"Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing." Psalms 34:10 (NLT)
A couple of weeks ago, my husband and I decided to go to the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium. It always makes for a fun date day, and nothing gets much better when the weather is ninety and sunny. The animals smiled at us between warm walks, water rides, and lounging in the lazy river. One animal has always stood out to me in strength and beauty: a lion with her cubs.
It's no coincidence that the Scriptures call Jesus the Lion of Judah (Revelation 5:5). Dozens of times in the Bible, lions are described by their strength and power:
-"But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals" (Revelation 5:5, NLT).
-"Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8, NLT).
-"But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death (from the mouth of a lion)" (2 Timothy 4:17, NLT).
-"By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions," (Hebrews 11:33, NLT).
-"They are like hungry lions, eager to tear me apart— like young lions hiding in ambush" (Psalms 17:12, NLT).
-"The lion, king of animals, who won’t turn aside for anything," (Proverbs 30:30, NLT).
-"In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat. The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all" (Isaiah 11:6, NLT).
-"The king’s anger is like a lion’s roar, but his favor is like dew on the grass" (Proverbs 19:12, NLT).
The World Wildlife Foundation calls them the kings of the Jungle, but we call our lion the King of the World.
C.S. Lewis, author of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, describes our King this way:
“'Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great Lion.' 'Ooh,' said Susan. 'I'd thought he was a man. Is he—quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion'... 'Safe?' said Mr Beaver ... 'Who said anything about safe?' 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.'”
Jesus is our mighty and strong lion. Not only does He have the power to save us from our sins, but He fights for us, defending us from the active and prowling enemy.
It seems crazy, controversial, and contradictory that both Satan and Jesus are described as lions. The difference is this: One is for us, and one is against us. One is all-powerful and omniscient, the other feeds off the fear we give him. One has defeated death and given us eternal victory over the grave, while the other will burn beneath the Earth for the rest of his days.
Even strong lions here on Earth run into times of tragedy and famine. Lions are created by God, but they aren't God himself. But our Lion, Jesus Christ, the Lion of Judah, never grows weary or tired. He never slumbers, sleeps, or lacks need. How great is it to serve someone so capable of providing for our every need and defending us along the way?
Jesus Christ is our personal and intimate Lion of Judah. He's our bodyguard and our sense of bravery, nobility, and strength. Through Jesus' birth, death, and resurrection, His authority as the Lion of Judah is revealed. Our Lion is sovereign, holy, and dominant. He's powerful, but gentle. He's wise and steadfast. And He's always fighting on our behalf, as an honorable lion does.
Let's pray:
Dear God, thank you for being the Lion that fights for us and stands up for us in every need. Though earthly lions may grow tired, famished, and weak, you never do. We don't trust in them, Lord, but you. You are the true Lion of Judah who not only provides for our every need, but does so with strength, power, and beauty. Thank you for revealing yourself to us through nature and animals and reminding us that while earthly creatures may fail and grow tired, you're faithful, steadfast, and true. We love and praise you, Lord. Amen.
Agape, Amber
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/KristiLinton
Related Resource: Instead of Doing More This Summer, Maybe You Need to Do Less
If you've been feeling tired, overwhelmed, depleted, or just quietly wondering where God is in the middle of a very full life — this episode is for you. And honestly? It might be for me too, because I'm recording this in one of those seasons myself.
Today we're doing something a little different. Instead of going deep in a passage, we're talking about what to do when deep feels like too much — when you need less, not more. Specifically, I'm walking you through one of my favorite practices for weary seasons: handwriting scripture.
Not typing it. Not scrolling past it. Actually writing it out, slowly, in your own hand — because something happens in your brain when you do that. The words land differently. They go deeper. And over time, they become part of that personal library of God's voice that the Holy Spirit can pull from when you need it most. That's what Psalm 119:11 means when it says I have hidden your word in my heart — it's scripture moving into your long-term memory, where it lives and stays even when you haven't opened your Bible in weeks.
I'm sharing the five verses I wrote out for myself today — and why each one hit me fresh even though I've known some of them for years. This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to follow the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Friday, 16 August 2024.
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