The Lion: God Provides For
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In the Bible, the lion is often depicted as a symbol of strength, majesty, and power. However, it is also used to illustrate God's provision and care for His creation, including the mighty lion itself. The Scriptures reveal that God, in His sovereignty, provides for all creatures, ensuring that even the most powerful among them are sustained by His hand.

God's Provision for the Lion

The Bible acknowledges the lion's need for sustenance and portrays God as the ultimate provider. In Job 38:39-40, God challenges Job with a series of questions that highlight His care for the natural world: "Can you hunt the prey for the lioness or satisfy the hunger of the young lions when they crouch in their dens and lie in wait in the thicket?" . These verses emphasize that it is God who provides food for the lions, ensuring their survival and well-being.

Similarly, Psalm 104:21 states, "The young lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God" . This verse underscores the dependence of even the fiercest creatures on God's provision. The roaring of the lions is a natural expression of their need, and it is God who responds to that need, supplying them with the necessary sustenance.

The Lion as a Symbol of God's Power and Provision

The lion is not only a recipient of God's provision but also serves as a symbol of His power and authority. In Proverbs 30:30, the lion is described as "mighty among beasts and retreats before nothing" . This imagery reflects the strength and dominion that God possesses, as He is the Creator and Sustainer of all life.

Furthermore, the lion is used metaphorically to describe the character of God Himself. In Hosea 11:10, the Lord declares, "They will follow the LORD; He will roar like a lion. When He roars, His children will come trembling from the west" . Here, the lion's roar symbolizes God's powerful call to His people, demonstrating His authority and the reverence He commands.

The Lion in the Context of God's Creation

The lion's place within the created order is a testament to God's intricate design and care for all living things. In the broader context of creation, the lion represents the diversity and complexity of life that God sustains. As part of the animal kingdom, lions fulfill their role in the ecosystem, and their existence is a reflection of God's wisdom and provision.

In Psalm 145:15-16, the psalmist declares, "The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in season. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing" . This passage highlights the universal nature of God's provision, extending to all creatures, including the lion. It is a reminder that God's care encompasses the entire world, from the smallest to the greatest of His creations.

Conclusion

The lion, as depicted in the Bible, serves as a powerful symbol of God's provision and care for His creation. Through the imagery of the lion, Scripture reveals the depth of God's involvement in the natural world, ensuring that even the mightiest of beasts are sustained by His hand. The lion's dependence on God's provision is a testament to the Creator's sovereignty and the intricate balance He maintains within His creation.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Job 38:39
Will you hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 104:21,28
The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Whether Everything is Subject to the Providence of God?
... Since God, then, provides universally for all ... A lion would cease to live, if there
were no slaying of animals; and there would be no patience of martyrs if ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether everything is subject to.htm

The Power of God
... Christ is called, The Lion of the tribe of Judah,' he ... God can multiply the oil in
the cruse; miraculously he ... Cannot he who provides for the birds of the air ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/6 the power of god.htm

The Antichrist Will be the Son of Satan
... God" (1:Cor.2:10), then Satan also provides his "deep ... Are we told that God, by His
angel, will "seal" His ... Is Christ denominated "the Lion of the tribe of Judah ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/ii the antichrist will be.htm

Give us this Day Our Daily Bread.
... prince a loaf of bread instead of a lion, or a ... Behold, thus God wishes to indicate
to us how He cares for us in all our need, and faithfully provides also for ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/the large catechism/give us this day our.htm

The Covenant of Grace
... shut; but the new covenant allows the sinner a remedy: it leaves room for repentance,
and provides a mediator. ... In the law, God passed by the lion and eagle ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/1 the covenant of grace.htm

Sinners Bound with the Cords of Sin
... eternity regardless of the escape which God provides, turning aside ... you thronged
to look into the lion-like face ... compared with what the Christ of God has done ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 16 1870/sinners bound with the cords.htm

