In our Bible study tonight, we had some good discussion about the verse, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) The lesson was on temptation; its sources, escapes from, nature of, etc. Have you ever watched lions hunt on one of the nature shows? I’ve seen a few, and I can’t think of one where a lion prowls and roars at the same time–while hunting. Can you? The shows I’ve seen record the lionesses hunting in groups, with the lion usually somewhere nearby. But whether its the lion or the lionesses who are doing the hunting, they don’t make any noise, they certainly don’t roar! They creep through the grass, stalking their prey for what seems like hours, pouncing from hiding at last to chase down whatever young or old animal is unfortunate enough to get caught by them. Maybe they let out a roar in those last few yards of the chase, I don’t know why, but maybe. So, what kind of, let’s say, gazelle, gets caught by a roaring lion?
I wonder if Peter isn’t painting a picture that is somewhat unrealistic to make the point that we do not have to sin–we choose to (see 1 Cor. 10:13). We are like a gazelle that would choose to trot toward a roaring lion (confident that he wouldn’t really do us any harm, perhaps, or that we could always turn and outrun him when we desired…?) Or perhaps (say a lion really did roar as a means of attracting prey) we are too young, too weak, too ignorant to know to run away. I think the answer is probably tied up in the very verse itself, in the first sentence, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert.” We are to maintain a high level of serious concern and vigilance, simply because a boasting, roaring devil roams the earth, seeking those who are dull, morally drowsy, and likely to find his roar interesting. And, let’s face it, the verse itself suggests that perhaps we all (not just the “younger men” that this section speaks directly to) tend to NOT be sober, or “on the alert.” Definitely true for this gazelle!
Also, the following verse gives priceless insight into dealing with the lion: “But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.” (5:9) “Resist” isn’t so much a word describing mortal combat or attack, as much as standing against, opposing–not catering to, etc. And I’m to do this “resisting” as I plant myself in the truths of the Christian faith, with the encouraging knowledge that I am not alone in this struggle in the jungle of temptation; I’ve got a family, the church, to support me in the fight. In the letter of James it actually says that this type of resistance will put the lion to flight! (4:7)
The conclusion of the group tonight: When you’re in the jungle of this life and you hear a lion roar, consider it a warning that he’s hungry, and looking for dinner: Don’t put yourself on the menu!
downtownpastor