THE Gazelle, or roebuck, is a small deer or antelope. Its tail is short; the fawn color on the back is separated by a brown or nearly black band from the white of the stomach.
This animal’s activity of powers of leaping have procured for it its familiar name of “springer.” It is celebrated in Scripture for its beauty, gracefulness, swiftness, and gentleness. The eyes of the gazelle are so beautiful and so kind; its movements so graceful and nimble that the animal often serves as a subject for the poets.
The gazelle is always met with in herds, often of a hundred, thus forming a sure prey to lions, panthers, hyenas, wolves, and eagles. They are inoffensive creatures, gentle and timid, which have as a defense against their enemies only their rapid flight to some high and secure place on the mountain. Sometimes, however, if surprised, they show a desperate courage. They press close to one another, in the form of a circle with their horns toward the enemy. The ravisher, a lion for instance, then may take his time to choose his victim; he springs upon it, and the rest of the band, terror-stricken, disband and flee.
God tells us in His Word that Satan goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Let us not, as these little creatures, try to stand in our own strength when we meet with temptations, but let us flee to Christ who is our Rock, our Secure Hiding place.
“I will love thee, O Lord, my Strength. The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer, my God, my Strength, in whom I will trust, my Buckler and Horn of my Salvation and my High Tower.” Psa. 18:1,21<<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the Lord, who spake unto the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: And he said,>> I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. 2The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. (Psalm 18:1‑2).
ML 07/17/1927