14 For I will be unto Ephraim as a
lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go
away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him. 15 I will go and return to my
place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their
affliction they will seek me early. (Hosea 5:14-15)
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because
your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may
devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the
faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that
are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who
hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have
suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion for
ever and ever. Amen. 12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother
unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that
this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand. 13 The church that is at Babylon,
elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son. 14 Greet ye one another with a kiss
of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen. (1 Peter 5:8-14)
For all of the wonderful works God has made, Satan has a counterfeit. There
were two Trees in the Garden at Eden; two ways of life (the Narrow Way that
leads up to Heaven, and the crowded and Broad Way that leads to destruction);
two kinds of prophets (false and true); there are two kinds of angels - holy
Angels of God and the fallen Angels of Lucifer; and two kinds who follow the Shepherd
to pasture (innocent lambs and ravening wolves). There are two lions as well -
the roaring lion that is Satan, and the Lion of Judah which brings judgment to
the wicked and mercy to the forgiven. Weep not: behold, the Lion of the
tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose
the seven seals thereof. (Rev 5:5) It is that roaring lion that
walketh about seeking whom he may devour which is the focus of the first
two verses of our text today (8 & 9). This lion has wounded the heal
of the Lamb of God, but the Lamb has finally and unconditionally crushed the
lion's (serpent's) head and defeated that old Serpent.
Most hunters experienced in the African safari know a wounded lion is twice
more dangerous than those who have not been wounded by man. It is true as well
that Satan, as a fallen angel cast down in his rebellion from Heaven, is also
deadly and dangerous to the unsuspecting soul that has not come to place his
trust in that mighty Lion (the Lord Jesus Christ) who was the one to cast
Lucifer down in primitive eternity past. He licks his wounds and seeks to mar
or destroy all that God has created, but especially the crowning pride of His
Creation - Man! The scourge of disease, parasites, and thorns are the mutating
works of Satan by way of the sin that he introduced to our federal parents -
Adam and Eve. He can be both passive and aggressive depending on the
vulnerabilities of his prey.
The Roaring Lion
Be
sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.
A prepared defense is always more effective than a simple disregard for
contingent dangers. Belshazzar and the inhabitants of Babylon were having a
riotous drinking party when the walls of the city were breached and the city
was taken. Sobriety is a wise demeanor for all good men and women in all
circumstances. Sobriety in worship has nearly disappeared in our churches. Many
would believe that a drunken orgy were apace if they stepped into many of our
charismatic churches. Watchfulness is also essential. The devil's footsteps can
be heard always just beyond the doors of the church. He is not only a stealthy
serpent who creeps and slithers out of the sight of the prey, but also a
roaring lion whose ferocity is without the burden of mercy. Just as he
stealthily deceived our first parents in the Garden, his approaches have
similar effect on the greater majority of the human race. If cunning and
stealth will not work, he will resort to outright persecution and character
assassination of the righteous. The author of the text today was well aware of
the need for vigilance for he fell asleep thrice in Gethsemane while the Lord
was in His greatest distress.
Characteristics of the Lion
1.
He
is subtle. Even the pet cat has patience and cunning in slowly sneaking upon a
bird on the lawn. He will wait indefinitely
for the right moment to attack. The lion is no different for he is a member of the feline family.
The wicked are his cubs: 9 He lieth in wait secretly
as a lion in
his den: he
lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him
into his net. 10 He croucheth, and humbleth
himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones. (Psalm
10:9-10)
2.
The
lion, as is Satan, is wide-ranging in his hunt. He may leave for a time when he
realizes his presence has been noticed and return later to devour the weak
of the herd. His lair is in the covert of the rocks, and he makes the entrance
there seem free of danger; but please note that there are a variety of
footsteps going into the lair, and none coming out! And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the
LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up
and down in it. (Job 1:7)
3.
The
lion does most of his hunting in darkness for his eyes are suited with an
enhanced night-vision. Those men who love to carouse under the cover of
darkness have made themselves very
susceptible to the untimely attack of the lion.
4.
The
lion and his namesake, Satan, is persevering. He takes no vacations, and all
hours of the
day are his venue. Now
is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the
accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. (Rev 12:10)
5.
The
lion and Satan are diligent in their pursuit of souls. He knows his time is
fleeting and must act with
immediate dispatch to accomplish his greatest evil. Woe to the inhabiters of
the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having
great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. (Rev
12:12)
6.
The
lion is merciless to his prey. He cares not the grievous pain his teeth and
claws inflict, and may even
enjoy playing with his helpless prey. He may bring a young deer to his little
ones (demons) and teaches them, too,
to treat the innocent baby with impunity. The savage animal kills to
satisfy the calls of nature; but our adversary reaps no benefit from the
destruction of men. His exertions serve only to increase his own guilt and
misery; yet is he insatiable in his thirst
for our condemnation.
The Christian's Defense
Whom
resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are
accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. God has provided us with a wide arsenal of weapons with which
to confront this merciless enemy. We have mentioned sobriety, vigilance and
faith. But the accomplished biblical scholar will be emboldened, too, with a
knowledge of God's Word that will be devastating to Satan and render him helpless
before the Light of Christ. 11 Put on the whole armour of God,
that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Eph 6:11) 6 My people are destroyed
for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject
thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of
thy God, I will also forget thy children. (Hosea
4:6)
Resistance to Satan may not always stop his terror to the Elect, but it will
limit that terror to the flesh only while preserving the soul. 10 But the God of all grace,
who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have
suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion for
ever and ever. Amen.
The Church is enriched by the blood and tears of the saints. The Reformers
suffered burning at the stake rather than deny God's Word. Suffering purifies
the soul of the saint and perfects his testimony. It is to the glory of God
alone that any can withstand the Devil and his charms and terrors.
By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written
briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein
ye stand. The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth
you; and so doth Marcus my son. Sylvanus (Silas) was a fellow servant of Paul who preached
the Gospel confirmed here by Peter. Peter is writing from Babylon (not the seat
of the great heresy that sits on the seven hills of Rome as some presumed to
suggest). It is interesting to note that Peter could not have been a Roman
priest today because he was married with family; Marcus however was a son by
fellowship and not of blood.
The benediction is beautifully expressive of the change made by Christ from
that of a rough fisherman to an Apostle of the Church of Christ. Greet ye one another with a kiss of
charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
