Catching the Foxes

In this episode of The Dirt Path Sermon Podcast, we journey into the often-overlooked book of Song of Songs, where a tender invitation becomes a wake-up call for our spiritual lives. Drawing from Song of Songs 2:14–15, Pastor Jason explores the metaphor of “little foxes” that sneak in and threaten to ruin the vineyards of our faith, relationships, and calling.

This message was more than just a sermon—it was a physical, prayerful experience involving symbolic eggs, a real animal trap, and a powerful moment of surrender. While podcast listeners couldn’t be in the room, you’re invited to engage right where you are: reflect, respond, and consider what foxes might be quietly stealing the growth God is nurturing in your life.

The episode closes with a heartfelt challenge, prayer, and a connection to the song “I Won’t Let You Go” by Jon Foreman and Lauren Daigle—a reminder that God lovingly calls us out of hiding and won't let go, no matter what we’re facing.

Linkoln shares his story on why he started coming to Ravenna Church of the Nazarene and shares why you should consider doing the same.

Ravenna Church of the Nazarene
530 Main Street, Ravenna, KY 40472

Enjoy this message? Consider visiting Ravenna Church of the Nazarene where Pastor Jason is the Senior Pastor. Have a prayer need? Want to share something with Pastor Jason? Email rav.naz.ky@gmail.com

Help spread the gospel through this podcast by subscribing, leaving a review, and sharing this episode.

Chapters

• 0:00 Trailer [linktree link]
• 0:12 Theme song--"The Dirt Path" by Jeremy Edwards
• 1:16 Podcast Greeting
• 2:20 Introduction: We are going hunting
• 6:16 Reading of the Passage: Song of Songs 2:14-15
• 6:49 Context: Song of Songs or Song of Solomon
• 7:20 Verse 14--Doves and rock crevices
• 10:43 Verse 15--Foxes and vineyards
• 14:58 What does this teach us?
• 19:55 How should we apply this?
• 27:38 Invitation: Bait the trap
• 32:31 Closing prayer
• 34:35 Outro

Transcript

*not a word for word transcript, but the sermon manuscript*

CATCHING THE FOXES

     You are probably wondering two things, why do I have a plastic egg? And, why is there an animal trap on the platform? No we are not making a wildlife show. We are going fox hunting.

     Foxes are cute and clever, but they are pests. They will tear up a good thing fast. And you will not hear or see them coming, they are sneak in quiet and are light on their feet. By the time you notice the damage it is too late.

     Now, before you get overly concerned about violating animal rights this morning, the foxes we are hunting are not the grey or red furry ones. These are spiritual foxes.

     There are two verses we will be looking at today to help us understand why catching these foxes are important and explore what these foxes are. These verses are found in a book of the Bible that is not typically preached from, but is one reach with wisdom on relationships and love. That book is Song of Songs, or Song of Solomon.

Songs of Songs 2:14-15 (CEB)

14 My dove—in the rock crevices, hidden in the cliff face—let me catch sight of you; let me hear your voice! The sound of your voice is sweet, and the sight of you is lovely.” 15 Catch the foxes for us—those little foxes that spoil vineyards, now that our vineyards are in bloom!

This is the word of God

For the people of God

Thanks be to God

Song of Songs is a love poem—a passionate, poetic dialogue between two lovers. While it celebrates romantic love, it has also been understood throughout history as a picture of God’s love for His people.

Verse 14 begins with “My dove—in the rock crevices.” Doves are birds known for being gentle, shy, but also vulnerable. In this verse, the speaker is referring to their partners as someone who is hiding, afraid, or unsure. The rest of the verse continues with the speaker trying to draw their partner out, saying, “Let me catch sight of you; let me hear your voice.”

Notice how the speaker is calling the partner out. It is not with threats or taunts, they are gently wooing. This echoes God in Genesis 3, remember after they sin, Adam and Eve hide from God. God calls out to them, “Where are you?” Not an angry tone, but a loving tone of concern. If the words in verse 14 are like those of God, it also points us to the fact that God seeks us before we seek Him.

