The Bible recounts some
interesting stories of lions. They are
interesting not simply because they are stories
of animals, but because there are things in
connection with them from which we may draw some
very striking lessons. We all remember the story
of Daniel--how he was cast into the den of
lions, and how during the long watches of the
night he sat there in the den unharmed. What was
expected to be the tragedy of his life proved to
be his most glorious victory. The expected
triumph of his eenemies was turned into their
utter defeat, and Daniel, stronger and more
courageous than ever, came forth to continue his
service to God.
Samson too had an experience with
a lion. As he was going along the road one day
he met a lion, and it attacked him. He had no
weapons, yet he met it courageously. We are told
that "the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon
him, and he rent him as he would h9ave rent a
kid." Some time later he was passing that way
and found that a swarm of bees had entered the
dried carcass of the lion and made their abode
there, and he took of the honey and went on his
way.
In the thirteenth chapter of
1Kings we find another lion story. Here a
prophet sent of God went to Samaria and
prophesied as God had commanded him, and
according to the commandment he started back on
his way to Judea. God had told him not to eat or
drink there, but to go back immediately by a
different way from that by which he came. He
started to obey, but sat down to rest by the
wayside. While he was here, amother prophet came
and persuaded him to go back and dine with him.
Then, as he went upon his way, a lion met him
and slew him.
The lions of these stories may be
likened to our trials. We meet trials every now
and then in life, and some of them seem very
much like lions. They seem very threatening and
very dangerous. Sometimes we try to run away
from a trial, but as surely as we do, we meet
another in the pathway in which we go. We are
certain to have trials. The important thing is
that we meet them properly. Some people imagine
that if they live as they should they ought not
to have trials. But trials come when it is no
fault of ours. Daniel was not thrown into the
lion's den because he had not lives right or
because he had been unfaithful in something. No
it was his faithfulness that resulted in his
meeting the lions. It will be that way in our
lives. If we are true and loyal to God, that
very loyalty is sure to bring us sometimes.
Daniel had his choice in the matter. He could
have been disloyal and escaped the lions, but he
chose rather to be loyal and take the full
consequences, whatever they might be. God wants
you and me to dare to be Daniels too. He does
not want us to swerve an inch from truth in
order to evade any sort of trial. If we are
true, and as a result of that trueness a great
trial like being thrown into a den of lions
comes upon us, and every earthly hope seems shut
off, and there is no help from anywhere, what
shall we do? Despair? Ah, no. God will send his
angel and shut the lion's mouth for us, just as
he did for Daniel. Dare to be true. God will
stand by you even in the most trying and
desperate hour.
It was not a test of his standing
true that brought Samson face to face with the
lions. He met the beast just by accident. He got
no expectation of it whatever, but the first
thing he knew, he was face to face with it. That
is just the way it happens with us sometimes: we
get into a trial without any seeming reason for
it; we are not expecting anything of the kind.
If the prophet in Samaria had
gone in the way that God commanded him, he would
not have met the lions that slew him. It was his
disobedience that caused the trouble. Sometimes
when we are in trials, we realize that it is our
own fault that we are tried. Sometimes we may be
disobedient, sometimes we may be careless,
sometimes it may be this or that; but whatever
it is, we realize that it is our own fault. That
makes the trial harder to bear. But however
trials come, whatever is their cause, we must
meet them. We have no choice in the matter. The
important thing is to meet them right. Daniel
knew that he had done right and pleased God;
and' furthermore, he met his trial with a calm
peace and full assurance that God would take
care of him, and God did take care of him, and
he came through the trial. He was peaceful
through the trial and triumphant after it,
because God was his helper.
Some one has said that our trials
make or mar us. This is true. Either we come out
of them stronger than we went in or we come out
of them weaker. We have either joy or sorrow
from them. We should meet our trials as Samson
met the lions. Face them boldly. Do not run or
shrink. If you seem to have no adequate weapon
to use againts them, trust in God and meet them
boldly anyway. That is the way Samson did, and
do you remember what happened? Why, after a
while he got honey out of the carcass. Do you
want honey out of your trials? You would rather
have that than bitterness. Well, you may have
the honey if you will face the trial and
overcome it. Conquer in the name of Christ. Do
not whimper or whine; do not lament or murmur,
do not fear or tremble. Face your trials boldly,
and the Spirit of the Lord will come mightily
upon you as it did upon Samson, and you
willconquer. And then, ah, it is then that the
sweetness will come: after you have mastered the
trial, in the days that follow, sweetness will
come, and you will bless God that he ever
permitted you to be so severely tried.
Conflict must always precede
victory. The lion must be killed before the bees
can build the honeycomb in the carcass. So face
trials boldky and kill them. Then you may taste
the sweets of victory. This is the only way, and
you are not too weak to take this way. God has
promised that he will not suffer you to be
tempted above what you arer able to bear. If you
will believe it and do your part, God will do
his, and you will triump.
