I cry out to God Most High
to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.
3 He will send help from heaven to rescue me,
disgracing those who hound me.
My God will send forth his unfailing love and faithfulness.
4 I am surrounded by fierce lions
who greedily devour human prey—
whose teeth pierce like spears and arrows,
and whose tongues cut like swords. Psm 57:2-4
Let’s just face it. This world is a lion’s den. Oh not everyone out there is a lion but there are enough to go around, sho’ nuff. If you make it through to your full seventy years chances are you are going to run into at least one ravening lion. I’m not talking about a skunk or a badger or even a nasty dog of a person. The lions are those who not only annoy your steps but who threaten your very existence. They have the power to steal your dreams and reduce your hopes to rubble. They are the people who stand like shadows on the edge of your nightmares waiting to pounce and take everything that seems good and gracious in life. In the Bible they are the Serpents, the Cains, the Pharaohs, the Sauls and the Judas’.
So what’s a person to do when facing a lion? Do what the psalmist did. Do what Daniel did. Cry out to God and let Him be the one to shut the mouth of the lion. We serve a God who doesn’t expect us to fight our own battles. He expects us to give the battle over to Him. If He needs our help He will be sure to tell us. More often than not He will probably tell us…
You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’ 2 Chron. 20:17
Lillie-Put 
How ironic. I was just studying this last night – Daniel in the lion’s den. At times we do have to face the lion and at times I think it’s a test to see just how much we do trust the Lord. Sometimes we pass and other times, well we get bit. 🙂
Yes it does happen. While God closed the lion’s mouth for Daniel it doesn’t always happen that way but somehow even when the lion’s are let to attack it is to draw us closer to where God would have us.
Thank you, Pastor J once again your post is the encouraging word I needed today! I, especially needed to hear this part of the scripture, “You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you…” God Bless you, Pastor J as you follow His lead!
The deliverance may look a little different with every situation and sometimes it may even look like a loss in battle ( like the crucifixion); But always God is standing at the ready to bring His resurrection power in at just the right moment. Be blessed sister!
His timing is always perfect! I may not understand His timing sometimes but what I do know is that He will work all things together for good for those that love Him. Amen!
Amen!
Well, I passed my seventy years almost eight year ago, and yes, I’ve encountered a few lions in those years.
I would note two things about my ‘lions’. . .
1. The ones I encountered in my first 22 years (before Christ) were the most violent and I had no power outside of myself to fight them. They almost destroyed me, but looking back, I would have to say I am thankful for them. Even though I did not know God, He used them in my life to bring me to Himself and to make me what I am.
2. The lions I have encountered in more recent years had the power to be just as destructive and I (I myself) would have had no power against them. The worst was a ‘lion’ who was a very, very close friend and ministry partner for many years, but praise God for the empowerment and enabling of Holy Spirit, and for the victory we have in Christ!
When we submit to God, resist the devil, and allow our loving Father God to work on our behalf, the devil and all his ‘lions’ are defeated.
What an incredibly amazing God!
It is so true. Defeating lions can be a tricky business. The victory often begins looking like a loss but when the resurrection power of Jesus is added to it the lion lies defeated and we rise triumphant. We serve a God who creates victory out of our ashes!
AMEN!!!