“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.” From an article on the ruins of a monastery in Kayala, Egypt: Among the finds, one mural depicts two deer surrounded by vegetal motifs within a circular decorative frame. Deer are a surprising choice. Egypt’s native large mammals lean more toward adapted desert species like ibex, foxes, and gazelles. However, for communities shaped by the Bible, the deer likely evoked Psalm 42:1 (above). Deer are not efficient panters like dogs: They primarily cool down through their skin and by seeking shade or water. Panting signals physical need and desperation—it signals a deer in trouble. In this context, the deer in the monastery’s mural symbolizes spiritual longing, thirst, and dependence on God. The monastery’s presence in the transitional desert–delta landscape makes the choice of deer especially evocative. For a deer, an animal of streams and shade, to be in this landscape means it has found s...
Luke 's version, chapter 17 (NIV) 45 When Jesus entered the temple courts, he began to drive out those who were selling. 46 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be a house of prayer’ [ a ] ; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’ [ b ] ” 47 Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. 48 Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words. Matthew's version, chapter 21 (NIV) 12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ [ a ] but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’ [ b ] ” 14 The blind and the lame came to him at th...