The Dove is a Gentle Bird
Did you know that the dove is mentioned more often than any other bird in the Bible? We find it spoken of for the first time in chapter eight of Genesis. The flood had come upon the whole earth, and all the people were drowned except Noah and his family, who were saved in the Ark. After the waters had started to go down, Noah wanted to find out whether the earth was dry enough to leave the Ark. He first sent out a raven, but the raven kept flying about and did not return to the Ark. He then sent out a dove; and finding that the earth was still covered with water, the dove returned to the Ark.
After this, Noah waited seven more days, and then sent it out again. In a little while it returned, holding in its beak a leaf from an olive tree. Noah knew that the water was gradually going down. After this, he waited another seven days, sent out the dove, and this time it did not return. What a help the dove was to Noah!
Another thing we know about the dove is, that it could be offered to God as a sacrifice. When babies were presented to God in the Temple, if the parents could not afford a lamb, they could bring two doves instead. Imagine, when Jesus was taken by His earthly parents they were so poor that it was two doves that they offered.
So the dove is connected in this way with the Lord Jesus. Remember, too, that when Jesus was baptized in the river Jordan, we are told that the heavens were opened above Him and the Holy Spirit came down “in the shape of a dove, and rested on him”. Isn’t it nice to think of the dove connected with Jesus in these ways?
When we look at a dove, boys and girls, doesn’t it remind us of all that is kind and gentle and peaceful? How different to us it seems that an eagle or a hawk. When we look at the strong beak or the sharp claws of an eagle or a hawk, we see in a moment that they are made for fighting and hunting. But it is very different with the dove. It has no strong beak and no sharp claws. This shows that fighting is not the dove’s purpose in life. It is gentle and loving and kind.
In the last edition we had two stories about doves, you may want to read them again. But you can read over the stories from the bible to learn more about the dove.
Genesis chapter 8; Luke chapter 2 verses 21-24 and Luke chapter 3 verses 21-22. Remember also, Jesus said, “Be ye ... harmless as doves”.