What About The Young Lion

Text:

Nahum 2: 13:

13: Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions: and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard.

 

Theme:

What About The Young Lion

 

Introduction:

• Our text comes from the book of Nahum, the seventh of the so-called “minor prophets” of the Bible. Minor not because of lesser importance, but merely because they wrote less than the so-called “major prophets”.
• All we know of Nahum is what is recorded in the bible.
• The time and place of the Nahum’s writing of this book is argued, but we know that the subject of this prophecy is the approaching complete and final destruction of Nineveh, the capital of the great and at that time flourishing Assyrian empire.
• The Bible refers to Nineveh and alludes to its destruction in three books of minor prophesy: Jonah, Nahum, and Zephaniah.  Nineveh was a vast, important city that was the center of commerce and civilization for the world at that time.  It was so important and vital to the world that its destruction by fire in 625 BC marked the end of the Assyrian Empire which changed the face of Asia itself.
• However, Nineveh was a wicked city. Nahum 3:1 says that it is a “bloody city all full of lies and robbery.”  Nineveh had destroyed all its neighboring cities to build its own.  Nineveh was full of wicked people that did wicked things.
• More people, more money, more problems, more trouble…More world & less God
  • Cities today are the same.
  • Churches today are the same
  • Social cliques today are the same
• Our text is a part of this prophecy from Nahum that tells of Nineveh’s destruction because of its wickedness.

 

Body:

• “and the sword shall devour thy young lions”
  • Why does the prophesy destroy the Young Lion and not the Old Lion
• “and the sword shall devour thy young lions”
  • Who is the lion? (Mufassa, “Lion King”)
    • Lion is known by his appearance and experience
    • Lion is the King of the Jungle…leader and provider
    • Lion is the top of the “Food Chain”…respect and fear
  • Who is the young lion? (Simba, “Lion King”)
    • Young Lion is known by his appearance and experience. (Simba – small, Simba – older)
    • The Young Lion is the future
    • The Young Lion is the primary focus and concern of the jungle
    • Take the Young Lion, take the future
    • The Young Lion is the most vulnerable to attack by the enemy (Scar, hyenas)
  • Who are the adults?
    • Parents and elders…leaders and providers
    • Mankind given dominion over all creation (Genesis)…respect and fear
  • Who are the children?
    • Known by knowledge and wisdom…Not limited to the young in age!
    • The children are the future
      • The child should be the primary focus and concern of the world, society, family and church
        • Take the child, take the future
      • The child is the most vulnerable to attack by the enemy (Satan, sin)
    • Unlike the Young Lion, there is special value in being a child in God’s eyes. As Mark 10:15 says, “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.”
      • God’s Children submit to God and not Sin or Satan
        • Psalms 100:3 says, “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”
      • What we call Salvation is totally accepting being GOD’S CHILD, as a humble child would!

1. Those who Admit – I am a sinner
2. Those who Submit – I submit all my sinful self to God
3. Those who Commit – I commit my life to His Word, Will, and Way for me
4. Those who Transmit – Tell someone else of what God has done for me

 

Conclusion:

• What about the “Young Lion”? (Animal/ Child/ God’s Child)
  • Precious
    • We want to protect its innocence in this mean world
  • Strong
    • The Bible says that the young are called because they are strong. The value of the old is that they know the way.
  • Important
    • No Young…No Hope
      • Hope is critical to life
        • As Romans 5:5 says, “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”
• His – God’s responsibility
  • He accepts us
    • The hymn says, “Just as I am without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me”
  • He provides for us
    • Psalms 23 says, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want”
  • He protects us
    • Psalms also says, “The Lord is my refuge and my strength whom shall I fear”
  • He sustains us
    • The gospel song says, “Uphold me with thy free spirit, what ever you do, Lord, don’t take you Joy from me”
  • He delivers us….

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