Topical Bible: The Lion: Majestic in Movement

◄ The Lion: Majestic in Movement ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

The lion, often referred to as the "king of beasts," holds a significant place in biblical literature, symbolizing strength, majesty, and authority. Its presence in Scripture is both literal and metaphorical, illustrating various attributes of God, His creation, and His people.

Biblical References and Symbolism

The lion is frequently mentioned in the Bible, with its majestic movement and powerful presence serving as a metaphor for divine strength and sovereignty. In the Book of Job, the lion is depicted as a creature of great power and independence: "The lion roars in the thicket, and the fierce lion stalks its prey" (Job 4:10). This imagery underscores the lion's role as a formidable predator, embodying the awe-inspiring aspects of God's creation.

In the Psalms, the lion is used to convey both danger and deliverance. Psalm 7:2 pleads for divine protection: "Or they will tear me like a lion and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me." Here, the lion's ferocity is a metaphor for the threats faced by the psalmist, highlighting the need for God's intervention and protection.

The lion's majestic movement is also a symbol of authority and kingship. In Genesis 49:9-10 , Jacob blesses his son Judah, comparing him to a lion: "Judah is a young lion—my son, you return from the prey. Like a lion, he crouches and lies down; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him?" This passage not only emphasizes Judah's strength and leadership but also foreshadows the coming of the Messiah, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, who will reign with ultimate authority.

Christ as the Lion

The lion's symbolism reaches its pinnacle in the New Testament, where Jesus Christ is identified as the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Revelation 5:5 declares, "Then one of the elders said to me, 'Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed to open the scroll and its seven seals.'" This portrayal of Christ as a lion emphasizes His victory, power, and rightful rule over all creation.

The Lion's Dual Nature

While the lion is often associated with positive attributes, it also represents danger and judgment. The prophet Amos warns of impending judgment with the imagery of a lion: "The lion has roared—who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken—who will not prophesy?" (Amos 3:8). This duality reflects the lion's role as both a symbol of God's protection for His people and a representation of His righteous judgment against sin.

Conclusion

The lion's majestic movement and powerful presence in the Bible serve as a profound symbol of strength, authority, and divine sovereignty. Through its various depictions, the lion illustrates the multifaceted nature of God's character, from His protective care to His righteous judgment, and ultimately points to the majesty and authority of Jesus Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Proverbs 30:29,30
There be three things which go well, yes, four are comely in going:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Introduction.
... no love-symphony we hear when the lion thinkers roar ... of equal length"continued, with
its majestic choral step ... of the experts consulted in this movement was an ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/brown/the story of the hymns and tunes/introduction.htm

Christ is Glorious --Let us Make Him Known
... their road is safe; if they sleep at his feet no lion can disturb ... is Lord, to the
glory of God the Father." Yes, Christ is majestic in his ... stupendous movement! ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 10 1864/christ is gloriouslet us make.htm

The Second Theological Oration.
... 3422] If a ravening and roaring lion, seeking what ... of cranes, and the systems of
their movement in ranks ... not this the clearest proof of the majestic working of ...
/.../lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/oration xxviii the second theological.htm

The Church of Notre Dame De Lorette in Paris with Its Yellow ...
... the fighting days of Coeur-de-Lion and whose ... Him;"the Universe is certainly very
majestic, and somewhat ... paused, for there was a distinct movement of surprise ...
/.../corelli/the master-christian/xiii the church of notre.htm

The Use of Fear in Religion.
... the Lamb of God into the Lion of the ... mingled and blended in perfect and majestic
harmony; and ... Righteousness and justice determine the movement of the plot, and ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/shedd/sermons to the natural man/the use of fear in.htm

The Close of the Theban Empire --(Continued)
... whether it were in the portrayal of the majestic gait of ... the parts, yet the whole
is full of movement, and, although ... to The Summit, for there is a lion in The ...
/.../chapter ithe close of the.htm

The Gods of Egypt
... According to Biot the Egyptian Lion has nothing in common with the Greek ... Others borne
by a slow movement passed annually beyond the limits of sight for months ...
/.../chapter ii the gods of egypt.htm

The Old Testament and Comparative Religion
... movement as it gave the power of movement to man ... hybrid figures, with the body of
a lion or bull ... Compare with this the simple, yet majestic, conception, "In the ...
/.../eiselen/the christian view of the old testament/chapter v the old testament.htm

The Reaction against Egypt
... towers built along it, such as "The House of the Lion ""ta ait pa ... The Bedawin,
disconcerted by the rapidity of this movement, offered no serious resistance. ...
/.../chapter iithe reaction against egypt.htm

The Rise of the Assyrian Empire
... Analogous figures of gods or kings holding a lion by the tail are found on ... had nothing
in common with the general catastrophe occasioned by the movement of the ...
/.../chapter iithe rise of the.htm