GOODNEWSLETTER
Number 374 June 1, 2011
DOCTRINAL DOGS?
The Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" (I Sam. 17:43).
I raise Border Collies. Bred to work sheep, they are the most intelligent dogs I know. But, no one has sheep anymore. So, I raise them as "Smart Dogs." I love to say that I have over 500 pups, all over the world. But, actually, although in the hundreds, it's more close to 300. My favorite story is the guy who was on Temporary Duty from Baltimore, Md. He called and purchased a pup took him back east and named him B. J. after an outfielder for the Baltimore Orioles. The next year B. J. Surhoff was traded to Atlanta. Poor guy.
It seems that the dog hasn't always been man's best friend. Biblically, dogs are not normally placed in good light. Of course, Border Collies were not developed until the 1500's; but, when it comes to the word of God, for the most part, dogs are used for descriptive purposes.
It seems that the dog hasn't always been man's best friend. Biblically, dogs are not normally placed in good light. Of course, Border Collies were not developed until the 1500's; but, when it comes to the word of God, for the most part, dogs are used for descriptive purposes.
However, there are a few verses that use dogs in a "better off than the alternative" category. One is Ecclesiastes 9:4; which says, "A live dog is better than a dead lion." While, it doesn't advance dogs to the brilliant friend of man, the passage does shows that a live dog is better off than anything that is dead. Or, to put it as I think it means: "Our position in life may not be the greatest but, as long as we have life, we have hope and can change" - even, for a dog.
Solomon wants us to understand that any position of live is of no value to the LORD.; unless our life serves Him. Life, in the final analysis, has no meaning after one is dead. The wise writer of Ecclesiastes uses Dogs in this verse to show us to compare this life and the opportunities in it. It's better to be alive than to not be alive. Thus, life is precious. Let us take avantage of it and follow Solomon's admonition and serve God and His Son, Jesus; for one day, we shall leave this world.
Certainly, animals are used to give us better understanding of how to serve God; often used in Parables. Jesus used them all the time. His favorite animals are sheep; teaching us that - like sheep follow shepherds; so, Christians are to follow Him, in their spiritual walk. His care is sufficient, always.
DOGS may reveal one's character; but normally, the Bible uses demeaning terms; as in 2nd Peter 2:22. Here, dogs are used to explain false prophets that promises freedom; but, remain enslaved in the old life. Peter states that "...it would be better for them to not have known the way of righteousness, than having know it, to turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them." We a bit more information by reading the Proverb entirely. "Like a dog that returns to his own vomit IS A FOOL WHO REPEATS HIS FOLLY," Proverbs 26:11,
Dogs also are used for "character building and judging examples. We know well the 300 mens that were chosen to go with Gideon to fight the Midianites. They lapped up water like dogs (Judges 7:5). If we meddle with strife that's not ours, we might as well "take a dog by the ears." (Prov. 26:17). We'll be bitten! Dogs were used to destroy the remains of evil people; such as Jezebel (1st Kgs. 21:23).
Then, the great meeting of David and Goliath of 1st Samuel 17:43, where Goliath had his ego shattered. "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks." If Goliath only knew the outcome of going up against the Lord's anointed, he would have humbled himself, just like a dog.
And, since I love dogs in general, and Border Collies, in particular, I love to read in the Bible where dogs reveal the character of humbleness. My Borders want to be with ME! Perhaps, the best account of humbleness is the Canaanite woman who would not give up, causing the disciples to ask Jesus to "Send her away, for she is shouting out after us," Matthew 15:23.
Making her way to Jesus, she pleaded with Him to "Help me!" (Mt. 15:25). Jesus told her, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs," Matthew 15:26. The Syrophoenician woman answered, "Yes, LORD; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."
When it comes to serving the Lord, we have to humble ourselves. If the need is a great as the woman from Canaan, we certainly will do anything to get the Lord's attention. The lesson shows that if we are humble enough to eat crumbs from the promises of God, we will hear the same words from Jesus as He spoke to the woman: "...your faith is great; be it done for you as you wish."
Her daughter was healed! Praise the Lord. Then, there's the story of Lazarus in Luke 16. Oh! Love those dogs that aided this sick man! The breed of these dogs must have been...