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Feet of a Deer

              For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. (Psalm 18:31-34)

                It would be so nice to have the feet of the deer and be able to stand on the heights. It’s be really cool to be physically in a condition in which I could do battle, and to have the training to do so. But why? For my area, I live fairly near what would be called the heights. The watershed isn’t that far. The Appalachian Mountains aren’t too far from here, but when I think of the heights, I think of the Rockies. The psalmist may have had great reason for having feet like deer so that he could stand on the heights, but that’s not something that comes into play in my life. I’ll admit, though, it’d be nice to have feet like a deer that would make me confident on a ladder or a roof. That would be practical.

                The same is true with being trained for war. Oh, the physique I’d have if I were trained for battle and could bend a bronze bow. Of course, that training would have to include good aim. If I couldn’t hit the target, it’d be worthless.  And, of course, if I’m dreaming, I can dream that somehow this is gained and maintained with little effort on my part. But again, why? I haven’t been anointed as the leader of my nation. I don’t happen to live in an area that requires that I be able to defend myself or others (except, perhaps, intellectually). It’d be so cool, but why?

                I think the psalmist was either lucky to be prepared for something so obvious to him. I’m sure that my feet are like the feet of deer and I’m prepared for battle, but it looks different. I’d like to think that my preparation and skills are in the areas of the intellect or preparedness for emergencies, that those are the heights on which I stand, but clearly, those heights aren’t metaphorically the Rockies. The heights are the watershed a little south of me that don’t seem to be very high, but whatever they are, they’re the heights God wants me to stand on. And the bow of bronze, whatever it is, is something I can draw and shoot with enough aim to hit the target, if not the bull’s eye.  I can fight the battles that God has prepared me to fight, even if I (or others) think they’re petty and hardly worth the battle.

                On Sunday, my pastor preached a message that I’ve asked him to send to me. It had to do with the call to make an impact on the society in which we live. That’s probably the real inspiration for today’s post, because my automatic response to such things is “Great for them, but where do I fit?” I know I sometimes impress some people (not always in a good way) but I don’t tend to impress myself. Perhaps you’re the same way. “Heights? Bow of bronze?” Those are just alien. And maybe we don’t need to know what those metaphors refer to in our lives, as long as we allow God to use us when, where, and how He wants.

                But the psalmist knew his skills. Paul knew he was called to be an apostle to the Gentiles. Sometimes, it’s a good thing for us to know, so that’s the challenge. Ask God to either tell you that you don’t need to know, or to reveal to you what He is calling you to do now. What is your height? What is your bow of bronze? Ask Him.

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