The Eagle

by R. Darke, Victoria, B.C., Canada | Category: General | Oct 1986

It was an awesome sight, yet one tinged with mystery, as hundreds of bald-headed eagles took up temporary residence near a spawning ground area of Canada's mighty Fraser river. They had travelled hundreds of kilometres to feast royally on the spawned-out salmon, but how did they know when and where to come? This question has some naturalists puzzled.

As distinct from the golden eagle, which feeds on small mammals and birds, the bald-headed variety lives mainly on fish. It is a magnificent looking bird: head, neck, and tail of the adult are pure white in contrast to the almost black plumage of wings and body. Sometimes called the sea eagle, it possesses a wing span of 7 to 8 feet, and a body length of 3 feet.

Majestic in flight, and symbolic of strength and courage, the eagle has earned the sobriquet king of the birds. Even Scripture seems to give it a place of honour. Moses, for example, is quite picturesque when he writes:

"As an eagle that stirreth up her nest, that fluttereth over her young, He spread abroad His wings, He took them, He bare them on His pinions" (Deut. 32:11); a classic example of the Lord's care for His people. There was also the occasion when the Lord spoke to Moses on the mountain:

"Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings and brought you unto Myself" (Ex. 19:14). This demonstration of power and protection would not be lost on the nations around as evidenced by Rahab's words:

"For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you ... And as soon as we had heard it, our hearts did melt..." (Josh. 2:11,12). His majesty and greatness remain unchanged today, and it must ever be of great consolation to the Israel of God when His people address Him as: "Thou God of power and God of love".

It is not without significance that the Persian and Roman empires used the eagle as a symbol. And the USA does so today, depicting, no doubt, the eagle's characteristics of power, keen vision, and protection of its own. No greater tribute could be paid to a warrior than being described as swifter than an eagle, which were the words chosen by David in his sad lament over Saul and Jonathan. As a shepherd David would have ample opportunity to observe the way of the eagle in the air, and his words ring out on a high note in his tribute to the late king of Israel, and his son whom David loved. "...The bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided; They were swifter than eagles, They were stronger than lions" (2 Sam. 1:22,23).

In a vivid way David and Isaiah both seek to relate the lofty heights to which the eagle soars to the attainable experience of God's serving people David seems to indicate praise, gratitude, thanks, and appreciation as a door to rejuvenation of spiritual well-being typifying the victorious life. In his psalm of gratitude Israel's king strikes the highest of notes in expressing his thanks to the Lord for His benefits, forgiveness, healing, redemption, lovingkindness, and tender mercies. Then comes a peak with these words: "Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle" (Ps. 103:

1.5). Good, as in good things, is equated with better and best by the same word in Hebrew. It is also identical with sweet, pleasant, pleasing, and bountiful. These have one source for the Christian in the word of God, and the Christ of the word. Where else can our lives be satisfied, renewed?

Isaiah also brings us directly to the very source of the power which enables the eagle to leave an earthbound domicile to soar away to the vast heights of the heavens above, for which it was intended. It is in the Creator who also "giveth power to the faint; and to him that hath no might He increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall; But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint" (Is. 40:27-31). Obviously, then, the replacing of spiritual fatigue and weariness comes from waiting upon the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator. The word wait suggests a patience and expectancy associated with those whose occupation is to gather and twist cords into rope, with no thought of time or haste. How much do we know of such waiting upon Him in prayer and meditation to dispel heaviness of spirit, weariness of soul, resulting in renewing of strength and joyous uplifting of ourselves in daily living?

R. Darke, Victoria, B.C., Canada | Oct 1986
General