Lion of Judah

So, our good friend Snoop Dogg has now changed his name to Snoop Lion, and is redirecting his sights on a new reggae album. Odd. Every time someone in the city had been interviewed on what they would like to say to Snoop Lion, the cynical laughter and scoffing begins. Hey, perhaps his “reinvention” is sincere. His visit to Jamaica certainly seems to have revolutionized his way of thinking. One evening, I started laughing about it with my wife, and was struck by an idea I had to get down as soon as possible. I started thinking about the significance of the King of Beasts, the lions in our own lives.

We are all familiar with that great scene from The Lion King, as Mufasa speaks to Simba from the heavens. “Remember who you are. You are my son and the one true king.” This is an improbable spectacle of virtue, pride, and rule. It is almost a display of sovereignty, don’t you think? However, the lion that I actually wanted to talk with you is even greater. Aslan, the Lion of Narnia.

In one of the great lines in C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, he writes as follows:

 “He'll be coming and going" he had said. "One day you'll see him and another you won't. He doesn't like being tied down--and of course he has other countries to attend to. It's quite all right. He'll often drop in. Only you mustn't press him. He's wild, you know. Not like a tame lion.”

Now, I believe there is a very important, and I think somewhat overlooked passage in this story where Peter is allowed to battle the wolf without Aslan’s help. Remember that scene from The Chronicles of Narnia? “Stay your weapons. This is Peter’s fight.” Sparknotes.com explains it like this:

“Peter's fight with the wolf represents a fundamental change for him as well: from child to adult. Aslan could easily have slain the wolf himself, or allowed the other animals to do it, with far less risk to Susan and Peter. Instead, Aslan relies on Peter, who has never wielded a sword before. This appears unnecessarily dangerous, but Aslan's actions are intentional and appropriate. Peter, as the oldest, will be the High King, so it is essential that he fight his own battles and gain experience. Aslan could set him on the throne gently, without Peter ever facing danger, and he might do well, reigning justly and with kindness. But Peter would then be incomplete. To reign properly, Peter must discover the valor and bravery within him. Aslan knew that Peter could kill the wolf, but Peter needed to actually do this to become confident in his own strength and ability. Peter's defining personality traits are his courage, strength, and ability to lead others without misusing his power. Aslan insists that Peter fight for Susan alone because it is this battle that initiates Peter's transformation to adulthood.”

Attributes that must be attained to approach adulthood include bravery, courage and confidence? Tell THAT to our nation today! Lions and lioness are alluded to many times in the Old Testament, symbolic of courage and security. Whatever happened to the mentality of Proverbs 28:1? “The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.” When we call upon our Father to be our Provider or Defender, I do believe he levels the battlefield for us, as Aslan did in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. But He does not intervene when the battle is necessary for us to be complete. We are called to be “not like a tame lion.”

Hail, Hail, Lion of Judah!