In the final verse of his prophecy, Habakkuk says, "He will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places."  Hinds feet and high places.  What do they mean?

     The verse begins with a statement that explains how Habakkuk could have such confidence even though his future might be filled with disasters.  He said, "God is my strength."  This is not a statement of a past experience or a future hope.  It is a statement of his present experience.  He knew he could trust God tomorrow because he had a personal relationship and fellowship with God today.

     Then he spoke of hinds feet and high places.

     Life is sometimes treacherous, so that it is difficult just to keep our footing, much less make progress.  Habakkuk understood this.  He compared the believer's walk at such times to the rough and rocky area of the wilderness.  There were large boulders to get over, and there were small, loose rocks which could move underfoot and cause a fall.  He needed secure footing for such a walk.  And God provided it by making his feet like hinds' feet.

     The hind is a kind of deer that lived among the rocks in the hilly areas.  He was very sure-footed because his back feet "tracked."  That means they always landed in the exact spot his front feet had already tested.  He could see where to put his front feet.  But he didn't need to see where to put his back feet.  They always tracked.

     Habakkuk is saying that God gives him stability in the difficulties of life.  God makes his feet like hinds' feet.  He is not afraid he will fall.

     Now for the high places.  It is one thing to have sure footing on the rocks.  It is another thing to scale the heights to see the view and breath the air and feel the wind.  The high places represent those special experiences God grants us along the way.  They lend excitement and color to our ordinary existence.  We often draw strength from remembering them.  They are good for the soul.  We should grasp them and embrace them whenever they come to us.

     But we must be careful not to seek what someone else has to the point of becoming dissatisfied with what God has given us.  The prophet said, "He will make me to walk upon mine high places."  Notice the pronoun.  It is the high places God has chosen for each of us, and those alone, of which he speaks.  We are not to envy others because of how God has worked in their lives.  We are to open ourselves to what God has for us, trusting that "He will always give the best to those who leave the choice with Him."

     I am grateful for the hinds' feet that give stability day by day.  I long for the high places that fill the soul with song.  And I ask for the grace to leave the choice with Him.