The Right Kind of Confident by Mary A. Kassian

Author:Mary A. Kassian
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2021-07-07T00:00:00+00:00

DEVOTION: HE IS WORTHY OF MY ALLEGIANCE

If you were to go on a tour of Japan, your guide would likely take you to see the bronze sculpture of a dog in the city of Shibuya, a ward of Tokyo. This statue is one of Japan’s most famous meeting places. Many people take pictures with the bronze dog statue or lovingly adorn it with garlands of flowers. The nearby train station features the same dog on a massive, colorful mosaic wall. Even the manhole covers in the station are inscribed with bronze tributes to this famous canine.

The dog, whose name was Hachiko—Hachi for short—is honored in other locations in Japan as well. His fur is preserved and on permanent display at the National Science Museum of Japan. There’s a bronze sculpture of Hachi at the University of Tokyo. There are also numerous sculptures and tributes in the city of Odate, his place of birth. What’s more, you can purchase a trinket or memento of the dog in virtually every Japanese souvenir shop.

Why is Hachi so famous?

Hachi belonged to Dr. Ueno, a professor who taught at the Tokyo Imperial University in the early 1920s. Every day, Hachi would accompany Ueno to the Shibuya train station and then greet him again at the station when he returned from work. The pair continued this daily routine for several years. But then one day, the professor did not return. He suffered a stroke while lecturing and died without ever returning to the train station where Hachi waited.

Each day, Hachi showed up at the train station precisely when the train was due to wait for his beloved master. Hachi remained undeterred by other dogs or by people who tried to coax or chase him away. Day in and day out he arrived at the appointed time and watched expectantly as the passengers disembarked. When his master didn’t show up, Hachi hung his tail in disappointment and sadly trotted home, only to return the next day to continue his vigil. After faithfully waiting for his master daily for nearly ten years, the loyal dog died. His cremated remains were buried at his owner’s side. Hachi was finally reunited with the master he so adored.

Hachi’s story became a sensation. His legendary loyalty became a national symbol in Japan, upheld as an example for everyone to emulate.

Devotion is the third facet of godly fear. Devotion means profound attachment and dedication. It involves love, loyalty, and heartfelt service.

The Bible repeatedly stresses that the fear of the Lord involves holding fast to him, clinging to him, and serving him with devotion (Deut. 10:12, 20; 13:4). “Cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul” (Josh. 22:5).

The Hebrew word for cling is dabaq. It means “glue.” The word is used in a literal sense of sticking to or adhering to something. But it is also used in the more abstract sense of sticking to someone in loyalty and devotion.

The fear of the Lord involves sincere and pure devotion (2 Cor.

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