The Lion of Judah Rules Over the Roaring Lion
The Bible is rich in references to lions. It's interesting that in a good sense, Jesus is referred to as the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Rev. 5:5). If Jesus is a lion, then you know Satan, as the anti-Christ, also mimics a lion. Indeed, Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1 Peter 5:8)
Many times we read about the perils of coming in contact with a lion. The prophet Daniel almost became lion lunchmeat in the lion's den, except God stopped the mouth of the lions. And in Ps. 22:21 we read below that David asks to be saved from the lion's mouth.
Psalm 22 is a prophetic Psalm. It intermingles David's life with Christ's life, so sometimes you wonder which of their two lives you are reading about.
In our look at Psalm 22, we have just come through the verses that represent one of the clearest picture of Christ's death in the Old Testament. Now David goes from talking about Christ to talking to the nation of Israel. He is transitioning from talking about Christ's death to talking about the last days.
Psa 22:21 Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns. (22) I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. (23) Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel. (24) For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard. (25) My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.
We know he is talking to the nation of Israel because he addresses the seed of Jacob and the seed of Israel, the Jewish people. They will need to be saved from the lion's mouth in the last days. But praise will arise out of affliction. Praise arose from the affliction of Christ, after he rose again and conquered death. He will conquer again.
On a note of personal application, the light affliction you face now is only for a time. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Cor. 4:17-18) The main thing we see that is eternal is eternity. Compare whatever you're going through to eternity future. We are in a speck of time that will be gone in a flash.
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)