Very interesting. Seeing this post reminds me....In the Bible, the dog, or spirit of the black dog, is a demonic entity indicating satanic bondage/bewitchment (much like depression/oppression) and being surrounded by demonic entities.
Psalm 22:20
Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
This scripture is in conjunction with King David's anguish/depression from the relentless persecution he faced from other nations. He was essentially betrayed by family and friends and left alone to face death.
Psalm 22: 1-2, 6-8
"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest. "
"But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. He trusts in the LORD,” they say, “let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.”
from verse 16...
"Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. "
How many of us feel this way sometimes???
Thankfully he trusted God despite his emotional state/feelings and prayed in total transparency and honesty - thus being able to overcome.
I find his writings so relational and timeless.
Psalm 3 [my favorite]
Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.” But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the LORD, and he answers me from his holy mountain. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.
Philippians 3:2 [in the new testament]
Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.