Revelation 5:5 – ^“…And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.”

In Bible times, lions inhabited the swampy, overgrown Pride of Jordan where the Sea of Galilee flows south and meets the Jordan River. Across a narrow road today is Yardenit, the popular representative (not actual) baptismal tourist site visited by one-half million tourists per year.

David killed  a lion there at close range by grabbing its beard and piercing its heart. He prevailed because his shepherd’s heart to save  his flock was greater than his desire to protect himself.

How do we react when lions growl? The summer when I turned nine, while the Clyde Beatty Circus set up camp a half-mile from our house, a lion escaped. That fascinated and terrified me. The radio said to stay inside. Instead, I hid inside the sheltering branches of our weeping willow tree watching for the beast until it grew too dark to see. The truth is, I had no weapon and those branches gave no protection. Instead of grabbing the lion’s beard, I would have run like a chicken or been his lunch.

Close-up encounters involve loud snarls, bad breath, and sharp claws. Only the Lord can provide the courage to stand fast or race toward our enemies and not cower in retreat. Prayer, His living Word, and Praise are all weapons to stop the lion’s heart and secure victory!

Isaiah 41:^10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”