Two Lions

This morning as I was spending time with the Lord, I was reminded of how important it is that I lean heavily upon Him.  One commentator I read recently wrote about the meaning of faith; that faith puts all our weight on the object of our faith.  For me, that means all my weight must be on Jesus, the author and perfector of my faith.  I tend to lean many places- often on myself, but that is not what God wants for those of us who have faith in him.  

In 1941 a photograph was taken of Winston Churchill.  The picture is now famous and is entitled, The Roaring Lion.  The photographer portrayed Churchill’s essence beautifully.  He sat sternly and seemed to have a roar; this image captured all of that.  

Churchill was not the original Roaring Lion.  In 1 Peter 5:8, we read Peter’s description of our enemy, ^“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”  What an apt description!  Our enemy is just that, a loud, noisy, fierce, looking foe.  But he is also a defeated foe.  His roar can intimidate us, but understanding he is already defeated makes that roar non-effective.  This is a truth we ABSOLUTELY must believe and remember daily!  

Another lion is mentioned in Scripture, the Lion of Judah.  This Lion is the victorious one.  The one who has already taken the upper hand by defeating the enemy.  Remember those glorious words Jesus spoke on the cross; It is finished!”  In Revelation 5:5, John writes, ^“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.”  I am so glad I am numbered with those who lean on the Lion of Judah in faith.

In Isaiah 30, the people of Judah were making a treaty with Egypt.  They had forgotten about leaning on their God and were looking to lean elsewhere; in this case, they were willing to lean on Egypt for their protection.  They were putting their faith in their wisdom, their treaty with Egypt.  But God wanted the people to trust him.  In Isaiah 30:15, we read, “This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength.”  Such a great reminder to the people of Judah to lean on their God for help.  But then come these words, “But you would have none of it.”  The people of Judah were rejecting their God -their Lion of Judah to lean elsewhere. 

Daily we have a choice to put our weight on the roaring lion of this world or lean with all our weight on the victorious one, the glorious Lion of Judah.  I am thankful that the Lion of Judah has finished the fight and made a way for me to lean wholly on him.