As the Deer

Across the rocky plain above En Gedi, a hot eastern wind blew in from the Dead Sea. Air shimmered through the rising afternoon distortions as the deer cautiously lifted her head from the bed beneath the gray achea bush and scanned the flat horizon. Molesting the moisture of her nose, flies voraciously buzzed, making it difficult to listen for danger. Chancing detection, she stood and turned to reposition herself in the shade that had slowly shifted beneath the scorching sun. Her dry and swollen tongue lay over her parched lips, as she panted to lose body heat, but she knew she must wait till night fall to approach the refreshing streams of En Gedi. Psalm 42:1-2 reads, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” As the deer pants, anticipating streams of water, so should a believer’s soul patiently thirst after God’s refreshing spirit.

Much like a deers’ impatience might bring death by a hunter’s arrow or a lion’s jaws, so the Christian who desires God must patiently wait, or face injury from the fiery darts of the evil one who “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”(1 Peter 5:8, NIV). Psalm 33:20 reads: “We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.” Some Christians rush ahead after any spiritual desire and fail to wait on the Lord and experience His fulfillment in His timing. “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him…” (Psalm 37:7a, NIV). In not obeying this command we stand on dangerous grounds. Like the doe waits for the water she desperately desires, the Christian waits for the appointed time of God’s refreshment.

With the sun dipping below the cloudless western sky, the deer peeked over the achea. Darkness finally set in 40 minutes later and she stiffly arose from her bed. Gingerly stepping towards a cleft through the rim rock, her desire nearly overwhelmed her. Yet she paused her panting, cocked her ears forward, and sniffed the air. Testing for danger with all her senses, the doe felt her skin quiver with both fear and expectations of delight. Sounds of running water filled her ears.

As the deer puts natural delights to the test, the discerning Christian should test all things and hold onto “that which is good”(1 Thessalonians 5:21, KJV). Many spirits could entice a Christian to leave the path that God has made in advance for us to walk in (Ephesians 2:10). Fortunately, like the doe that satisfies her need after a patient wait, the Christian can also turn to the Lord for times of refreshment, in God’s perfect timing. Psalm 40:1 reads, “I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.” Through these passages of scripture God tells us to wait patiently for him as a thirsty deer waits for water, and he will provide comfort in answer to our heart’s cry.