WHAT IS THE LION’S DEN?

Den is defined in the Webster’s Dictionary as “a cave or hollow place; lair or cage of a wild beast; disreputable haunt; a private sanctum, study or workshop.”  We all know what a lion is and require no definition. I’m sure if we came face to face with a lion we would have no difficulty identifying it as such. However, many of us may not be as aware of who or what a lion represents in a spiritual context. 1 Peter 5:8b (KJV) tells us that: “………..your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion …..” Well, we couldn’t want it any clearer than that. In this passage, Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, is likening Satan to a lion.

The Lion’s Den is, therefore, the place where Satan wants every Christian to be – in his camp, his private sanctuary – under his authority, at his mercy, in danger, and where he appears to have the upper hand. Satan’s ultimate aim for getting us into his den is outlined clearly in 1 Peter 5:8b (KJV),  “….your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” Of course, if you devour something or someone the ultimate end is death and destruction (John 10:10). Psalm 7:2 (NIV) also speaks of the destructive nature of the lion: “or they will tear me like a lion and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me.”

There is no mistaking when we are in the lion’s den. The enemy appears to be gaining the upper hand in our lives, whether it be through sickness, our finances, break down in relationships, or other trials and tribulations that cause us to sense a desperate need for God to step in and deliver us out of the hand, or should I say the jaws, of the enemy.

HOW DO WE END UP IN THE LION’S DEN?

There are various pathways to the lion’s den. I want us to look at four main ways, namely sin, God’s testing, enemy attack, and persecution. I will share the first two here.

Sin

We can end up in the lion’s den by disobeying God’s commands, that is, being in sin. In the story of the disobedient prophet (1 Kings 13), we note that the prophet was given a specific command by the Lord but he allowed another to make him doubt God’s command and disobey the Lord. Hence, we see in 1 Kings 13:26 that the Lord gave the disobedient prophet over to the lion, which mauled and killed him.

God’s Testing

The best example of God’s testing is found in the life of Job. The Lord speaks of Job, in Job 1:8, as a blameless and upright man who feared God and shunned evil. Satan himself came to God and sought permission to test Job to prove that Job was only faithful to God because of the hedge of protection that God had placed around him and that if faced with adversity he would curse God. God had such confidence in Job that He allowed the enemy to have authority over everything concerning Job, short of taking his life.

Next week, we will discuss the remaining pathways into the lion’s den and find out how we can get out.

Jesus came and sacrificed His life so that we don’t have to be under the enemy’s authority any longer.

Have a blessed and holy Easter!!

Shalom.