In the Bible, music was often used as a means to dispel the powers of darkness and win the battle over the enemy.
For example, David played his harp for King Saul when the king became depressed (I Sam.16:23), and before the Israelites entered battle they praised God for their victory (II Chron.20:21).
Christian praise and worship has a powerful effect to overcome our down times. A friend prayed, "Lord, why is it that praise is so powerful in making people feel happy?" The answer surprised her, " If you were to take a lion downtown on a leash, the people would all quickly disappear. That is what praise does to the evil world."
As I pondered the meaning of the lion, it seemed to answer the question, but there was one problem. Satan is described as a "roaring lion" (I Peter 5:8), so why was the lion going out to scare away another lion? One lion against another wouldn't seem to be the means of attaining a victory.
Then I remembered that the tribe of Judah was the praising tribe. Jesus belonged to this tribe through his ancestor King David. In the Bible Jesus is spoken of a "the Lion of Judah" (Rev.5:5). THE LION OF JUDAH! Oh, now I could understand that the lion sent downtown on the leash was really Jesus!
A lion is powerful. Satan is powerful too if anyone has ever been involved in witchcraft or other occult activities. While that evil roaring lion is powerful to destroy lives, the Lion of Judah makes him look like a mere shadow. The very name of Jesus spoken by a child of God is enough to send Satan, the powder-puff lion, scurrying for shelter! The Lion of Judah brings joy, peace, and love--the opposite of what the evil lion can deliver.
In the Old Testament, the people were told they were to offer sacrifices of lambs, bulls and goats to God to atone for their sins. Now that Jesus has been slain for our sins, the only sacrifice required of Christians is a "sacrifice of praise" (Heb.13:15). Just as the smoke rising to heaven spoke of an animal sacrifice, so too the praise we send to heaven is a sign of our willingness to crucify our selfish ways.
Have you ever found an old discarded lamp which you thought you might use? It looks beautiful and it appears valuable, you take it home only to discover it has a dangerous electrical flaw in the wiring. That is the way with the occult. Because we do not understand the spirit world, it is very exciting to find that ouija boards really do move around and that drugs really do make you feel on the winning side. Only after we find out what happens later do we understand the power of evil. Evil things always hold a fascination until we get burned by them.
Sin is Satan's garbage. His garbage doesn't come in ugly green bags but comes in beautifully gift-wrapped packages. Sin is enjoyable until the fancy paper is removed and we realize we have a parcel we don't want. But who do we give it to? Who wants it?
The Lion of Judah died to overcome sin and the works of the devil (I John 3:8). We only need to ask the great Lion to lead our battle against the powder-puff lion and victory is assured. We must obey the right voice to get victory and not be double-minded as was the prophet Balaam (Num.22:24).
Balaam did, however, make a true prediction, "There shall come a Star out of Jacob and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel" (Num.24:17-19). Jacob was Judah's father. The tribe of Judah was the praising tribe, ancestors of King David and also of Jesus. This is why Jesus is called "the Lion of Judah."
The last book in the Bible says it all: "The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed (Rev.5:5).
© 1999, Doreen Palmer