The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion (Proverbs 28:1).

Perhaps I should be a little bit embarrassed to admit it (and particularly to use it as a part of my meditation on Proverbs 28:1!), but one of my favorite films of all time is "The Three Amigos":  a 1986 comedy film starting Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Chevy Chase.  Have you ever seen it?  To summarize the basic plot (for purposes of this post), I will quote here from Wikipedia:

In the year 1916, three prissy silent film actors -- Lucky Day, Dusty Bottoms and Ned Nederlander -- are fired by their Hollywood studio boss Harry Flugleman after they demand a higher salary for their popular "Three Amigos" western adventures.  Later that day, they receive a plea from a young woman named Carmen on behalf of the villagers of Santo Poco, Mexico who have been under siege from the infamous villain El Guapo. Mistaking a genuine plea for a personal appearance, the actors steal their costumes and travel to Santo Poco.

The villagers welcome the actors as heroes, believing them to be bona fide gunfighters. Not until a nearly fatal confrontation with El Guapo do the actors realize the danger of their situation.  They panic and plan a hasty retreat, leaving the villagers at the mercy of El Guapo. But summoning their courage, the trio return to the village and, upon seeing the devastation caused by the bandits, decide to step up and become the Three Amigos for real.

One of the repetitive quotes from the film (drawing on both the Hollywood scripting and the "real-world" confrontations with El Guapo's posse) is an interaction in which the "bad guy" growls to the Amigos:  "You will die like dogs,"  which serves as the cue for one of the Amigos to sit up higher on his horse, thrust his fist up into the air, and shout:  "No-ho, we will not die like dogs!  We will fight like lions!  For we are... the Three Amigos!"  It's a great line -- with an obvious tie-in to Proverbs 28:1 -- but I especially appreciate how the Three Amigos not just spoke but demonstrated the truths of the Proverb.  For most of the movie, the Three Amigos are spineless cowards simply quoting words written by screenwriters.  When they find themselves washed-up and unemployed, effectively pursued by no one, they grasp at the first opportunity they can find to appear before any kind of public -- even if it is in the tiny Mexican village of Santo Poco, and even if it is entirely on the basis of a misunderstanding.  Thus they sneak onto the film studios lot after they've been fired, so they can steal their cheesy, sequined costumes and then quickly flee -- though, to be honest, still no one is really pursuing them.  Then, finally, when they realize that they're facing actual mortal danger, they run away into the desert worried only about saving their own skins.  They prove themselves to be self-centered, egotistical, whimps who run away when others need them -- which is about as good a definition of "wickedness" that could be found.

But... the Three Amigos eventually decide to "become the Three Amigos for real," and they really do demonstrate the boldness and ferocity of lions, helping the people of Santo Poco to win back control of their village.  And in so doing, they find their own redemption.  They leave their cowardice and "wickedness" behind them and become "righteous."

We have the same opportunity to be strong, courageous, righteous, and lion-like boldness.  Even if we've messed up previously.  Even if the majority of our life existence has been characterized by weakness, fear, selfishness, and sin.  In spite of our past failures, we can put our faith in God (instead of our insuffiencies) and choose to act as lions.  Yes, even in the midst of suffering the fear of dying like dogs, we can laugh at our challengers and shout:  "No-ho, we will not die like dogs!  We will fight like lions!"