When the prophet Habakkuk had his encounter with God, Habakkuk was in such awe of God that he composed one of the most beautiful declarations of trust to be found in the Hebrew Bible. Habakkuk wrote:
“Though the fig tree does not blossom, and no fruit is on the vines; though the produce of the olive fails, and the fields yield no food; though the flock is cut off from the fold, and there is no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will exult in the God of my salvation.
GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, and makes me tread upon the heights” (Habakkuk 3:17-19).
This confession of faith draws on his knowledge of the deer or the wild goat as a surefooted animal, able to climb mountains and dangerous heights without falling.
The video below shows a vivid demonstration of the surefootedness of the wild goats of the Bible.
For a more in-depth study of Habakkuk’s declaration of trust read my post, Habakkuk’s Trust in God.
Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary
