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"Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom" (Song of Solomon 2:15). "Let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us" (Hebrews 12:1).

To say Brooksyne enjoys gardening is an understatement. She begins in late winter or early spring by planting seeds inside under a grow lamp and tending to them as they grow. Then she transplants them when it's suitable and tends to them outside.

A couple of days ago she came in the house very frustrated as she told me an animal, probably rabbit, had chewed off the tops of her newly planted sunflowers, like the little foxes that ruin the vineyard in our daily text.

We have fox in our neighborhood down by Donegal Creek about 1/3 mile from our house but we rarely see them and I don't recall the foxes ever being a nuisance, to us anyway. Before a tree line was removed in the field across the road from us they were even closer and we could hear their distinctive bark.*

In today's text Solomon wrote about "the little foxes that ruin the vineyards". Although foxes can be destructive in a literal sense, in this statement most commentators consider that Solomon appears to be figuratively speaking.

Life consists of fighting off little foxes and other pests or predators that want to invade our lives or even destroy them. Today we want to consider spiritual pests to be like "little foxes" that tend to come in cycles. There are some "little foxes" I dealt with 50 years ago that pop up only now and then, others are no longer a problem, yet new ones have appeared over the years. Whether big or small they can all do extensive damage.  Wise Solomon spoke of the little foxes that ruin the vineyards.

These foxes are called "little" in the sense we may overlook them or fail to see their destructive impact. The way they appear look nothing like a destroyer but inwardly they are a great destroyer. We need to heed Hebrews 12:1, "Let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us".

These foxes are little but destroy the fruits of the vineyards. Sin is one of these little foxes that can lead to unending disaster. In 1 Corinthians 5:6 Paul uses another analogy, "Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough?"

Examples of these "little foxes" abound today, the many subtle and not so subtle attempts of the enemy to get us off the right track. They come in so many different forms. Little pests can bring on  incalculable damage, but when we catch them early and deal with them properly, we will have positive results compatible with our spiritual goal of remaining steadfast in our faith.

We all inevitably deal with a variety of "little foxes" in every season of our life. In fact, most major problems in life start out little. The alcoholic began with just one drink, the drug addict began with one little pill or one inhalation, the porn addict began with just one little peek and so on. When neglected the little foxes tend to grow to the point that we lose control.

We need to be on our guard against the little foxes and deal with them ASAP!

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13.

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber