Why is it Called "The Power of the Dog"?

May 11, 2022 Sam Chan

My wife and I enjoyed the (award-winning) movie “The Power of the Dog” (2021).

The main character – a cowboy played by Benedict Cumberbatch – is the powerful alpha dog of the pack. But he is also cruel and vindictive.

The movie is called - “The Power of the Dog” - because it is a phrase from Psalm 22 in the Bible.

One of the other characters – played by Kodi Smit-McPhee – reads Psalm 22. And Psalm 22 becomes a turning point in this movie.

Psalm 22 is a key passage in the Bible, because it cries our basic human cry for relief from tormentors.

This is why Jesus quotes Psalm 22, as he dies on the cross.

In Jesus, we have a God who cries our cry – for relief and justice.

But Jesus is also the True Top Dog of this Universe. One day, he will give us total relief from tormentors.

And Jesus is also the better way to exercise power – through love and sacrifice.

It’s time we stopped trying to be the top dog and let Jesus be both our Power and Top Dog.

While you’re here, check out my buddy Russ Matthews’ Third Space review of “The Power of the Dog”