place too. It is “in Christ Jesus”. Once he was “in Adam” and as a sinner he was bound for hell; now by grace he is united to Christ and as a saint he is heading for heaven. He has been pardoned and cleansed and adopted into God’s family.

Can you say that your place is with the Lord’s people? The church is the ‘pride’ which God loves. He has redeemed this precious family with the blood of His own dear Son. If we are converted then we will see that, whatever else may be true of us, the most important thing about us is that we belong to God. We will seek to honour his name and to defend his cause.

Secondly the lion is sure of its power. The lion’s legs are short but its paws are massive with long, sharp claws. Its huge jaws and sharp teeth enable it to deal swiftly with its prey. The lion is “strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any” (Prov.30:30). It is an animal which seems to have no fear.

In a wonderful way the Christian is like this. His heart is like the heart of a lion and he can face every enemy. He can even face God with confidence. What is the secret of his strength?

It is righteousness that gives the believer his confidence. A guilty conscience accuses us and makes us flee but an innocent man is a bold man. And the person who believes in Christ is truly innocent in God’s sight! He is justified by Christ’s obedience. In this way we have “boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus” (Heb.10:19) and we draw near to God.

When we are right with God we will say, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom.8:31). We will possess a power which will enable us to live for Christ. Paul tells of some of the things bold believers have done, fighting the good fight of faith. They have even “stopped the mouths of lions” (Heb.11:33)!

Finally the lion is sure of its preservation. It has no natural predator and will often lie down and sleep in open places. The only animal that might threaten it is another lion.

The Christian’s great enemy is Satan. In the Bible he too is likened to a lion. Peter says: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1Pet.5:8). He is comparing the devil to a young lion, one which is old enough to roar and seek its prey. Left to ourselves we would tremble before the devil.

But there is another lion in the Bible – an old lion. He is called “the Lion of the tribe of Judah” (Rev.5:5). This is our Lord Jesus Christ. In his own mighty courage and strength he has done something to the devil. The Psalmist foretold it: “Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet” (Psa.91:13). These titles belong to Satan; he is the young lion who was trodden down by Christ the old lion at Calvary.

For all his roaring the devil is really a coward. We are told, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (Jam.4:7). In Christ we are able to withstand him and every foe, despite our sin. Are you bold as a lion?