Behold, you are fair (beautiful), my love! Behold, you are fair! You have dove’s eyes. (Song of Songs 1:15 NASB)

This is one of my favorite concepts in the Song of Songs, this idea of dove’s eyes.

What do we know about doves?

First, they say doves are [i]monogamous. Not all birds are monogamous. Doves connect and stick with the same bird “till death do them part.” Some even migrate together, but at the very least they spend mating season together.

photo credit: AlicePopkorn via photopin cc

What Jesus sees when He looks into the eyes of our maiden is a faithful partner. This is great because she has yet to demonstrate anything that resembles faithfulness, but it is credited to her account on day one of their relationship. The same is true when you enter into a covenant with Jesus. The moment you step into relationship with the Shepherd King, you take on His faithfulness. He is able to present you faultless before His Father with exceeding joy. (That’s a great place to shout.)

Let’s think a bit about the dove in scripture.

Noah sent a dove from the ark as the water was receding. He sent the dove out 3 times. The first time it went out and returned – it found no resting place. The second time it went out and came back with an olive branch. Finally it went out and found a place to live.

Here is a picture I saw tonight as I re-read the account of Noah’s dove. In Genesis 1:2 we see the Spirit of God hovering over the water, with nowhere to light. In Mathew 3:16 we see the Spirit of God descending over the waters of Jesus’ baptism. The dove stays for 3 ½ years, but returns again to the ark, this time with an olive branch, that branch from the root of Jesse (Romans 15:12,) the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6.) Finally a short time later, accompanied by the sound of a mighty wind (Acts 2:2,) He again hovers over the earth, and this time He stays – the earnest of our inheritance. (Ephesians 1:13)

So our girl ventures out of her place of safety and tests the waters, and she is finding the olive branch of Jesus’ faithfulness.

photo credit: Bill Gracey via photopin cc

Finally, and this is my favorite, they say doves have unique eyes. Dove’s eyes have a single focal point. They effectively have no peripheral vision.

Here you can understand this one thing is attractive to the Shepherd King about our maiden, her unflinching gaze toward Him. When she looks at Him she sees nothing else.

So it is with you and I. As the old chorus by Helen Lennel goes

[ii]Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Misty Edwards has written a wonderful song she calls Dove’s Eyes (click for a link to a YouTube of her singing it.) The lyrics are my prayer today. Will you join me?

===

I don’t want to talk about You like You’re not in the room
I want to look right at You I want to sing right to You

I believe that You are listening
I believe that You move at the sound of my voice

Give me dove’s eyes

Give me undistracted devotion for only You

Misty Edwards

===

Thanks for coming today.

See you next week.

Ben

Hey – stop in and see my blog – Another Red Letter Day