The Lord God placed the roebuck in the Bible for a reason. He desired to use this unique creature to  teach us some life-changing principles. What could they be?
 
The roebuck is a clean animal that is mentioned several times in the Bible. It is the small, graceful, and swift antelope that is a species of the gazelle. It has round, twisted, spiral horns and is noted for its soft, lustrous, black eyes. It also likes climbing rocks and lives in the hilly countries.
 
Deuteronomy 14:5 lists it among the clean animals - "The hart, and the roebuck, and the fallow deer, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, and the wild ox, and the chamois."
 
In the Promised Land, the children of Israel were permitted to slaughter certain animals - not for sacrifice - but to freely eat at their own table, depicting the blessing of the Lord upon them. These were animals which were hunted generally by bow and arrow. There was one stipulation - since the blood of the animal would not be poured upon the altar, it had to be poured out upon the ground and could never be eaten. One of such animals which they were permitted to kill and eat in the gates, cities, or their dwellings was the roebuck.
 
Deuteronomy 12:15 verifies this fact - "Notwithstanding thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy gates, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee: the unclean and the clean may eat thereof, as of the roebuck, and as of the hart."
 
The Lord God placed the roebuck in the Bible for a reason. He desired to use this  unique creature to teach us some life-changing principles.

Let's examine a few Scriptures and see what lessons we can glean from this wonderful creation of our Awesome Creator - the Lord Jesus Himself.
 
2 Samuel 2:18 - "And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe."
 
Asahel was one of Joab's brothers and one of David's chief commanders in his army. He had an amazing quality that marked him as a great warrior. He was "light of foot," just like the "wild roe." In other words, he was swift of foot or swift in running.
 
To be "light of foot" was always deemed as an outstanding quality in the heroes of days gone by. In fact, the Roman soldiers were trained to run swiftly, making this a necessary requirement among the troops.

God is looking for soldiers in His army who are also "light of foot." They are swift in carrying out His commands and pursuing their enemy. The burdens and cares of this life are not weighing them down. Neither are there any worldly attachments holding them back.
Ephesians 6:15 - Their feet are "shod with the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace," and they are free to run for God.
 
They do not draw back in fear when they discover their adversary or even feel his breath, depicting his close proximity. They know Who their Commander is and from Him comes their strength. Instead of running from such a ruthless and fierce foe, they run after him, snatching helpless souls from his grasp.  
 
1 Chronicles 12:8 - "And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might, and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains."
 
Here again we have brave men mentioned - trained and disciplined "men of might, and men of war fit for the battle" from the tribe of Gad who are described as being "swift as the roes upon the mountains." These men exhibited incredible speed when flying upon the enemy.
 
Take note that the roe is "swift" "upon the mountains." It almost seems impossible for an animal to display such agility in hilly and rocky places. Yet it does!
 
God wants us to exhibit speed against our enemy even in the "rocky" and "steep" places that we encounter in our spiritual walk. Many times we are tempted to lose heart because of the "crooked places" and the certain twists and turns that we encounter. We have a tendency to slow down or want to give up when the battle becomes laden with confusion, bewilderment, and perplexity. But God would have us to rise up in His strength and pursue the enemy in utmost rapidity "as the roes upon the mountains," allowing no hindrance to slow us down.  
 
Proverbs 5:19 - "Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love."
 
In Arab and Persian poetry, the antelope and the gazelle were images used to exemplify great beauty. In this particular verse, Solomon mentions the "pleasant roe" to describe the loving attraction the husband has for his beautiful wife.
 
As the Bride of Christ, we should also radiate the "beauty of holiness" that attracts our Heavenly Bridegroom to us. Sin separates us from Him, but Holiness draws Him towards us.
 
Through our separation from other lovers and our faithfulness to Him alone, we also show forth a loveliness - the loveliness of His glory - to a world, so desperately needing His Love and the Light of His salvation. 
 
Proverbs 6:5 - "Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler."
 
In this verse, Solomon uses the roe, caught in a snare, to characterize those who have entangled themselves in a debt of some sort. Just as the roe struggles and exerts much energy to be freed from the "hand of the hunter," even so should every one who is in financial debt strive to be freed from such slavery and bondage to another man. Using the roe as a swift animal in his example, he desires to portray the speed by which the captive should seek to be liberated from his captor.
 
Perhaps you are in great debt to another and feel like the "roe" in the "hand of the hunter." God has a word for you today - "Deliver thyself..." Do whatever you can to free yourself and to stay free. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord. Cry out to Him for His Wisdom. Then believe for His mighty intervention to deliver you from all debt and keep you free. 
 
Song of Solomon 2:8-9 - "The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills. My beloved is like a roe or a young hart..."
 
"My Beloved," in this verse, refers to the Lord Jesus. His "voice" is actually the sound of His approaching footsteps. He is coming quickly to His Bride, not allowing any difficulties - "mountains" or "hills" - to stand in His way of sweet communion with her.

If you have grown distant in your relationship with Him, why not repent and come back to Him. Turn from all idols. Lay aside all distractions that would keep you from His sweet fellowship. On your first move toward Him, He will come quickly -"leaping" and "skipping" - bypassing all of your fears to embrace you once again in His loving arms, affirming His great love for you.  
 
Song of Solomon 2:17 - "Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether."
 
Once again, we see the Lord Jesus, like a "roe," surmounting all obstacles to quickly come to His Bride.
 
The time mentioned here is the time of the fresh evening breeze. It's the time of the setting sun when all "shadows flee away."
 
The "mountains of Bether" refer to the hilly district on the east side of the Jordan River. They are classified as the mountains of Division or Partition for they are divided or separated from Judea by the Jordan River.
 
Perhaps you have felt separated from the Lord, while traveling through a "dark" time in your life. You have felt deserted and forsaken by all. It has been a lonely road with many "shadows" which hide your countless fears.
 
Jesus, like the "roe," is hurriedly coming your way. His Presence is bringing you the comfort and refreshment that you so desperately need. He is going to show Himself to you in a mighty way. Nothing will hold Him back. It's your time. The day is breaking, and the "shadows" are fleeing away.  
 
Song of Solomon 4:5 - "Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins, which feed among the lilies."
Song of Solomon 7:3 - "Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins."
 
Here we see the Bridegroom - describing the perfections of His bride - using the language of nature.
 
Christ's church is depicted as a nourisher for many. She offers the starving world a Double Portion of God's Holy Spirit - Who binds up the brokenhearted, proclaims liberty to the captives, opens prison doors, causes the blind to see, and delivers all those who are bruised, wounded, and abused.
 
The world is hurting today. They are looking for answers in all of the wrong places. God ordained that His Church would be like "two breasts," feeding the starving multitudes with the "milk" of His Word.
 
Matthew 14:16 - The forlorn, forgotten, and lost need not go to any other for spiritual food for the Master has given His Church the command - "Give ye them to eat."

Connie