Seeking whom he may devour
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A grown lion can be anywhere from 5.5 to 8.5 feet long from head to tail. A lion can stand about 4 feet tall at the shoulders. It is a big yellowish, brownish, cat with huge feet, strong shoulders, and a beautiful mane. I think we all know what a lion basically looks like. I want us to look at several thoughts concerning this statement, "the devil, as a roaring lion”: First of all, what kind of animal is a lion? Second, what kind of prey does a lion hunt? Third, how does a lion hunt? What are its hunting methods? Last, how can we beat a lion? Because it is not a question of IF the lion will attack, but WHEN! It is still very powerful and has been known to kill people when it gets the opportunity! We see lazy lions behind the safety of the bars or glass in zoos. Or we watch the “Lion King”, and we think lions are royal, majestic, maybe even cute.īut don’t let the lazy zoo lion fool you. In the first century, lions still roamed in parts of the Middle East.īut you and I are pretty ignorant about lions nowadays. The first century believers understood the hunting methods of a lion. He has no greater purpose, no stronger desire, than to see the destruction of that which God loves - The souls of men. The devil is a hunter for the souls of men. Sheep are good and goats are bad, right? And what about a dragon? The devil is called a dragon in a couple of places in the Bible.īut when it comes to describing how the devil hunts the souls of men, Peter uses the lion.Īnd make no mistake. The devil is like a roaring lion.”īut why does Peter use a lion for his simile? Why not a snake? After all, wasn’t it a serpent in the garden that deceived Eve? Or, why not a goat? After all, Christ will separate the sheep from the goats.
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In First Peter, he comes to the final chapter and warns the readers, “Watch out.
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So he doesn’t recommend taking the devil on but rather to be careful instead. He knows he is not as strong as he wishes he was.
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Then later, he showed great lack of leadership by separating from the Gentile believers while he ate - to the point that he actually caused a division in the church.īut now we have come to the end of his life and Peter has learned the lessons of weakness and humility very well.Īnd so, the epistles of 1st and 2nd Peter are written by a man who has learned lead by humble example, and not by arrogant forcefulness. In fear for his own life, he had denied the Lord three times in the space of just a few hours.Īnd then, in self-pity, he decided that he would leave the ministry and go back to fishing. There was a time when he arrogantly told Jesus that though all would deny the Lord, Peter would not. He is called by Christ, walks on the water with Christ, watches Christ raise the dead, see the transfiguration of Christ.what great privilege!īut Peter had made plenty of mistakes in life too and had come to understand that he was not as strong as he once thought he was. And what an incredible mix of experiences he had! The book of 1st Peter was written toward the end of Peter’s life. By this time in his life, he had learned some much-needed lessons on humility. The lion does not need the whole world to fear him, only those nearest where he roams.ġ Peter 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. What is it about the lion that makes it a fitting simile for the devil? Take a look.