From the Jaws of the Lion to the Arms of the Shepherd

“Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I went after it, struck it, and rescued the lamb from its mouth. And when it rose against me, I caught it by its beard, struck it, and killed it.”

1 Samuel 17:34–35

If this were told today, we might call it story ya jaba. The first time I heard it, it felt more like a fable than truth. The mental image made it even more dramatic: a lion creeping toward the flock while young David strums his harp; a cry from the sheep; David’s eyes widening as the predator bolts away with its prize; the harp hitting the ground as he sprints after it; a leap onto the lion’s back, one hand gripping its mane, a twist, a strike and the lamb freed.

Outrageous? Maybe. But real nonetheless.

Reading through the New Testament recently, I realized this isn’t just David’s story. It’s ours.

In the Old Testament, events were final for those who lived them. For us today, they foreshadow the New Testament.

David, as a shepherd, loved his father’s sheep more than his own safety. He risked his life so that each one returned home, not just well-fed but unharmed. In the same way, God loved us so much that He gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins (John 3:16).

He is our Shepherd; we are His sheep. And like Psalm 23 says, He makes sure we lack nothing. He leads us to green pastures and still waters, restores our souls, and guides us in righteousness. Even in the valley of the shadow of death, He is with us. His rod and staff bring comfort. He prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies, anoints our heads with oil, and makes our cups overflow. His goodness and mercy follow us all our days.

Reassuring? Absolutely – but only for the sheep who hear His voice and stay close to His fold. And if they stray, they know how to cry for mercy and return.

Yet the Bible also warns us of another lion. In 1 Peter 5:8, we read: “ Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour .” He devours resources, virtues, gifts, and destinies, replacing the Father’s provision with poverty, anger, jealousy, debt, sickness, unforgiveness, lies, malice, slander, greed, lust, sexual immorality, laziness, and more.

But a good shepherd, like David, will never allow a predator to keep what belongs to his father. He will chase it down and snatch the prey from its jaws. God is the same. Not only did He send His Son to save us from sin, but even now, when we wander or grow too weak to resist temptation, Jesus comes after us to rescue us.

The devil doesn’t show up with fur and claws. As a spirit, he works through attitudes, desires, and actions to pull us away from the fold. Yet the Shepherd’s love compels Him to leave the 99 to bring back the one straying sheep (Matthew 18:12).

But then, the Shepherd responds to our cry. The cry for salvation when we realize we have a Savior; the cry for mercy when we are sinking in sin.

No matter how deep you’ve gone – even into occultism, gambling, drug addiction, prostitution, corruption, crime – there is hope.

As Romans 8:38–39 declares: “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The only point of no return is death. But then, in God’s eyes, anyone apart from Him is already spiritually dead. That’s why Scripture says the life of a sinner is a stench, but the life of the righteous is a sweet fragrance.

The choice is yours – will you rest in the gentle embrace of the Lion of Judah, or be caught in the cold, unrelenting jaws of the prowling lion?

Run to Jesus, the Good Shepherd. He has already laid down His life so you can truly live.