What is the meaning of Psalm 59:15? They scavenge for food Psalm 59 pictures David’s enemies as stray dogs prowling the streets at night, “roaming the city” (v. 14). In v. 15 the image continues: “They scavenge for food.” • This is a vivid portrayal of people who seek any opportunity to harm, exploit, or slander. Like famished dogs overturning garbage, they rifle through every corner of David’s life for weaknesses. • Similar language appears in Psalm 22:16, 20—“For dogs surround me… deliver my soul from the power of the dog”—highlighting the threatening persistence of the wicked. • Proverbs 4:16 says, “For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are robbed of slumber unless they make someone stumble.” The hunt itself becomes their twisted sustenance. • Micah 3:2–3 describes leaders “who tear the skin from My people,” showing that scavenging can be social or political, not just physical. • Spiritually, those apart from God are pictured as wandering, restless, and unsatisfied (Isaiah 57:20). The verse reminds us that sin never fills; it only deepens hunger. and growl if they are not satisfied The scavengers “growl” (or “howl”) when their cravings remain unmet. • The growl exposes both frustration and hostility. Proverbs 27:20 observes, “Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied,” linking bottomless appetite with death. • Jude 16 calls false teachers “grumblers and faultfinders; they follow after their own evil desires,” echoing this growling discontent. • When evil cannot secure its prey, it turns louder and more menacing. Psalm 59:6–7 had already noted, “They return in the evening, snarling like dogs… with swords in their lips.” The emphasis falls on noise over substance—barking threats without true power against God’s anointed. • For believers today, the verse serves as a warning: ungodly opposition may intensify precisely when its efforts are thwarted. Yet the Lord remains “my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble” (Psalm 59:16). • In contrast, those who seek the Lord find real satisfaction. Jesus promises, “Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst” (John 4:14). summary Psalm 59:15 uses the image of stray dogs to spotlight the relentless, hungry nature of the wicked. They rummage through every avenue to feed their sinful desires, and when those desires are blocked they respond with louder threats and deeper dissatisfaction. The verse encourages us to recognize evil’s restless appetite, to expect its noise when frustrated, and to rest confidently in the Lord, who alone satisfies and protects His people. |
    |