SNARLING DOGS
Opening Prayer
Great God, there is no one who can stand against you. I thank you that you cover me on all sides. I praise you because there is nothing through which you cannot bring yourself glory.
Read PSALM 59
Psalm 59[a]
For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.[b] When Saul had sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him.
1 Deliver me from my enemies, O God;
be my fortress against those who are attacking me.
2 Deliver me from evildoers
and save me from those who are after my blood.
3 See how they lie in wait for me!
Fierce men conspire against me
for no offense or sin of mine, Lord.
4 I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me.
Arise to help me; look on my plight!
5 You, Lord God Almighty,
you who are the God of Israel,
rouse yourself to punish all the nations;
show no mercy to wicked traitors.[c]
6 They return at evening,
snarling like dogs,
and prowl about the city.
7 See what they spew from their mouths—
the words from their lips are sharp as swords,
and they think, “Who can hear us?”
8 But you laugh at them, Lord;
you scoff at all those nations.
9 You are my strength, I watch for you;
you, God, are my fortress,
10 my God on whom I can rely.
God will go before me
and will let me gloat over those who slander me.
11 But do not kill them, Lord our shield,[d]
or my people will forget.
In your might uproot them
and bring them down.
12 For the sins of their mouths,
for the words of their lips,
let them be caught in their pride.
For the curses and lies they utter,
13 consume them in your wrath,
consume them till they are no more.
Then it will be known to the ends of the earth
that God rules over Jacob.
14 They return at evening,
snarling like dogs,
and prowl about the city.
15 They wander about for food
and howl if not satisfied.
16 But I will sing of your strength,
in the morning I will sing of your love;
for you are my fortress,
my refuge in times of trouble.
17 You are my strength, I sing praise to you;
you, God, are my fortress,
my God on whom I can rely.
Footnotes
- Psalm 59:1 In Hebrew texts 59:1-17 is numbered 59:2-18.
- Psalm 59:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 59:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 13.
- Psalm 59:11 Or sovereign
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
‘Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts’ (Psalm 139:23).In July 2021, a badly injured man was rescued from a remote mining camp in Alaska. A bear had attacked him and had returned every night for a week before the man was eventually rescued. In this psalm the writer describes similar recurrent night terrors, like ‘snarling dogs’ returning at evening (vs 6,14). This is the experience today, for example, of victims of domestic abuse, and people living in areas blighted by antisocial behavior or war.
For some of us, the ‘snarling dogs’ come in the form of crippling fear and anxiety, dark thoughts, and intense loneliness. But, to answer the dogs, another refrain returns regularly and intentionally (vs 9,17). God is our strength and our fortress, our loving God (v 16).
This psalm contains a thought that is common in the Old Testament. Evil ultimately destroys itself. This is expressed as a prayer (vs 12,13), but it is just a question of time. Things that terrify me are laughable to God (v 8). The refrain reminds us, God is ‘my fortress,’ my loving God. To this secure fortress we can go to watch for him to act (v 9), and to praise him (v 17).
Apply
Whether the terrors we face are physical or psychological, the biggest battle is for the control of the mind. Can you identify your anxieties? Turn anxiety to prayer and choose to focus your mind on good things (Philippians 4:8).
Closing prayer
Almighty God, you know those things that keep me awake at night, that trouble me throughout the day. I come to you, my defender and deliverer, for relief.
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