Psalms 22:20

THE POWER OF THE DOG 1

‘Deliver … my darling from the power of the dog.’

Psalms 22:20

The word dog in the Scriptures often means a wicked person. It has that meaning in the text. David is speaking as a prophet, and he foretells the sufferings of our Saviour. When he says, ‘Deliver my darling from the power of the dog,’ it is a prayer that God would deliver His only Son from the hands of wicked men.

What ought we specially to think about in Lent? About our Lord’s Fasting and Temptation. Yes, but there is something more for us to think of—our own sins and temptations, and how to conquer them. That is what I mean when I tell you there are several bad dogs of which we must beware. Let us think of some of their names.

I. The dog called Sulky.—No one can be happy with a sulky person, and no one is more unhappy than the sulky one himself.

II. The dog called Passion.—Beware, then, of that fierce dog Passion. Remember what Solomon the wise man says about anger. I wonder if you could tell me the text. ‘He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.’

III. The dog called Idle.—You never see this dog doing anything useful. You never find him carrying a basket or a bundle, as some good dogs will. You never see him keeping guard over his master’s goods, or minding the sheep, or drawing a sledge, like the clever dogs at the North Pole. Take care not to be bitten by dog Idle.

IV. The dog called Mischief.—He is very dangerous. I am not speaking of Fun and Merriment—they are good dogs, which skip and play about, and do good, not harm. But Mischief is sly and secret, he goes about in dark places, and is never safe to meddle with. When a child is bitten by dog Mischief no one can tell what harm he may do.

V. The dog called Careless.—He is not so bad as some dogs; at times we can scarcely help liking him, and yet he does much harm. A child, after he has been bitten by dog Careless, says his prayers without thinking what they mean, and reads the Bible without understanding it. Be on your guard against dog Careless.

—Rev. J. H. Wilmot Buxton.

Illustration

‘The old Greek fable says that once a waggoner was driving a loaded waggon along a muddy lane, and the wheels stuck fast. Then the man prayed the strong Hercules to come and help him. But Hercules told him to put his shoulder to the wheel if he wanted help. Remember that we must help ourselves. We must, as the Spanish proverb puts it,

Pray to God devoutly,

Hammer away stoutly.’