Like a Greedy Lion - Psalms 17:12

In Psalms chapter seventeen David prayed to Jehovah God, “Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of your wings, from the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about. They are enclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly. They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth”, and in chapter seventeen and verse twelve David said the wicked are, “like a lion that is greedy of his prey” where we read,

Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.

The verse begins, “Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, ...” David began with the words, “Like as a lion” which means “even and indeed in the same manner as a lion” “that is greedy” or “which exists as yearning, pining after and longing” “of his prey” which means “for the lion's food, catch or ravin”. David said the “wicked person” resembles a “lion” that yearns and longs for it's food.

The verse continues, “... and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.” David added the words, “and as it were” or “and similar to” “a young lion” which means “a youthful lion perhaps covered with a mane” “lurking in secret places” or “dwelling, sitting and remaining within locations of hiding and concealment”. David wrote how the “wicked person” is also like a youthful lion that conceals itself in hidden locations.

When we consider the words in this verse, we see how David understood the nature of the “wicked person”. Even as David was a keeper of sheep and protected them from lions, he knew those who desire to pillage and plunder others long to have what is not theirs and secretly hide to take advantage of people who are unsuspecting. God sees them, and therefore David's appeal is to God. God desires to have a personal, loving relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and when we yield to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and become our protector and defense against the “lions” that lurk in secret to devour us.

Next time David says, “Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".