This verse reminds readers that, even in the darkest moments of attack, God’s protection and presence are always near.
“They return at evening, they howl like a dog, And go around the city.” (v.14) In this portion of David’s psalm, the imagery of loud, roaming dogs emphasizes the relentless threats he faces. In David’s time (circa 1010 - 970 BC), Jerusalem and its surroundings could be vulnerable at night, when adversaries used darkness as cover for their schemes. Here, David poetically likens these enemies to savage dogs prowling the streets under cover of night, illustrating their menacing nature and their desire to intimidate him.
David, the likely author of this psalm, was chosen by God to reign over Israel (1 Samuel 16:1-13) and had firsthand experience with hostile pursuers. This hostile scene, portrayed as dogs, captures the constant unrest and danger that followed the anointed king. Even in the midst of peril, David entrusted himself to the LORD’s protection, reminding believers throughout generations that no power, however threatening, can surpass God’s sovereign might Romans 8:31-39).
“They return at evening” also highlights the cyclical persistence of evil, as though these aggressors reappear whenever darkness falls, embodying a continued attack on righteousness. Like the unrelenting challenges Jesus faced (Matthew 26:55), David’s trials call us to remain steadfast in faith, trusting the Lord to guard us from harm and subdue all restless enemies acting under the cover of night.
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Psalms 59:14 meaning
“They return at evening, they howl like a dog, And go around the city.” (v.14) In this portion of David’s psalm, the imagery of loud, roaming dogs emphasizes the relentless threats he faces. In David’s time (circa 1010 - 970 BC), Jerusalem and its surroundings could be vulnerable at night, when adversaries used darkness as cover for their schemes. Here, David poetically likens these enemies to savage dogs prowling the streets under cover of night, illustrating their menacing nature and their desire to intimidate him.
David, the likely author of this psalm, was chosen by God to reign over Israel (1 Samuel 16:1-13) and had firsthand experience with hostile pursuers. This hostile scene, portrayed as dogs, captures the constant unrest and danger that followed the anointed king. Even in the midst of peril, David entrusted himself to the LORD’s protection, reminding believers throughout generations that no power, however threatening, can surpass God’s sovereign might Romans 8:31-39).
“They return at evening” also highlights the cyclical persistence of evil, as though these aggressors reappear whenever darkness falls, embodying a continued attack on righteousness. Like the unrelenting challenges Jesus faced (Matthew 26:55), David’s trials call us to remain steadfast in faith, trusting the Lord to guard us from harm and subdue all restless enemies acting under the cover of night.