Psalm 59:14-15

Psalm 59:14-15

The demons of the city

A quick look back at verses 6-8 of the Psalm will confirm that the “dog” analogy has already been used. In fact, verses 8 & 14 are identical. Earlier in this Psalm David takes delight in the thought that the Lord laughs at His enemies, and He scoffs at the nations who oppose Him. 

We should never forget that our enemies are primarily spiritual, we have been called out of darkness into the kingdom of light, we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against authorities and powers in the heavenly realms. The demonic powers are often likened to wild animals in the Scriptures. In this Psalm the demonic wild dog spirits enter cities at dusk and their vile deeds are perpetrated through those who expose themselves by indulging in drink and drugs and many kinds of debauched behaviour. Most of the vilest of human practices are carried out in the night hours when the “dogs” enter the city. 

Is the comparison between the natural world and spiritual evil a figment of my imagination? More than four centuries ago, the English the English theologian Leonard Wright (1555-1591), wrote the following in a commentary on Psalm 55:

“His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords. A false, feigning friend could be compared to a crocodile which, when it opens its mouth to “smile”, poisons, and when it sheds tears, devours; and to the hyena, with its human-like voice, but wolf-like behaviour, which speaks like a friend and devours like a demon; (…) to the flute or hunter’s horn, whose soft notes herald the death of the unfortunate bird; to the bee, which carries honey in its mouth and a sting in its tail; or to the ricin plant, with its lovely evergreen leaves and its lethally poisonous seeds. His outward appearance is friendly and words pleasing, but his intentions are sinister and actions polluting.”

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