Psalm 18:33
Hebrew Bible
31 Indeed, who is God besides the Lord? Who is a protector besides our God? 32 The one true God gives me strength; he removes the obstacles in my way. 33 He gives me the agility of a deer; he enables me to negotiate the rugged terrain. 34 He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend even the strongest bow. 35 You give me your protective shield; your right hand supports me. Your willingness to help enables me to prevail.
Date: 6th-3rd Centuries B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Habakkuk 3:19
Hebrew Bible
17 When the fig tree does not bud, and there are no grapes on the vines; when the olive trees do not produce and the fields yield no crops; when the sheep disappear from the pen and there are no cattle in the stalls— 18 I will rejoice because of the Lord; I will be happy because of the God who delivers me! 19 The Sovereign Lord is my source of strength. He gives me the agility of a deer; he enables me to negotiate the rugged terrain. (This prayer is for the song leader. It is to be accompanied by stringed instruments.)
Date: 6th Century B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
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Notes and References
"... In the second strophe of this last stanza, Habakkuk celebrates the Lord as his strength; 'Yahweh, the Lord is my strength, and he will make my feet like the hinds, and upon my high places he will make me tread.' The close resemblance of the second line of verse 19 to Psalm 18:34 (= 2 Samuel 22:34) has been well noted. The simile 'feet like hinds' is a phrase that David used to describe his deliverance from his enemies (Psalm 18:34). Hinds are female deer that are well-known for their swiftness, and their surefootedness on the rough mountainous terrain. The second colon, 'and upon my high places he will make me tread' brings to mind Deuteronomy 33:29, 'and you will tread upon his high places.' 'My high places' also has the meaning of 'the land of victory, dominion.' Thus, here Habakkuk is celebrating Yahweh who is his strength and who is the one who enables him to traverse with confidence through life's rough terrain and to claim victory despite the dire situation. The verb "tread" recalls verse 15, where the Lord is said to have treaded the stormy sea with his horses, and here God is enabling his servant to tread the high places, the land of victory, despite the chaotic situation ..."
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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