The Lion

The boldness of the lion is noticed in a verse in Isaiah: "Like as the lion and the young lionroaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not beafraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them." In Proverbs, 28 : 1, you will read,"The wicked flee when no man pursueth; but the righteous is as bold as a lion." This is true,dear child; and if you will love God and trust the kind Savior, there is nothing in all the wideworld of which you need be afraid. God can take care of you as he did of Daniel, even if youwere shut up in a dark cave with cruel and hungry lions around you.

The lion lies in his den and sleeps in the daytime, but at night he goes out to find his food. Hiseyes are a little like those of a cat, and he can see in the night better than we can. The Biblesays, "Thou makest darkness and it is night; wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth. The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God. The sun ariseth, they gatherthemselves together, and lay them down in their dens." It has soft feet, like a cat, so that it cancreep quietly along and not frighten the animals that it means to kill, till it comes very nearthem. Sometimes the lion lies in his den, very still, until some animal comes by; then he gives asudden spring, and seizes it just as a cat seizes a mouse. The Bible says, when speaking of awicked man, "He lieth in wait secretly, as a lion in his den; he lieth in wait to catch the poor; hedoth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net."

The lion has very strong claws hidden in the soft cushion of his paws, and when he has caughthis prey he uses them to tear it in pieces. His tongue is like that of a cat, only a great deal morerough, and with this he can strip the flesh off from the bones. David in one of the Psalms praysthat God will save him from an enemy, "Lest," he says, "he tear my soul like a lion, rending it inpieces when there is none to deliver."

The roaring of the lion is very terrible, especially at night. He seems to delight to be wanderingaround for his prey when it is dark and stormy; then when he puts his mouth near the ground, hisroaring sounds like thunder, and all the animals that hear it are full of fear. You have read ofSatan, that most wicked being, who would be glad to make us as wicked as he is; the Bible sayshe is like "a roaring lion, walking about, seeking whom he may devour." Let us pray God tokeep us safe from this roaring lion.

Christ is sometimes called "the Lion of the tribe of Judah." He is always gentle and kind to thosewho love him; but if we will not receive him as our Savior, the day is coming when he will meetus in judgment; then where can his enemies hide themselves.

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