Sinners Bound with the Cords of Sin
... eternity regardless of the escape which God provides, turning aside ... you thronged
to look into the lion-like face ... compared with what the Christ of God has done ...
/.../spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/sinners bound with the cords.htm

2 Timothy iii. 4-Jan
... And sometimes to signify rapacity, as, "a ravening and a roaring lion." (Psalm 22 ...
Know this, however, that God dispenses all things, that He provides for all ...
/.../homily viii 2 timothy iii.htm

An Example Showing How one is Hindered in this Exercise
... have heard, the sun is in the sign of the Lion; and this ... whilst it swims in delight
in the gifts of God, because of ... [48] Rolle's Fire of Love provides an apt ...
/.../john/the adornment of the spritual marriage/chapter xxv an example showing.htm

The Joyous Return
... Now let us see how our gracious God meets us, and provides for us ... The Lord's people
have been praying all the while, "God bless thy ... May the lion go out of you! ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/the joyous return.htm

Resources
Who/what is the Lion of the tribe of Judah? | GotQuestions.org

How should we understand the Lion and the Lamb passage? | GotQuestions.org

What are the Christian themes in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe? | GotQuestions.org

Lion: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Lion

Lion of a Ruler's Anger

Lion of Divine Judgments

Lion of Satan

Lion used for the Torture of Criminals

Lion: An Unnamed Person Killed By

Lion: Disobedient Prophet Killed By

Lion: Fierceness of

Lion: Instincts of, in Taking Prey

Lion: Kept in Captivity

Lion: Killed by Benaiah

Lion: Killed by David

Lion: Killed by Saints

Lion: Killed by Samson

Lion: King of Beasts

Lion: Lair of, in the Jungles

Lion: Parable of

Lion: Proverb of

Lion: Samson's Riddle Concerning

Lion: Sent As Judgment Upon the Samaritans

Lion: Strength of

Lion: Symbolical

Lion: Symbolical: Margin)

Lion: The Bases in the Temple Ornamented by Mouldings of

Lion: The Roaring of

Lion: Twelve Statues of, on the Stairs Leading to Solomon's Throne

The Lion of Boldness of Saints

The Lion of Brave Men

The Lion of Christ

The Lion of Cruel and Powerful Enemies

The Lion of God in Executing Judgments

The Lion of God in Protecting his Church

The Lion of Imaginary Fears of the Slothful

The Lion of Israel

The Lion of Persecutors

The Lion of the Devil

The Lion of the Tribe of Gad

The Lion of the Tribe of Judah

The Lion: (Roaring of) a King's Wrath

The Lion: (Tamed) the Natural Man Subdued by Grace

The Lion: A Swarm of Bees Found in the Carcass of, by Samson

The Lion: Active

The Lion: Attacks and Destroys Men

The Lion: Attacks the Sheepfolds

The Lion: Canaan Infested By

The Lion: Conceals Itself by Day

The Lion: Courageous

The Lion: Criminals often Thrown To

The Lion: Disobedient Prophet Slain By

The Lion: Fearless Even of Man

The Lion: Fierce

The Lion: God Provides For

The Lion: God's Power Exhibited in Restraining

The Lion: Greatness of Its Teeth Alluded To

The Lion: Hunting of, Alluded To

The Lion: Inhabits: Deserts

The Lion: Inhabits: Forests

The Lion: Inhabits: Mountains

The Lion: Inhabits: Thickets

The Lion: Lurks for Its Prey

The Lion: Majestic in Movement

The Lion: Often Carries Its Prey to Its Den

The Lion: Often Perishes for Lack of Food

The Lion: Rends Its Prey

The Lion: Roars when Seeking Prey

The Lion: Slain by Benaiah

The Lion: Slain by David

The Lion: Slain by Samson

The Lion: Superior in Strength

The Lion: Universal Terror Caused by Roaring of

The Lion: Voracious

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The Lion: Fierce
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