The meerkat captured my attention the first time I saw a documentary explaining its habitat and survival techniques. At first I thought it was just Africa's version of a skinny raccoon. They have antics like monkeys and faces like lemurs. However, once I began to read about this quirky animal, I realized that there are several amazing characteristics that can teach Christians lessons to trust God with their lives.
When someone asks me what my favorite chapter in the Bible is, I always respond with Psalm 18. It is a song actually sung by David to His God expressing his passion and gratitude of deliverance from enemies that were out to destroy him. There is an amazing correlation between the Meerkat and Psalm 18.
First, let me give you some basic verities about the Meerkat's habitat and habits.
1. Meerkats live primarily in the desert in southern Africa unless someone takes them out of their natural terrain.
2. They live and work together in large numbers, and they take care of each other. No meerkat is his own individual, or the system of survival won't work.
3. Meerkats are excellent hunters because they communicate with other well and communicate often. Meerkats are omnivores, so their diet is varied as they hunt for nutrition from several sources. However, they are very adept at catching rodents and insects, and delight in eating poisonous scorpions.
4. Meerkats develop an intricate tunnel system for dwelling and safety from which they don't venture far--ever. This is their lifeline.
5. A few meerkats climb the ladder of success in their group and become the sentries (guards) of the gang. Because the meerkat has many enemies on land and in the air, there is an absolute necessity for a lookout. Strict obedience and adherence to the "guard's warning" is expedient, or consequences may fall that could lead to mass destruction of the whole group. This sentry will stand on his hind legs a full 12 inches erectly and prop himself up with his tail for long-term surveillance.
6. Meerkats work together when deterring and fighting the enemy; their strength is in numbers.
In Proverbs 18, David cries out to God (who is listening, of course) for help, deliverance, safety, comfort, and freedom. David expected God to hear him, so he didn't cease from the calling out for help. God expected David to cry out as well. However, God expected David to listen to Him as He gave out instruction and admonition later on.
The elected sentry of the meerkat group has one job: to alert his fellow clan members of approaching danger. The meerkats are not speedy climbers, but the sentry will climb up to 30 feet if necessary to determine if there is imposing danger. His mellow tone of communication changes also. He gives a unique beeping alert when a threat is spotted that becomes much more urgent as the predator approaches. It would be absolutely foolish for the group to have faith in the sentry to warn them but not listen and act upon his order to run for shelter. They MUST trust the guard, yet also respond to his signal.
So it is with us Christians. We have to trust and we have to act. Psalm 18:2 tells us, "The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower." He is that strength, that hiding place that even the enemy can't knock down. The place of safety that we can climb to if we will just do it. He is our protection and shield of venomous missiles that can ruin our reputations and squash the desire to serve God with our lives......but we have to "use" the tools He provides to conquer the Adversary, the Devil. I wonder how many times we foolishly and unsuccessfully fight Satan because we just aren't listening to God? We don't bother to open our Bibles and get fighting orders for the day....instead, we meander through our daily happenings hoping to ward off any attacks that come our way from leftover tools from the last command given.
David tells us in verses 28-30 that he fought God's way. He alludes that he fought hard and boldly gave God all the credit. When we lift HIM up and what He has done for us, it encourages others. And as there is strength in the numbers of the meerkats when fighting for survival whether hunting or protecting each other, there is strength when Christians band together and support one another biblically.
We are told in verse 32-39 that God equips us and teaches us how to fight the enemy--HIS way. Some Christians become the guard for others because of what they have allowed God to do in their own lives. Not everyone in the meerkat community is chosen to be a protector. However, if God has chosen you to be a watchman, a sentinel, or a shepherd, it is imperative that you walk with Him so that those under your watch don't fall prey to definite hazard.
The meerkat has an amazing ability to close his ears completely while digging. Since digging is a large part of his life because of the complex tunnel system he designs, he keeps his ears closed quite a bit, thus the need for sentries. When ears are closed, the task at hand becomes all important. Perhaps we as Christians should do a lot more "closing of our ears" when working for the Lord. We won't be as apt to envy, listen to gossip, judge or create issues if we are busy building our own tunnels. You have to get along if all the tunnels everyone is digging are going to be places of refuge for everyone in the group. So, we make it work when we would rather quit. We respond with kindness when others lash out with malice. We close our ears and our mouths when necessary if it is going to cause animosity.
Finally, when we decide to live our lives for Jesus Christ and use HIM to fight our battles for us, we have a peace that is noticeable to others. It is copiable as well. For ten years I taught English to students who lived primarily in Chicago. Most were better Christians than I because many learned to overcome obstacles in the Christian life at young ages while living in unfair circumstances. I had developed a little phrase as a teenager that I repeated often with the teens: No Regrets. Get a vision of what you want to achieve for Christ, and go after it with God's help, and don't quit. When we truly try to live our lives with no regrets because we are living in HIS will, we can set goals and accomplish them without hurting others in the progress. We become builders not demolishers. We are able to look back on our lives and see that we used tough times to overcome difficulties and unjust hardships, including those we didn't deserve. We climb mountains of defeat when the enemy fires. We overcome and then give God all the glory, and that is where true victory is attained. All the trusting and acting with the tools God provided suddenly pays off, and there are no regrets.
So, consider the meerkat today. This pint-sized mammal that dwells in the deserts of Africa standing no taller than your knee has qualities that we can incorporate into our own spiritual lives through the words of God IN the Word of God.
Have a blessed day in the Lord!
