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.
Namely; Revenge, retaliation, grudges, & bitterness of heart.
And yet in the Bible, God says in Romans 12:17-21, 17Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
While the attacks of our enemies may shake us and tempt some of us to retaliate we are called to exercise our faith in God and to call out to Him.
In this Psalm 59: David exercised his faith in God by calling out to Him.
again v.1-2 where he says 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.
In 1 Peter 5:6-7 we find, 6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
After reaching out to God and casting ourselves upon His mercy what else should we do?
WAIT UPON HIM. Isaiah 30:18. 18And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.
Trust Him. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding.”
III. When we hear the howl of those who are like snarling dogs, let us bear in mind, like any bad dog, they will be “put down.”
I want us to notice the incredible sense of confidence in God that comes from our text.
Listen as I read verse 9 again 9Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence. And then vss. 14-16 wherein David says 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.
Listen to these reasons why David was so confident when his very life hung in the balance?
1. He knew that God was personally aware of his situation
God misses nothing. He sees all.
2. He knew that God was hearing and marking down the murderous threats of those who were against him. v.7-8 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.
What is whispered in the ear is as clear to God as what is shouted from the rooftops.
David’s “hands were clean”. He was innocent. He had done nothing that called for Saul to try & take his life (V.9). 9Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.
Let me say right here that sometimes when trouble comes our way it is a rightful consequence. We may deserve it. And if so we need to take it as discipline from the Lord.
At other times our situation may be more like David’s- we have committed no great sins, there is nothing that warrants the attacks we are facing from others.
David knew that God loved him.
In verse 9 and verse 17, David speaks of the fact that God loved him.
9Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.---
v.17. 17Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.
While it’s true that God loves everyone, demonstrated by the fact that Jesus died on the cross for all people, He specially loves those who are in right relationship with Him.
To him David, God was like a fortress
In our text, there are two powerful word pictures: 1. David’s enemies described as snarling dogs 2. God described as an impenetrable fortress.
In the ancient world cities were fortified. Great walls were built around the cities. Defense towers were erected. Giant gates regulated who went in and out.
When trouble came, the citizens of the land hurried into the city and shut the gates. If the city was fortified properly, they could stay in there for years- with food, water, and shelter from the enemies at their gates.
To David, God was like a fortress, but like no fortress on earth- for with God there is perfect security.
When trouble came where did David go? He ran to God. He took shelter in the Shadow of the Almighty. He drew near to God and sought refuge under his wings. Because of this, in spite of the dangers that lurked out his very window, David felt and was secure in God and his spirits were lifted.
David knew that the end of his enemies was coming.
David knew what we know; “bad dogs get put down”.
David knew, looked forward to, and prayed for the day on which God would deal with his enemies.
David knew that justice would be done and that God would not let the wicked go unpunished. Such is our confidence. Such is the promise of the Scriptures.
And let me say that one day in the not to far away future the enemies of Gods chosen people Israel are going to be put away like a pack of vicious dogs ought to be, there will be peace in Jerusalem soon, when THE PRINCE OF PEACE is ruling and reigning from His Throne THERE IN Jerusalem.
And God would even save the enemies of the Jews if they’d simply repent of their sins and receive His Son Jesus as their Lord and Savior; He is no respecter of persons.
What a great day it will be when Jesus comes for his church. What a great day it will be when Jesus comes to judge this world and to be an end to all the injustice and evil that grows in depth every day. What a day of rejoicing that will be.
Let us keep in mind at various points in our lives there will be people who are actively out to get us.
This ought not to surprise us. Persecution, particularly for our faith in Jesus, is something the Bible tells us to expect.
The first thing to do, in response to those who make themselves our enemies is: Call out to God. Go to him as one would run in the old days, to a fortress for safety
stay committed to the praise and worship of God, for He is in the midst working on our behalf.
-Justice will be done
-the wicked will not go unpunished
