dove's eyes

"I sleep, but my heart is awake. 
It is the voice of my Beloved! 
He knocks, saying,
'Open for me, my sister, my dove, my perfect one.' "
{Song of Solomon 5:2}

Has anyone ever called you a dove before? Eh, probably not. You may have been called, "Beautiful", "lovely", or "gorgeous", but never a bird nickname! 

Most of King Solomon's complements in the Song of Songs are slightly awkward, and not to mention, totally outdated! How bazaar would it be if a guy walked up to you and said, "Your hair is like a flock of goats, descending from Mount Gilead."!?

Umm...thanks? 

If we look beyond first glance and dig a little bit deeper, The song of Solomon is full of beautiful, poetic imagery. These phrases and songs are amazing proclamations that Jesus is singing over us, His beautiful Bride! 

He tells us, "You are altogether beautiful, my love, there is no flaw in you."

What? Flawless? Who, me? He must have the wrong girl.

He sees us as beautiful. Before His eyes, we are blameless.

Why is that so difficult for us to truly believe?

Perhaps because for so many years we have been laser- focused-in on our sin. Like the Shulamite woman we say, "I am dark..." 

We are all too aware of the dark stench that wafts from our hearts when they are filled with pride, deception, and evil. BUT...

She said, "I am dark, but lovely."

The Cross of Jesus Christ brings the BUT. We are now lovey. He has taken His beauty, and has given it to us. His flawless nature has become our own. His royal name, His kingdom, His holiness...it is all ours now.

We have been lifted up from the ash heap and out the trash pile. We don't live there anymore. That's not who we are!

"He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor."
{Psalm 113:17 & 1 Samuel 2:8}

You're a princess now. Your shadowy past is over.

the beauty of a dove

"Oh my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice. For your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely."
{Song of Solomon 2:14}

So why would Jesus compare us to a dove? What is so special about doves?

I love that doves are graceful birds who can travel long distances. They sweep across the heavens quite effortlessly, and even though they make their homes in the quiet safety of the cleft of a rock, when they are sent out on a mission, they travel many miles. They are versatile and can thrive in all sorts of conditions...in the city, in the country, and by the lake. There are many different variations and varieties of doves. They are each unique, just like we are. 

Doves are beautiful messengers. Have you ever heard the phrase "Homing Pigeon" before? In ancient days doves were trained to send important messages to someone miles away. They traveled swiftly, and would always fly back home, no matter what. They were dependent and faithful, steady in flight. There was a time when they were also used to proclaim the winners of the Olympics! When news needed to travel fast, messenger doves were called upon. 

"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'"  
{Isaiah 52:7} 

Doves were seen as messengers of hope and peace. As God's daughters, we have the same call on our lives! We get to take the good news of Heaven, and the triumphant declaration of the gospel, then take wing and soar to desolate places that need an olive leaf of hope. 

Do you remember when Noah released the dove from the ark? The dove returned with a symbol of hope in her mouth - an olive leaf! In a world that was completely flooded, that simple message caused Noah and his family to dream again! They took hold of the hope that was before them, and excitement stirred on the ark...they would walk on dry land someday soon!  

As ambassadors of the Kingdom of Heaven, hope is what we carry with us to proclaim to the nations! 

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead"
{1 Peter 1:3} 

 

the GEntleness of a dove

In Luke 3:22 it says, "The Holy Spirit in bodily form descended on Him like a dove. And a voice from Heaven said, "You are My beloved son, in whom I am well pleased!" 

Matthew 10:16, "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as snakes, and innocent as doves."

Doves are not very scary or intimidating. They do not have the roar of a lion or the growl of a bear. They are gentle, and the slightest movement can cause them to rise up and fly away. Jesus told us to be the same way; as sensitive, innocent, and gentle as doves. 

We are doves on a mission. We have been given an assignment. Our job is to go wherever our Heavenly Father sends us, soar from His perceptive and vantage point, then enter the dark situation as a beacon of light. Once we've given the message, we get to fly home. We return to Heaven, revel in our Father's embrace, and hear the words that our souls ache for, 
"Well done, good and faithful servant!" 

Most people wouldn't see much world-changing potential in a dove. They appear so harmless and unassuming. But the same Holy Spirit who descended like a dove, also roars like a lion, and burns like a blazing fire ball inside our spirits! 

Just because we are gentle, does not mean we are without strength. 

Just because we are soft and kind, doesn't mean we are without power. 

Just because we choose humility and love, doesn't mean that these invisible weapons of valor are not completely slaying the enemy! 

The same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead lives inside of us! But Jesus knows how the secret weapons of His Kingdom work, and a Godly woman doesn't go around flaunting her strength and power. Jael is a key example of this. She invited her enemy to come inside, and offered him refreshments and a place to nap. She didn't go chasing after him with her tent peg! She waited patiently until the enemy came into her home, in plain sight, then she pulled the trigger of violent action. 

Philippians 4:5 says, "Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near."

Just like messenger doves, we are undercover agents, walking in a robe of love, humility, kindness, gentleness, and self control. We may simply appear to be harmless birds; fluttering here, and fluttering there, singing a joyful tune on our lips...but we know that God is working behind the scenes. We know that He is using us to bring forth His plans and purposes in a powerful way!  

the value of a dove

"How beautiful you are, my darling! How beautiful you are! Your eyes are like doves." - Song of Solomon 1:15 

Jesus went to such great and unthinkable lengths to show how valuable you are to Him. The entire Bible is loaded with truths about who you are and the way that God sees you. 

You are precious in His sight. You are adored, cared for, cherished, and celebrated! You're His dove. His perfect one. His unique one. The Daughter in whom is all His delight! You're His joy. His crown. His rose. His lily. His love. His beauty! 

Doves always return home. Rain, snow, or shine, they know where to make their nest. In the midst of war, famine, or beautiful bubbling streams...they always return home. 

So make your home in His eyes. Let your eyes be like doves. Steady, fixed, and totally infatuated with the One who made you. Let your heart soar to Heaven, relish in His embrace, and be who you truly are:
His priceless dove.