“O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely” (Song of Sol. 2:14).
When we remember the Lord in His death, our hearts are rightly drawn out in occupation with Him who is chiefest among ten thousand and altogether lovely. But what about His thoughts concerning us—those who, in the Song of Songs, are not only referred to as “my beloved,” but also in such a divinely endearing term as “my dove”?
His Affections for the Dove
What yearning desire His blessed heart has concerning the most tender object of His affections the church! What it cost Him to place a soul in the “clefts of the rock”! And what a place of security is ours who have put our trust in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 19:30).
“Stairs” speak of access. Believers have full access into His presence “the secret places of the stairs.” Hebrews 10:19 reminds us of the wonderful and constant approach that is ours every moment into His blessed presence. Surely He delights to have his “dove” ever found entering into the holiest “by the blood of Jesus”!
Then, having reminded our hearts of His thoughts of us and our privilege of access into His presence, the Lord tells us how much He longs—yea, delights—that we should be near Him. “Let me see thy countenance.” Yet His blessed heart desires even more: “Let me hear thy voice.” May we ever more realize the sweetness our voices give His blessed heart, as well as the beauty He sees in that object which He loved and gave Himself for (Eph. 5:25).
His Provisions for the Dove
In Psalm 68:13 (JND) we read, “Though ye have lain among the sheepfolds, ye shall be as wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with [yellow] gold.”
Wings provide ability to rise above the world. Our Lord, through His glorious work at the cross, has brought us up “out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay,” setting our “feet upon a rock” (Psa. 40:2). But we have been taken infinitely higher than that—“risen with Christ” (Col. 3:1), “joint-heirs with Christ” (Rom. 8:17), and blessed with “every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ” (Eph. 1:3 JND). What wonderful wings He has given His dove!
Those wings are covered with silver, speaking of the work of redemption necessary that we might enjoy this heavenly portion. But there is more, for the wings are also covered with gold. All of Christ’s righteousness and acceptance belong to His dove.
May we draw near to Himself, lifting up our voice in praise and worship to the One who “was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich” (2 Cor. 8:9).
W. K. Shane (adapted)