DELIVERED FROM THE LION’S MOUTH
Why Are Lions So Important?
Paul writes to Timothy: “16 At my first defence, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.
17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.
And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.
18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (2 Tim. 4:16-18)
Today I want to take a bit of a rabbit trail (or a lion trail) from our study of 2 Timothy.
Lion Trail
In the Bible, lions equate to power, strength and often danger. The mention of a lion typically highlights a life or death moment.
Throughout Scripture lions are mentioned 119 times. Other than livestock, lions are mentioned more than any other animal in creation. Specifically focusing on carnivores, lions are mentioned more than any other meat-eating animal.
Sometimes lions appear in a literal sense (like when Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den). But lions are also often used in Biblical metaphor.
Lion Metaphor
For example, there are negative metaphors like the devil prowling “…around like a roaring lion…” in 1 Peter 5.
And there are also positive metaphors like Jesus described as “…the Lion of the tribe of Judah…” in Revelation 5.
However, regardless of the metaphor, strength, power and danger are always associated with lions. When we’re studying Scripture and a lion is mentioned, we should pause and ask, “Why?” Because there’s likely a metaphor and we don’t want to miss it.
Paul’s Lion Moment
Getting back to Paul‘s letter to Timothy, he writes about being, “…delivered from the lion’s mouth.” (4:17b) Here we have potential for both a literal and metaphoric meaning.
Literally, at that time, Emperor Nero considered Christians as criminals, and many times they were put to death. A criminal (or a Christian) could be put to death by crucifixion, being burned at the stake, beheaded or perhaps by being fed to lions (typically as a form of entertainment).
So Paul was perhaps, literally delivered from the lion’s mouth. However, Paul knew the Scriptures and so most scholars believe Paul was writing in metaphor.
Metaphorically, Paul could have referenced a number of Old Testament metaphors, like David‘s prayerful writing in Psalm 22, asking God to rescue him “…from the mouth of the lions…” meaning a general sense of danger.
Or perhaps, Paul was using Peter‘s metaphor, being delivered from the devil (or Satan). Peter had written his letter a couple of year’s prior or it could have just been a common metaphor used throughout the early church.
Lions Mean Life Or Death
Regardless, of the literal or metaphoric possibilities of Paul’s words, lions represent life or death. Paul’s mention of a lion tells us that Paul is talking about a life or death moment. His life was at risk.
Paul was facing a lion! and the Lord rescued him.
