Like A Pack Of Snarling Dogs

Psalms 59:1-9

Like a pack of snarling dogs

To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.

In Psalms 59 David compares his enemies to wild dogs.

In Psalms 57, David there described his enemies as lions, ravenous beasts who are looking to devour him.

In Psalms 58 David further pictures his enemies as dangerous snakes, filled with deadly venom, which cannot be charmed no matter how skillful the charmer is.

Why does David speak of his enemies in such a way?

1. We have this Psalm because of a great trial that David faced and made it through.

Jealous King Saul is trying to kill David once again (this time sending men to kill him).

2. This Psalm is a prayer for deliverance; This Psalm is full of confidence and faith.

Listen as I READ today’s TEXT found in Psalms 59:1-9

1 Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me. 2Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men. 3For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD.

4They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold. 5Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.

6They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city. 7Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?

8But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision. 9Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.

10The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.

11Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield. 12For 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.

13Consume 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.

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

16But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble. 17Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.

I suppose that most of us have got or will have, our own snarling dogs so to speak to deal with.

The fact is, there are and will be people who hate us and want to harm us.

These fantastical terrorists would love it if all us that love the Lord Jesus Christ were dead right now, and those of us who stand by Israel.

And people may dislike us for other reasons.

But mostly we will have enemies because of our commitment to Jesus and holiness. Of such people we can truly say, “they are like snarling dogs”

In John 15:18-20, Jesus warns us of the opposition we can expect to face as his followers. 18If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; --

In 2Timothy 3:12-13 the Apostle Paul says 12Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

II. When we realize the snarling dogs are on our trial, lets try not to be afraid; instead, let us exercise our faith in God and call out to Him.

If we are right with God we don’t have to be afraid, because as John says in

1John 4:4 4Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Then there are times when these so called snarling dogs can lead us into a wicked response.