Topical Bible: The Lion: Active

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Topical Encyclopedia

The lion, a symbol of strength, majesty, and power, is frequently mentioned throughout the Bible. Its presence in Scripture serves as a metaphor for both divine and earthly authority, as well as a representation of danger and destruction. The lion's characteristics and behaviors are used to convey various spiritual truths and moral lessons.

Symbol of Strength and Majesty

In the Bible, the lion is often associated with strength and majesty. Proverbs 30:30 describes the lion as "mighty among beasts and does not retreat before any." This depiction highlights the lion's fearless nature and its position as the king of the animal kingdom. The lion's strength is also used to illustrate the power and authority of God. In Hosea 11:10, it is written, "They will walk after the LORD; He will roar like a lion. When He roars, His children will come trembling from the west." Here, the lion's roar symbolizes God's commanding presence and the call to His people.

Representation of Danger and Destruction

The lion is also portrayed as a symbol of danger and destruction. In 1 Peter 5:8, believers are warned, "Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." This imagery serves as a caution against spiritual complacency and the ever-present threat of evil. Similarly, in the Old Testament, the lion is often used to describe the ferocity of enemies and the peril they pose. For instance, in Jeremiah 4:7, the prophet declares, "A lion has gone up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations has set out."

Metaphor for Righteousness and Justice

The lion is also used metaphorically to represent righteousness and justice. In the prophetic vision of Isaiah 11:6-7, the peaceable kingdom is described: "The wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat; the calf and young lion and fattened calf together; and a little child will lead them." This imagery of harmony among natural enemies, including the lion, symbolizes the coming reign of the Messiah, where justice and peace will prevail.

The Lion of Judah

One of the most significant references to the lion in the Bible is the title "Lion of Judah," which is ascribed to Jesus Christ. This title is rooted in Genesis 49:9-10, where Jacob blesses his son Judah, saying, "Judah is a lion’s cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He crouches; he lies down like a lion, and like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?" The Lion of Judah signifies Christ's royal lineage, His authority, and His ultimate victory over sin and death. In Revelation 5:5, this title is reaffirmed: "Then one of the elders said to me, 'Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed to open the scroll and its seven seals.'"

Conclusion

The lion, as depicted in the Bible, serves as a powerful symbol with multifaceted meanings. It represents strength, majesty, danger, and justice, and ultimately points to the sovereignty and victory of Jesus Christ, the Lion of Judah. Through these depictions, the lion continues to inspire awe and reverence, reminding believers of the power and authority of God.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 33:22
And of Dan he said, Dan is a lion's whelp: he shall leap from Bashan.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

One Lion Two Lions no Lion at All
... "A strong lion is in the streets." So now there were two active enemies"two
unconquerable difficulties" instead of one; and as an old Puritan observes, the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/one lion two lions no.htm

Discipline
... of the good man; that he, the perfect Christ, who is the Lion of Judah ... But here you
may have them, I trust, quickened into more active life, strengthened into ...
/.../kingsley/discipline and other sermons/sermon i discipline.htm

October the Tenth Our Refuge and Strength
... But we also need the "strength." This is positive equipment for active service. ... We
"ride abroad, redressing human wrongs." We "tread upon the lion and the adder ...
/.../my daily meditation for the circling year/october the tenth our refuge.htm

What to do with the Devil
... trust in the Lord to put his Spirit upon you when there is need of it, you may overcome
Satan as easily as Samson did the lion. ... Use it in active service for God ...
//christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/talk twenty-one what to do.htm

Epistle v. To Theoctista, Sister of the Emperor.
... not, Leah has been coupled with me in the night, to wit, the active life; fruitful ...
Lo, our most serene Lord the Emperor has ordered an ape to be made a lion. ...
/.../the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle v to theoctista sister.htm

A Book of Modern Social Inquiry Has a Shape that is Somewhat ...
... But Britain is no more an organism than Britain is a lion. ... We should not by any means
all admit that an active aristocracy would be a good thing. ...
/.../chesterton/whats wrong with the world/chapter 1 a book of.htm

Letter ix. To Maximus the Philosopher.
... who, "after a look at a claw, could tell how big the whole lion, formed in ... he is
"Sabellius the Libyan." His active life was Roman; his views popular in the ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter ix to maximus the.htm

How to Make Use of Christ as the Life when the Soul is Dead as to ...
... 3. There is a lying by, and not stirring up ourselves to an active way of going ... own
way of doing duty, as the sluggard will say, that there is a lion in the way ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/chapter xxiii how to make.htm

The Sucker from the Felled Oak
... the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall
eat ... His repose is full of active energy; His active energy is full of repose. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the sucker from the felled.htm

The New Heart
... Try and improve the lion as long as ye like"Van Amburgh himself, if he ... He must lie
passive there"he shall become active afterwards"but in the moment when ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the new heart.htm