Hannah Hurnard bases her book Hinds' Feet On High Places on several things. First of all, the book title is taken from Habakkuk 3:19 which reads,
"The Lord God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds' feet, and He will make me walk upon mine high places"
Various categories of love in the relationship between God and herself; of faith and obedience, and trust in His promises are also bundled up into this endearing, compelling, yet challenging allegory of her protagonist, Much-Afraid. In some ways, this book is similar to John Bunyan's, Pilgrim's Progress, with his protagonist Christian. Christian was on a pilgrimage to the Celestial City. Much-Afraid, however, is growing her relationship with the Shepherd, and soaks in His presence, learning to trust Him through her many fears which she is in the process of overcoming whether she can see Him by her side or not.
The allegory takes a good look at the process of progressive sanctification through one's love of the Shepherd and learning to rely upon Him despite shouts, jeers, and enticements from such family members as Craven Fear, Pride, Bitterness, Self-Pity, and Resentment. They pop up when least expected to taunt and mock her. These Much-Afraid is much afraid of but as she learns to trust and listen to the Shepherd, she learns how to overcome and to not listen to those Fearing cousins. She learns to lay down her own will and desires.
The Shepherd promises Much-Afraid her hinds' feet and the ability to leap and jump with Him on the mountains. However, she must journey up the steep places which are exceedingly perilous. The Shepherd gives her two companions which at first, she balks at, but eventually they become good friends.
Correspondingly, we all need to allow the Lord to make "adjustments" in us in how we react in negatives which prevent us from a deeper relationship with our Good Shepherd. All the experiences, good or bad, can aid in those adjustments when we meekly submit our will to His. This is the thrust of Hurnard's allegory.
Many of us encounter many of the difficulties and challenges Much-Afraid did and will have to go through the same processes of "dying to self". As we "get through them" with our Shepherd also at our beck and call, we, too, would eventually acquire hinds' feet.
Hinds, as you may know are a type of red deer that are fleet of foot and can nimbly and fearlessly scale steep mountain rock faces.
Read to find out more of Much-Afraid's adventures with her companions and her Shepherd; how their relationship grew in mutual love and trust; and if she did indeed get those desires of her heart.
A friend of mine, on Facebook, wrote something about fear the other day (quite apart from this book) that illustrates and sums up the relationship Much-Afraid and her Shepherd had. She sanctioned my using it here.
"He takes hold of our hand, tenderly tilts up our chin until we look into His face, and assures us that we have no need for fear because in Him is all we need! What a precious privilege to belong to the loving, tender, powerful, gracious, faithful God who has said this:" (my friend)
"For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you" (Isaiah 41:13 NIV).
This book really helps the reader visualize how one can have a really down-to-earth relationship with our Good Shepherd and Heavenly Father. May all who read find themselves deepening their spiritual connection to the One Who truly loves them as Miss Much-Afraid did.
And, by-the-way, she gets a new name in the end.
~ERC October 2020~
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