When I was young (long time ago), I was put off by the complaints of older people saying, “the world is going to the dogs.” Now I am one of the old codgers saying the same thing. The difference? I don’t hear anyone arguing with the point. The church in the days of the Hebrew writer knew what a “gone to the dogs” world looked like. They had a target on their back from both the Romans and the Non-Messianic Jews. Look at the reminder later in chapter 10: “Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. Sometimes, you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times, you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You suffered…” (10:32ff). You can read the rest.
Get separated from the pack, and the jackals will take you down. Some were letting themselves get separated, losing the habit of gathering. They were taking a large and unnecessary risk. Is this relevant today? Do you see any jackals in your world sniffing along your trail?
Don’t give up gathering with people who love Jesus. For the first-century followers, it was sometimes a matter of life and death. It is still that…at the very least, spiritually.