To those in the modern world, the expression “hinds’ feet” may seem a little antiquated. However, a hind is simply a deer, and the expression conveys to our minds the ability of the deer simply to jump over many obstacles in its path. It is well-known that if property owners or gardeners wish to keep deer off their property, they have to build high fences, as the deer are able to jump over ordinary fences quite easily. However, the Lord has a lesson for us in mentioning hinds’ feet in His Word, and He mentions this phrase three times — 2 Samuel 22:3434He maketh my feet like hinds' feet: and setteth me upon my high places. (2 Samuel 22:34), Psalm 18:3333He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places. (Psalm 18:33) and Habakkuk 3:1919The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments. (Habakkuk 3:19).
In all three cases, the reference has to do with the ability of the deer to overcome obstacles simply by jumping over them. David was accustomed to serious difficulties in his life before he became king, and he rehearses all this in 2 Samuel 22, which is word for word the same as Psalm 18. After the Lord had delivered him from all his enemies, David rejoices as he looks back and sees how the Lord had strengthened him and helped him during those difficult times. In these two songs of praise, David is also a type of Christ in a coming day, when He puts down all His enemies and rules in righteousness over this world in the millennium. Later, when Habakkuk wrote, he was likely familiar with the psalms of David, for he wrote several hundred years after David lived. Because of their sin, God might raise up the Chaldeans, “that bitter and hasty nation” (Hab. 1:66For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs. (Habakkuk 1:6)), but in spite of God’s judgment, the promise was that “the just shall live by his faith” (Hab. 2:44Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. (Habakkuk 2:4)). Then the godly ones would be able to trust in God, in spite of the results of the judgment. God would enable them to have “hinds’ feet” and enjoy the blessing of God’s high places.
They Rise Over Obstacles
The deer cannot, of course, jump over every obstacle in its path; there are some things that stop it. However, it is able to jump over a good many things, and especially when it is trying to evade predators. In the same way the Lord Himself encourages us as Christians to have feet like “hinds’ feet” and to rise above the difficulties of life down here. When it jumps over an obstruction, the deer must, of course, come down on the other side, but in all three references to which we have referred, the faithful one is set upon high places, and even walks upon high places. You don’t need to come down with a thump on the other side!
This precious truth is brought even more vividly into focus when we consider the truth in the Apostle Paul’s ministry in the New Testament. The Old Testament believer might have faith in Jehovah, and in a coming day the godly ones in Israel during the great tribulation will also be able to rise above their serious difficulties in that day. However, none of this compares with what we have as believers today—a heavenly calling!
Heavenly Places
Ephesians 2:4,64But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (Ephesians 2:4)
6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (Ephesians 2:6) tells us that “God ... hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” This is our position, but then we are exhorted practically to take this place down here and to live in the good of it. Christ is our head in heaven, and our home is where He is. He wants us to live above the circumstances through which we are passing, while at the same time learning from those difficulties the lessons that He seeks to teach us. We are not bodily in heavenly places yet, but by faith can enjoy heavenly things as if we were there. The Spirit of God, who indwells every true believer, seeks to take our minds and hearts up to Christ in glory, and thus Paul could say to the Colossians, “If therefore ye have been raised with the Christ, seek the things which are above, where the Christ is sitting at the right hand of God: have your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth” (Col. 3:11If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (Colossians 3:1)-2 JnD).
The “cares of this life” are not always easy to rise above, for some of them can be very serious and very trying. Since the believer follows a rejected Christ, he cannot expect an easy path through this world. But our blessed Master has trodden the path before us, and He wants to give us those “hinds’ feet” to enable us to rise above it all and to enjoy those “high places” in the heavenlies, where Christ is. Christ has sanctified Himself (John 17:1919And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. (John 17:19)); He has separated Himself from this world and is now risen and seated at the Father’s right hand. Now He calls on us also to be “sanctified through the truth.”
It is a privilege to walk through this world with “hinds’ feet” and to be able to rise above all that is around us, whether it is the difficulties of the way or the attractions of this world. Human energy cannot do it; only by faith and with the energy of the Holy Spirit can we have strength to do so.
W. J. Prost