Be not far from Me, for trouble is near; for there is none to help. Many bulls have surrounded me; strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me. They gape at Me with their mouths, like a raging and roaring lion. (Psalm 22:11-13)

The area known as Bashan, located in the northern part of Israel, was lush and abundant in pastureland. Consequently, the cattle raised there were exceptionally strong, heavy and capable of doing a lot of damage if they were agitated. This brute strength is likely why David described his enemies in this way — strong, lumbering adversaries who encircled their opponents before attacking.

David fused this attribute with that of a roaring lion who has identified and selected its prey. Before moving in for the kill, the lion carefully observes its victim, its mouth wide open, just waiting for the precise moment to pounce. Such is the dilemma David faced, and so that is why he called upon the LORD to stay near and “be not far from me.”

Some of you may remember back in the day there was a television program called Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom. It was a program that chronicled the habits of wild animals in their natural habitat. Many of these programs found the hosts in Africa observing predators and their prey. I was always struck with how the lionesses stealthily stalked their soon-to-be food, careful not to be observed until the moment she struck. I was also impressed with the fact that, almost always, it was the one who separated themselves from the rest of the herd that fell vicim to the lioness.

David did not want to separated from God knowing that his enemies were so close by. Likewise, we must be certain to draw ever closer to the LORD and especially in this day when the Beast is rising and our enemies are hungry for a kill. Furthermore, it behooves us not to forsake the “assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some” (Hebrews 10:25) lest we become the gazelle that the hungry lion casts its eye upon.

As it is written, we must continually “be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). In these last days we must stick together as one people, and most importantly, we must cling fast to the only One who can save us from the bulls and lions that seek our destruction.

Blessings and Shalom,  

Bill 

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