The Little Foxes That Ruin Our Relationship with God

Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.

My cat Tinten loves catnip. As a special treat, I thought it would be a good idea to buy a catnip plant from my local pet store. Big mistake! No matter where I put it—my kitchen window sill, behind the blinds of my bedroom window, or even, in a desperate attempt to hide it, my bathroom—Tinten would find the plant and chew on the leaves. Despite my best efforts, he eventually ended up knocking over the plant and trampling it. I tried to repot it, but the poor catnip plant wasn’t able to recover. It died less than a week after I’d purchased it.

Tinten’s pesky behavior reminds me of the foxes mentioned in Song of Songs 2:15, which says, “catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.” In that scripture, a bride is asking her new husband to protect their marriage, which is like a blossoming vineyard, from foxes—a common garden pest.

Foxes that Ruin Our Relationships

Foxes are adorable, but they also have a habit of ravaging vineyards and gardens by nibbling on and trampling plants. In the same way, the troubles and distractions of this world can act as “foxes” in our relationships. They can destroy a sense of trust, connectedness, and intimacy if we do nothing to protect our relationships.

These “foxes” can also ruin our relationship with God. Just like the couple in Song of Songs, we are called to protect our relationship with God so that it, too, will be like a blossoming vineyard. Otherwise, the “foxes”—sin and life’s distractions—may keep us from enjoying the intimacy with God that our hearts so desperately need.

Let’s Pray to Protect our Intimacy with God

Help me to catch the little foxes that ruin our relationship with you, Father God. Let me not be distracted by the sin or the pleasures of this world, but be attracted to your love, grace, and goodness.

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