Fear the LORD, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. - Psalm 34:9-14
There is a strategy for winning at life. Let's call it the "lion" strategy. It revolves around staying at the peak of the food pyramid--taking what you want and intimidating all who get in your way. Lions roam in "prides", show off their strength and drown out opposition. That's the way that they win.
But the writer of this psalm says that there is a time when "lions grow weak and hungry" That is, there is a time when the "lion" strategy doesn't work anymore. Why? Because circumstances and physical ailment and overwhelming enemy majorities make lions lose, retreat and struggle. People who have adopted the "lion" strategy may have a period of dominance, but that is because they do not have proper respect to the one who is truly at the apex--the Lord.
While the lions dwindle into weakness, those who have taken shelter with the Lord find true strength and resilience. While the "lion" strategy requires evil and rough words, lies, tracking with evil, creating chaos and taking advantage, the Lord's strategy requires telling the truth, doing good and seeking and pursuing peace. The lions can tear apart those who follow the Lord's strategy except for one thing: the Lord can defeat lions and restore peace.
The lion's strategy is ultimately a losing one because it is short-sighted. Circumstances go in cycles and will sometimes bring us low for whatever reason, but following the Lord is following the Lord of the cycles. He can bring us through them.
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