The next verse puzzles scholars on who is speaking, but the imagery is clear. Verse 15 says, “Catch the foxes for us.” The word ‘us’ implies both people share in the responsibility of the relationship. Both are to put in effort. Both are to protect it. They are protecting their relationship from the foxes.

Why? Verse 15 ends with, “..those little foxes that spoil the vineyards, now that our vineyards are in bloom.” In this period, foxes were not considered cute little critters, they were pests. They would ruin vineyards by burrowing under fences, nesting, and gnawing the roots. “Vineyards” in verse 15 refers to the relationship between the two people, it was growing between the two but like a blooming vineyard, it was vulnerable. “Foxes” is a metaphor referring to small issues that would rot away their relationship. Together they had to catch those foxes.

What does this teach us? We are all vulnerable to foxes. Foxes are the little things that rot away at our relationships. Gossip and bitterness can corrupt friendships. Dishonesty and jealousy will rot marriages. The sins we knowingly keep hidden are damaging to work with Christ. Broken marriages, damaged friendships, and hypocrisy are things that will destroy a church.

The love present in those relationships is beautiful. God loves us and calls us to love Him and love others, that is holiness. But love is vulnerable to the foxes, the sublte little things that will ruin what God is growing through His grace. Anything at bloom is at risk, believers, marriages, friendships, and callings.

But we do not have to hunt the foxes alone! Like the dove hiding in the cleft of the rockes, God is calling us out of hiding. His desire is for us to come out hiding and partner with Him, and one another to trap those small things before they ruin everything.

How do we do this? First, what is your vineyard? Identify the threats to your vineyards. Is it your marriage, friends, church, oor walk with Christ? Second, name the foxes. Is it hidden sin? Bitterness? Past trauma? Lack of communication? Distraction? Jealousy? Is it the opposite of love, apathy?

Once you have named the foxes, next you have to set the trap. Traps are set with intention, in the places where you know the foxes are. Daily check-in with your spouse. Confess sin and be accountable with trusted friends. Spend time with God in prayer and the Word. Seek to be with your Church family, find truth and love in those relationships. It is up to each of us to partner with God and one another to guard what God is growing.

Foxes are not like other predators. A wolf, bear, and lion are large predators that will do their damage straight on and in the open. But foxes are different, they sneak in and leave a mess. We are setting up a trap for anything that has been sneaking into the good things God has been trying to cultivate in your life.

That is why you have the egg. The egg is the bait. The egg represents a vulnerable area in your life—a relationship or calling that’s blooming. Inside, I want you to put whatever God is speaking to you about in this moment. What is threatening your marriage? What is lurking that could derail your walk with Christ? Perhaps you are clinging to bitterness, that will destroy friendships. Whatever it is, with whatever relationship, that is in your egg.

Let us pray together: God, You are the one who calls us out from the cleft of the rock, not with anger or shame, but with love that longs to heal and restore. You see every vineyard in bloom—every relationship, every calling, every step forward in faith—and You care deeply about the things that threaten to unravel them.

Today, Lord, we confess that we’ve let some foxes run loose. We’ve ignored warning signs. We’ve kept things buried, hoping they’d fix themselves. But we know now—they won’t. Not without Your help. So we’re answering Your call. We’re coming out of hiding.

Give us the courage to name the foxes. Give us the humility to partner with You and with one another to catch what’s been quietly causing damage. Search our hearts. Reveal what we’ve tried to ignore. And help us trust that what You want to grow in us is worth protecting.

Right now, we offer You what’s in our egg—this fragile thing that represents what we’re struggling with, what we’ve been hiding, or what’s been slowly stealing our joy. And as we bring it forward and place it in the trap, we do so in faith, believing that You are able to catch the foxes…

     As the song plays, when you are ready, I invite you to come and bring your egg and place it in the trap. Give it to God and let Him help lure the fox in and take it away from your relationship. That is His part, your part is bringing the bait. If you need to stop and pray at the atlar or in your sit first,this is your invitation do so. Catch the foxes before they can cause any more damage.

God is faithful to protect what He plants. He does not just catch the foxes—He restores what they’ve damaged. Go in that hope.