The Fate of Stray Dogs

February 27, 2023 at 3:23 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments
Tags: beware of dogs, commentary on Psalms, dogs, dogs in the Bible, imprecatory prayers, imprecatory Psalms, Psalm 59, Sunday School lessons on Psalms

Those who vent their anger against us for following Christ may very well mean to carry out their threats, but we do not have to be afraid. Certainly, God Himself is not intimidated. We can be brave and respond correctly only by trusting Him.

¹⁰ The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies. ¹¹ Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield.¹² For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.¹³ Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah.

Psalm 59:10-13

Those verses are a good example of Biblical imprecation: correctly and justly calling down God’s wrath on the wicked. The psalmist, in Verse 11, asks God not to slay them too quickly, as though he wants their punishment to be drawn out. This is not said out of sadism, but, as shown by Verse 13, so that everyone can take in and clearly see the justice of the Lord.

¹⁴ And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city. ¹⁵ Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.

Psalm 59:14-15

In some cases, it is often said, a dog’s bark may be worse than his bite, but this does not always hold true. Some dogs bark loudly and bite hard, but, ultimately, a pack of wild dogs poses no real threat to a well-organized and defended city. These dogs, being untamed and masterless, are condemned to remain outside the city, hungry, scorned, unwanted, and unwelcome. Without a master, they, by default, must be their own masters. Human beings, though, who act like wild dogs, not wanting to be mastered by anyone else, wind up being ruled by someone, anyway (themselves or Satan or both), and they are subject to the worst bondage, and, ultimately, destruction.