The psalmist David penned the famous line, “as the deer pants for water.” A deer is a highly intelligent animal and can live to be quite old. They also have an impressively strong snout that is essential in helping them dig for food.
It’s no surprise then, that David would be enthralled by the idea of panting for water in his day and age. This is the same time he was being stalked by his own son, Absalom. Despite his many accomplishments, this was the time that David was truly on the run and in need of a hefty dose of divine intervention.
While a deer does indeed pant for water, the best way to explain it is a bit more complex than simply saying they do. It is an extremely effective mechanism that allows them to cool themselves down in hot weather and flush away excess heat when they have run out of their water supply. It is also an important part of their survival strategy when they are in danger of being hunted or shot.
What Does It Mean If a Deer is Panting?
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Often times we see deer panting for water as we are hunting. This is a nice and poetic phrase, but what does it mean?
First, it is important to know that a deer’s need for water changes throughout the year. For example, during the spring and summer a deer will consume foods that have a higher water content than those they eat during the winter.
This is because they need more water to stay hydrated during this time of the year. The deer’s need for water increases if they are eating low moisture foods or are exposed to high temperatures.
A deer’s need for water also changes if they are stranded in a drought or if it is cold outside and the water bodies are frozen. The deer will drink a small amount of water during this time but the overall water intake will be fewer than when it is more plentiful.
Why Would a Deer Pant For Water?
Deer are a family of cloven-hoofed ungulates with compact torsos and long legs. They are found in a variety of ecosystems including wetlands, deciduous forests, grasslands, scrublands and mountains.
They are also very social and live in groups known as herds. The herd is usually led by a dominant male. They are usually monogamous (one sex) though some species practice polygamy.
During the spring and summer a deer will seek out water bodies to cool off. This is not because they are thirsty but they are seeking water to cool off and wash away their scent after running from predators.
In the same way, a person who is thirsty and in need of sustenance must come to the Lord and seek Him for His living water. The world has many enticements of refreshment but these things do not quench the soul of man.
What is the Sermon As a Deer Pants For Water?
In this sermon, Charles Spurgeon describes the deer as a symbol for Christians who are parched and thirsting after God. It is a powerful reminder of how important it is to turn to the Lord when our souls are empty and parched.
The deer pants for water after it has been hunted, when it is exhausted and drained of all inward resources. It knows that if it doesn’t drink from the water brooks in its surroundings, it will die.
If you’ve ever been in a situation where you felt like you were drained, exhausted and had no inward resources left to give you strength or hope, you may have experienced this feeling as well. You probably felt it in a similar way to David when he wrote this song to the Lord: As The Deer Pants For Water, O God!
But just because a deer is able to pant for water, doesn’t mean that a Christian can. In fact, it is a dangerous thing to do. If you want to live a life of spiritual growth, it is essential that you depend on Jesus for all your physical and spiritual needs.
Why Do Deer Longs Stream Water?
There is no denying that the deer has a thirst for liquid refreshment. This is due to their diet, which changes based on the season. During winter, deer tend to graze on older leaves and buds. During the middle of summer, deer tend to eat more herbaceous vegetables and fruits. This results in a higher water content. The most impressive is that they are capable of retaining this water in a relatively dry environment. It’s also no small feat that they are able to retain the moisture in their lungs during the hottest part of the day. Despite this, a thirsty deer is not a happy one.
How Do Deer Warn of Danger?
Deer are one of the most social animals on the planet, and their herd mentality helps them survive. They take care of each other, and warn others when danger is near.
Deers use a variety of noises to warn other members of the herd of imminent danger. They can range from a grunt or bleat to a wheeze, and a snort.
A deer can also warn of danger by stamping its front feet, which leaves a distinct odor on the ground. These stomps are usually loud and can alert other deer of an approaching predator.
In addition to sending a warning of danger, these foot-stomping behaviors are an effective method of keeping deer from running into traffic or other humans.
In fact, if a deer senses a threat it will often snort to send a sharp whistle through its nose. These snorts are often followed by tail flagging, which exposes the white fur on the underside of the tail and back to alert other deer in the herd of danger.
Can Deer Sense Water?
Deer have a very strong sense of smell and can detect the scent of danger or predators from far away. They can also smell the scent of food and water that is not contaminated by bacteria or parasites.
They can smell the air around them and can identify a specific odor from a quarter-mile away. These scents are pheromones, chemical compounds that attract one another and signal social relationships in an animal.
As a result, deer can find their way to food or water when they are frightened by predators and other animals. They also know how to swim and travel in groups across a river or pond when running isn’t enough.
In addition to their noses, deer have a vomeronasal organ (VNO) in the roof of their mouth that is specifically designed for detecting odors and probably helping them identify an individual. The nerves that run from this organ to the main olfactory bulb are much more complex than in humans and their brain is very adept at analyzing all of the odor information they receive.
Why Do Deer Run to Water After Being Shot?
After a deer has been shot, it will usually run away for a short distance to get some fresh blood and water. This may seem a bit odd to some hunters, but it is the way most deer react to their wounds.
Most of the time, a deer will run in a straight line at first, but then they often turn and circle back toward where they were standing before being shot. This happens especially if the animal is not badly injured.
This is a normal response to a shot in the lung or liver area of the body. A well-placed lung shot will cause a deer to “mule kick,” or arch its back legs toward its head and will normally run a few yards before expiring.
A poorly placed lung shot or a heart and lung shot will cause the deer to “hunch” and run a short distance before it dies. A liver hit will normally result in dark, sporadic blood dissipating into barely any blood at all.
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