I was awakened gently this morning by the cooing of a dove. It’s a soothing sound the first few times, but after that, it tends to get very annoying. This morning, the doves decided to have an extended conversation, and the sound moved quickly, from comforting to annoying, to very irritating, to me wanting to yell, Shut up already!”
There are about half a dozen species of dove that live in British Columbia. The most common is the Eurasian collared dove, a species introduced to the Americas in the 1970s that promptly took over. We still have a few mourning doves and plenty of rock doves (common pigeon).
I learned a fascinating fact about doves this morning. According to one source, “[Doves] are also a nurturing family of birds, with both parents caring for the babies, and both sexes capable of creating a substance called crop milk, which feeds their fledglings after they hatch.”
Thinking of doves drew my mind to the Bible. Doves appear frequently, both in the literal sense of physical birds and also heavily in symbolism.
I attempted to identify the species of dove the Bible refers to, but as there are many native to that part of the world, I was unable to find the information through some quick searches.
What comes to mind when you think of doves and the Bible?
Perhaps the dove comes to mind when we think of the Flood narrative (Genesis 6:11–9:19).
Perhaps you think of the sacrifices given by people who couldn’t afford larger animals. (Leviticus 1:14-17)
Some of you may think of the dove in calls for purity or as a symbol of peace.
I think when most people think of doves in the Bible, they think of the appearance of Holy Spirit. All four gospels testify to that event.
Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son;with you I am well pleased.” Luke 3:21-22
And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him. Matthew 3:16
And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. Mark 1:10
And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ John 1:32-33
That’s a massive event because the Holy Spirit isn’t visible to us. Jesus said to Nicodemus, “
The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:38
The event symbolized so much. God spoke at the appearance, testifying that Jesus was His Son. The appearance of the dove symbolized purity and sacrifice.
Jesus, the Lamb of God, would soon be a sacrifice for the sins of others. The spirit didn’t come as a ram, lamb, or goat, the sacrifices only the wealthy could afford. He came as a dove … the sacrifice that even the most lowly of people could afford.
Jesus came for all people regardless of position, status, or wealth. The Spirit sealed that.
Next time you see or hear a dove, give thanks that Jesus came for all who would open their hear.
Be blessed,
Kevin
