“Did you hear a lion roaring at daylight? It was so loud! And sounded close.” “Yea, but we’ve heard it so much we don’t even notice anymore.” “Well, you can be sure I won’t be taking my early morning walk.” This was the typical dialogue the first morning with guests when they came to visit us in Africa. Our house was located on the edge of the city facing the bush. Newcomers to Africa always bring a truckload of preconceived ideas—most of them false, like lions everywhere. Our somewhat mischievous family joke, we never told them a small zoo was about two miles away, which kept one male lion. If you have never heard a lion roar in person, no words can describe it. The volume is overwhelming and the sound travels for miles. I remembered this as I recently studied Peter again when he warned, Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1Pet 5:8). Lions still roamed Israel during Peter’s time, not becoming extinct from the region until the 13th century. Because of his Hebrew influence, Peter chose words that produced vivid images.
Satan roars to intimidate believers and paralyze them in fear. Intimidation and fear are translations of the same word. Earlier Peter wrote, Do not fear their intimidation (3:13). Jesus warned that in the last days, men would faint from fear [intimidation] and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world (Luk 21:26). Our unknowing guests showed just how intimidating a lion’s roar could be. Like the lion, as the devil roars, he is prowling and seeking. Satan is not omniscient as the Lord. He is limited to one location, however; he is constantly on the move. We see this in Job. The Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it” (Job 1:7). While he roams, he is seeking, looking for, watching for, or pursuing. We must be sober and alert (v8). The devil is looking for you.
He roams and seeks in order to devour you. The grammar of the verbs roam and seek indicate an ongoing and nonstop activity. Devour is another word with strong images. Its basic meaning is to drink down or gulp. We can also translate it swallow, drown, or overwhelm. Encouraging his readers Paul says mortal will be swallowed up [devoured] by life (2 Cor 5:4). Paul refers to being overwhelmed [devoured] with excessive sorrow (2Co 2:7). How often do we all feel ‘overwhelmed’ by life—overwhelmed with work, with study, with family duties, and even with church activities? Remember this is Satan seeking to overwhelm and gulp you down. Lions search for the weak picking off stragglers, the old, and the wounded. The devil will not only target these he goes after believers who have grown weary and dropped back from the herd.
Throughout my life, I’ve observed several elder believers, who have faithfully served and been used by God, devoured in their later years. Why? The major cause, about which Peter gave a strong warning, was pride. They became proud of their accomplishments instead of remembering they were only instruments God. And they forgot their battles were not yet over. God opposes the proud (1 Pet 5:5). Paul aware of this, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead (Phil 3:13). Some of my worst failures happened after my greatest victories. Pride in my success led me to pause in being watchful and I let my guard down. The previous verse tells us to cast all your anxiety on Him (v7). Loaded with anxiety and worry weakens our ability to be of sober spirit and be on the alert (v8). On the other hand, we must be careful not to let the absence of anxiety degenerate into apathy and create slackness and a lack of watchfulness.
So, how are we to react when the devil comes after us? Resist him, standing firm in the faith (v9). Safari guides instruct that anyone who walks up on a lion that “no matter how scared you are, do not run, and do not turn your back to the lion but make yourself appear bigger. Most charges are mock charges.” Having come upon several lions in game reserves—in my truck, I can’t imagine the discipline it must take to follow these instructions and just stand there with your hands raised. This is no less true when the predator is Satan; firm faith is crucial. Stand and hold your ground and most important never turn your back and run. We all know Christians who turn their backs, trying to ignore the situation, or run away from their troubles. In the wild, if you turn your back or run from a lion, you will be its lunch. Being of sober spirit means being self-controlled and implies don’t lose control. Satan is delighted if we lose control and panic.
The roar of the lion locked in a cage at our zoo still intimidated our unknowing visitors. For us today, Satan is on the loose roaming around looking for a believer he can devour. Animals living around lions never let their guard down. We must always be on alert. James also says to resist, stand against the devil, but adds this promise, he will flee from you (4:7).
Sustaining Word for the Week: Is a lion roaring, “You are dead meat, and it is hopeless for you.” Stand firm in your faith trusting the Holy Spirit who is with you and will keep you safe.