By: Juliet Constantine
My soul is among lions; I lie among the sons of men who are set on fire, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. (Psalm 57:4)
In encounters with the king of beasts, an unarmed person is “one of the most helpless creatures,” notes Charles Guggisberg in Simba: the Life of the Lion. “Man cannot run as fast as a zebra or a gazelle, he has not the horns of the sable antelope or the tusks of the warthog, and he cannot deal terrific blows like the giraffe.” People are, in other words, easy pickings. Even though Africa’s lion populations have been drastically reduced in the past decades, lions still regularly eat people; it’s not uncommon for them to kill more than 100 people a year in Tanzania alone. (SmithsonianMag)
David- Israel’s anointed and chosen King elected, in his running and hidings from Israel’s then rejected King, described his situation as being in the midst of lions. King Saul was determined to destroy David because he became famous due his many victories over their enemies and his sure ascendancy to the throne. “My soul is among lions” David sang. His life was in danger. Saul and his band behaved like man-eating lions hunting their prey. Even though he was in extreme danger, David knew that God would keep him safe – and He did. With faith David could say, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me ...”(Psalm 23:4).
Like David, God’s children live among men set on fire. Their hatred of Christians burned like fire in their hearts. They are malicious people who are like man-eating lions, carrying a whole armoury in their mouths to kill and destroy. Their destroying acts are sometimes so final - and to think that the tongue, sharpened on the devil’s grindstone, is more terrible than any weapon raised against God’s people. But we need not fear. Rest assured that “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.” (Isa.54:17).
Our help is in the Lord.
Whatever struggles that you are called upon to bear, endure it patiently. Just as God sent angels to shut the mouth of lions for Daniel, and kept David from the destroying ‘man-eating lion’ band of Saul, you can be assured that He will work it out for you. Just keep your eyes on Him and not on the struggles. Take courage. Even if He permitted ‘men-eating lions’ to destroy you, it is for His glory.
Let’s remember that “… the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds”(2 Cor. 10:4).
Oh my Father in Heaven, thank You for keeping us in the midst of ‘men-eating lions’. Please help us to always look to You – our help comes from You. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
Copyrighted by Juliet Constantine 2014 (for “Alone With God – Finding Jesus In The Scriptures” Daily Devotional)
