The Fox or Jackal
The sermon explores the symbolism of the fox or jackal in Scripture, highlighting their scavenging nature and the dangers of being opportunistic, and drawing parallels with Jesus Christ's life and teachings.
The preacher, Greek Word Studies, delves into the meaning of 'prasso' in the New Testament, emphasizing its distinction from 'poieo' and its various nuances such as accomplishing objectives, engaging in activities, and collecting what is due. 'Prasso' is used to highlight habitual practices, the process leading to accomplishment, and the warning against judging others based on their actions. The continuous tenses of 'prasso' in the Epistles indicate a habit of doing something, while 'poieo' denotes an action complete in itself.
Text
It is not quite certain whether the fox mentioned in the Bible is the same animal that we now call by that name. It probably means what we now call the jackal. This animal is about as large as a common sized dog, and its color is yellow, or reddish brown. It never goes out alone to seek its food, but always in companies of forty or fifty together. Then they make strange noises, which sound very much like the crying of children.
They do not go out for their food in the daytime, but wait till it begins to be dark; and then they kill all the animals they can find that are not too strong for them. Sometimes a large animal like the lion will hear the cries that they make when they are hunting, and will come and snatch away from them whatever they have found. These foxes or jackals have been known to scratch away the earth from graves that have been lately made, and then devour the bodies of the dead. This explains a verse in the sixty-second Psalm, where David says of those who "seek his soul to destroy it,"-"They shall fall by the sword; they shall be a portion for foxes."
They eat plants of different kinds; sometimes roots, and sometimes fruits. This is one of the verses in Solomon's Song, "Take us the foxes, the little foxes which spoil the vines; for our vines have tender grapes."
These animals are often found in great numbers around the walls and ruins of old cities; they live in holes or burrows which they dig in the ground. Our Savior says, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head." We have read this verse so many times that we scarcely think how much it means; but was it not a wonderful thing that when Christ came from his bright throne in heaven to this poor earth, he should not find even a home here? Every animal on all the hills has its shelter and hiding-place; every little bird in all the forest has its comfortable nest; but our Savior "had not where to lay his head." During all his life he was "a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." For whom did he suffer all this?-and when his sorrowful life was ended, for whom did he die? I need not tell you this, dear child, but I may ask you,
"Is there nothing we can do
"To prove our grateful love?"
Sermon Outline
- I. Introduction to the Fox or Jackal in the Bible
- A. Uncertainty about the animal's identity
- B. Description of the fox or jackal's behavior and habits
- II. The Fox or Jackal's Hunting and Eating Habits
- A. Hunting in packs and making strange noises
- B. Killing animals at night and devouring their bodies
- C. Scratching away earth from graves and devouring dead bodies
- III. The Fox or Jackal's Diet and Habitat
- A. Eating plants, roots, and fruits
- B. Living in holes or burrows around old cities
- IV. The Significance of the Fox or Jackal in Scripture
- A. Reference to the foxes in the 62nd Psalm
- B. Reference to the foxes in Solomon's Song
- C. Reference to the foxes in the Gospel of Matthew
Key Quotes
“They shall fall by the sword; they shall be a portion for foxes.” — Harriet N. Cook
“Take us the foxes, the little foxes which spoil the vines; for our vines have tender grapes.” — Harriet N. Cook
“The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” — Harriet N. Cook
Application Points
- We can learn from the fox or jackal's behavior about the importance of community and protection.
- We should be mindful of our own behavior and avoid being opportunistic and taking advantage of others.
- We can reflect on the significance of the fox or jackal in Scripture and how it relates to our own lives and experiences.