'a living dog is better than a dead lion’,

In these few verses, 4 to 7 of chapter 9, Solomon waxes wise regarding ‘being alive’ and ‘making that life count for something’ rather than ‘being dead’ and having, therefore, ‘done with all the things of this life,’ see verse 5. To stress the point he leads us to consider the contrast between a living dog and a dead lion.

To understand where Solomon is coming from in the expression 'a living dog is better than a dead lion' (Ecclesiastes 9.4.) we need to remember that in Hebrew society dogs were very rarely treated as pets. They were often scavengers, thin, neglected animals living outside homes and despised by society. They were not loved and pampered as many Europeans do with their dogs these days. The expression in the Bible that someone is a dead dog makes it even more of an insult. On the other hand, lions were highly esteemed and were used as symbols of royalty. They were majestic, courageous and greatly to be feared.

But the point of the saying is that life is more important than standing. For all that the lion possesses in reputation, fierceness, aggression and strength the very fact that he is a ‘dead’ lion immediately nullifies his assets! At least a living dog, although far inferior to the lion, can still bark, bite and harass an enemy or would-be thief. This is only because it possesses life – the dog is alive! The lion may be all that he should be, at the top of the food chain as we may say, and the despised dog merely cursed and kicked. But when a lion is dead he is good for nothing. His majesty is gone, he is no longer to be feared. The dog wins on that front, so long as he is still alive. 'A living dog is better than a dead lion'.

Though there have been great men and women of faith in the past, whose influence was enormous, they are dead and we are alive. We still have the opportunity to live for God and influence our society today. We may be dogs compared to them but we are living dogs. Let us therefore rise to the occasion and, though we live in their shadow, we are to be busy about the Lord's work in our generation. We can be the 'influencers' of our day. As believers we can live in such a way that we are dead spiritually and as such our testimony is clearly wiped out. If that is the case we will never be effective and fruitful Christians. What we need to be is ‘alive as believers’. No more pretending or minimal commitment. It is all or nothing as far as Christ is concerned and we need to grasp that!

Whilst we are still alive, let's take to heart the example of the Apostle Paul, a 'lion' of faith if there ever was one. 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me'. So here’s to being a ‘living dog’ rather than a ‘dead lion’. We have a life that’s well worth living so let’s ‘live it to the full’.