The Gazelle (more commonly referred to as Roe in the Bible) is an animal mentioned poetically in the book of Song of Solomon, wherein the man or the woman is likened to the gazelle or its alluring beauty (Song of Solomon 2:9 and 7:3). It is also mentioned metaphorically in other portions of the scriptures.
What can we learn from the gazelle?
We must like the gazelle not allow any sleep to our eyes or slumber to our eyelids, but instead deliver ourselves when we are in trapped in trouble, like the gazelle does from a hunter’s hand (Proverbs 6:4-5). This means that when we caught in the clutches of a situation that troubles us, we must not be lazy, but work hard toward rectifying that situation and delivering ourselves, after committing the efforts to God. Of course, God is in control of everything and he is Almighty, and there are times to Be Still and know that He is God, but then there are times, he wants us to work to be free from the bondage that encumbers us. Let us (not laze but work to deliver ourselves and) lay aside every encumberance (Hebrews 12:1a). Jesus himself said that we must first try to rectify the situation. “Come to terms quickly with your opponent while you are on the way to court, or your opponent may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison.” (Matthew 5:25, International Standard Version).
Proverbs 6:4-5 (NASB)
4 Give no sleep to your eyes, Nor slumber to your eyelids;
5 Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hunter’s hand And like a bird from the hand of the fowler.
