THE POWER OF THE DOG

"Deliver Me from the sword, My precious life from the power of the dog."  NKJV (Psalm 22:20)

       The KJV uses "my darling" in the place of "my precious life." Other versions use the word "soul," NASB ands "my life." NIV This does refer to our inner person, or soul – our unseen part. It is what Jesus referred to when He said, "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matt 16:26).  A weighty question, indeed! Esau exchanged his soul for a small meal (Heb 12:16). Judas made the exchange for thirty pieces of silver (Zech 11:12; Matt 26:15. Countless people have exchanged their souls for "the pleasures of sin for a season" (Heb 11:25). David considered his soul his "darling," or his "precious life." He earnestly sought for that life to be delivered "from the power of the dog." This expression also applies to the Lord Jesus when He suffered the agonies of the cross, for this Psalm is a vivid depiction of that time. With both David and the suffering Christ, the soul was most precious to them. They sought Divine protection from all who would harm them in their thoughts, feelings, perceptions, and sensitivities.
The "dog" refers to an aggressive animal that intimidated with barks, and finally devoured the person. When Israel came out of Egypt, they were delivered from the "power of the dog," according to the promise: "against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast" (Ex 11:7). There are those who make "a noise like a dog," intimidating people with their words like a wild dog does with its bark. The "power of the dog" refers to the ability some have to inflict hurt upon the people of God. Like a roaming gang of wild dogs, the people surrounded the dying Christ with taunts and jeers. Like a pack of vicious dogs, the council stoned Stephen. Solemnly, the saints are warned of such people: "Beware of dogs" (Phil 3:2). These are condemned people who come against the saints of God, and will eventually be thrust from the presence of the Lord (Rev 22:15). These are people to whom "holy" things are not to be given. They have power to "turn again and rend you" (Matt 7:6).
The Lord does not promise we will be free from such people, or that they will not inflict harm upon us, putting us in prison, and even taking our lives (Lk 21:15-17). We can, however, pray with the Psalmist that our souls will be delivered "from the power of the dog," that our hearts and minds will remain pure and uncontaminated. Such protection leaves us undistracted by the threats of the enemy, whether Satan or his cohorts.