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There are two mechanical properties called stress and strain. There are two types of stresses - static and dynamic.

The short answer is that the stresses ( dynamic and static ) of the load of the lion did not produce enough strain in the table to break the table.

There is an idea called strength-weight ratio or specific strength.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specific_strength

Here is a pretty good article on stress and strain.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stress_(physics)

And then good old statics:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statics