Snarling Dogs

June 3

(Psalms 59:1-17 NIV)  "Deliver me from my enemies, O God; protect me from those who rise up against me. {2} Deliver me from evildoers and save me from bloodthirsty men. {3} See how they lie in wait for me! Fierce men conspire against me for no offense or sin of mine, O Lord. {4} I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me. Arise to help me; look on my plight! {5} O Lord God Almighty, the God of Israel, rouse yourself to punish all the nations; show no mercy to wicked traitors. Selah {6} They return at evening, snarling like dogs, and prowl about the city. {7} See what they spew from their mouths-- they spew out swords from their lips, and they say, "Who can hear us?" {8} But you, O Lord, laugh at them; you scoff at all those nations. {9} O my Strength, I watch for you; you, O God, are my fortress, {10} my loving God. God will go before me and will let me gloat over those who slander me. {11} But do not kill them, O Lord our shield, or my people will forget. In your might make them wander about, 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 wrath, consume them till they are no more. Then it will be known to the ends of the earth that God rules over Jacob. Selah {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} O my Strength, I sing praise to you; you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God."

David had fierce and bloodthirsty enemies he compared to snarling dogs. They were ferocious and determined to hunt him down. David prayed for their demise. We may wonder how a man after God’s own heart could curse his enemies and wish them harm. We may recoil at David’s calls for God to crush them, eliminate them, punish them and consume them. But until we have walked a mile in his shoes, we had better reserve judgment. Until we have faced the snarling dogs and feared for our lives, we should not be too critical. David appeals to God -- his refuge, his fortress, and his strength. He asks the Lord to look upon his plight and deliver him; to close the mouths of the snarling dogs -- whatever it takes. He wants to live another day so he can sing praise to God. With dogs at our door, our prayers would likely be no different. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day