THE HOLY SPIRIT DOVE
Why choose the Holy Spirit Dove for the title of this blog? Because the dove symbolizes many different concepts in the Bible, which are summed up in the fruit of the Holy Spirit: Galatians 5:22-23 ‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering [patience], gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance [self-control]: against such there is no law (KJV ).’ We first see the dove after the Flood. In faith Noah sends the dove out over the waters to confirm they were receding. The second time Noah sent out the dove it returned with an olive branch, symbolizing God making peace with Man (also remember the rainbow representing God’s promise He will not send such a flood again). Continuing the symbolism of peace, God sent the Holy Spirit down upon Jesus as He was baptized as a visual message that Christ is our Peace. More reasons the dove is an appropriate Holy Spirit emblem are because they lovingly remain with their mates for life as the Holy Spirit remains with us and their gentle and meek nature makes them amenable to training, as we must be to learn the Lord’s Ways. Lastly, their cooing has a haunting mournful sound; a reminder that the Holy Spirit groans before the Lord for us when we know not what to pray. So when I see the dove, I am reminded that the Holy Spirit is at work.
One Response
What a wonderful devotional. I will add just one thing to the anology. Being from South Louisiana, I did some hunting as a young man. The dove and still is a bird that is good eating here. I have never had because I am not very fond of wild game. But one everyone here knows and that is if a dove lands nearby you remain motionless. The slightest move and it will fly away. The Holy Spirit is that way. He will come down up an individual or meeting and if the people remain still before God, not physically but spiritually, His presence will be known through His anointing, His fruit and His gifts. But when becomes chaotic and confusion sets in He will depart as quickly as He came in. The Holy Spirit as symbolizing peace will not remain in confusion and chaos. Peace, Mark…