THE GOSPEL
MESSAGE
Volume 45 Number 3 November 2002
Editor and Publisher - Thomas W. Woody
Beware of Dogs!
Thomas W. Woody
Dogs are often referred to as "Man's Best Friend", and indeed, a
domesticated canine can provide much comfort and constant loyalty to its
master. While Lazarus was on earth, it would seem that dogs may have
been his only comfort. "And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell
from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores."
(Luke 16:21)
Dogs Are Lowly Creatures
But when we read the 40 references to dogs in the Holy Scriptures, we
discover that dogs are not usually spoken of in a favorable light. They
are considered by man to be lowly and despised creatures in passages like
1Samuel 17:43: "And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou
comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods."
When David was fleeing from Saul's wrath, he likened himself to a "dead
dog" (1Samuel 24:14; See also 2 Samuel 3:8; 9:8; 16:9.) Even the
Creator of dogs referred to them this way in Matthew 15:26: "But he
answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to
cast it to dogs."
Dogs Bite & Devour
It is in a dog's nature to be a predator and scavenger. This
characteristic is seen in the Law of Moses, when God commanded his
people, "And ye shall be holy men unto me: neither shall ye eat any flesh
that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs."
(Exodus 22:31) In 1Kings 14:11, we read of the shameful fate of Jeroboam's
descendants; "Him that dieth of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat;
and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat: for the
LORD hath spoken it." Searching to devour is always the top priority of
the dog. In Isaiah 56:11, "Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never
have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look
to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter." Paul knew
that sometimes brethren act like dogs when he gave us this warning in
Galatians 5:13-15,"For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use
not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love
thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take
heed that ye be not consumed one of another." Do you ever growl at your
brethren?
Dogs Threaten The Righteous
We are warned in Philippians 3:2: "Beware of dogs, beware of evil
workers, beware of the concision." David spoke about the dogs growling
in Psalms 59:6: "They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog,
and go round about the city." The prophecy of the crucifixion of Jesus
in Psalms 22:16 shows us the Lamb of God being surrounded by hostile
beasts; "For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have
inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet."
We Are The Sheep
To understand this divine warning to beware of dogs, we must remember
that the righteous are compared to sheep in the Bible. For example, in
Psalms 79:13: "So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee
thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations." (See
Also Psalms 78:52; 95:7; 100:3 )
The Lord Is Our Protection From Dogs
Christians are rightly compared to sheep, while our enemies are compared
to dogs and wolves. Sheep are pretty helpless and need a shepherd to
protect them from harm. Jesus is The Good Shepherd, and He is the One we
must turn to for our protection from dogs. He will faithfully provide if
we believe Him with all of our heart. In Exodus 11:7, we see how God
protected Israel from even the growling of a dog: "But against any of the
children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast:
that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the
Egyptians and Israel." When Jesus was surrounded by those dogs who
thirsted for His soul at Calvary, He cried out to His Father in Psalms
22:20: "Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the
dog." And we know the Lord heard Him!
Wolves Are The Big Dogs
We are warned by the Good Shepherd of our souls in Matthew 7:15,
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but
inwardly they are ravening wolves." Matthew 10:16, "Behold, I send you
forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents,
and harmless as doves." Acts 20:29, "For I know this, that after my
departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the
flock." Instinctively, a wolf seeks someone to eat. Do not let yourself
be the wolf's next victim by wandering away from the safety of the fold.
Don't Give Holy Things To The Dogs
In Matthew 7:6, "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast
ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and
turn again and rend you."
In Proverbs 26:17 (RSV), "He who meddles in a quarrel not his own is
like one who takes a passing dog by the ears."
A Dog's Bad Habit
We are reminded of a dog's bad habit in Proverbs 26:11: "As a dog
returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly." In 2 Peter
2:22, we find the same thought expressed to warn us of the dangers of
returning to sin: "But it is happened unto them according to the true
proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was
washed to her wallowing in the mire." The Redeemed have free, living
Bread from heaven, so why should we ever return to feed on the vomit of
our old life?
The End of Dogs
We see the end of dogs described in Revelation 22:15: "For without are
dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and
whosoever loveth and maketh a lie." Let us all resolve to beware of
those who would lead us away from Christ, and be sure that we never allow
ourselves to become dogs.
~ P.O. Box 148, Brighton, IL 62012-0148
tomwoody@juno.com
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