The Dove of Peace

From: Messages of God's Love: 1968

Narrator: Chris Genthree

Since that long distant day on which the dove, sent forth from Noah’s ark, sped across the waste of flood waters with an olive leaf in her mouth, assuring him that the judgment was past, and a new earth coming into view, the dove and the olive leaf have been the emblems of peace and love.

DOVES were used in Bible times for sacrifices (Lev. 14:22²²And two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, such as he is able to get; and the one shall be a sin offering, and the other a burnt offering. (Leviticus 14:22); Luke 2:24²⁴And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. (Luke 2:24)). They are harmless birds (Matt. 10:16¹⁶Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. (Matthew 10:16)) and gentle, dwelling in the valleys (Ezek. 7:16¹⁶But they that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity. (Ezekiel 7:16)), far from the noisy crowd, making their nest in the rocks (Song of Sol. 2:14¹⁴O 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 Solomon 2:14)) for safety, mourning for their mates when absent (Isa. 59:11¹¹We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us. (Isaiah 59:11)). In all these qualities they are fitting emblems of the Spirit of the blessed Saviour, our Lord Jesus, Who took that character in life, in death, in resurrection. All who are “in Him” (Jer. 48:20²⁰Moab is confounded; for it is broken down: howl and cry; tell ye it in Arnon, that Moab is spoiled, (Jeremiah 48:20)) are “like Him” in character and in spirit.

OLIVES are green (Psa. 52:8⁸But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever. (Psalm 52:8)), fresh and full of sap (Judg. 9:9⁹But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honor God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? (Judges 9:9)), and beauty (Hos. 14:6⁶His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. (Hosea 14:6)). They are “pressed” to provide health and healing for all. So it is with the gospel of Christ, the good news concerning Himself,” the blood that He shed, the life that He gives, the peace He has made (Col. 1’20). The olive leaf is the emblem of that peace and of the Spirit bestowed on all who trust in Christ (Eph. 1:13¹³In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13)) as their Saviour.

VALLEYS, in which the Dove abides (Ezek. 7:16¹⁶But they that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity. (Ezekiel 7:16)), tell where the Saviour sought comfort and relief, apart from the world in the lowly, peaceful vale with God. Here, too, all who are His should seek to be. Gethsemane means the “Olive Press,” and “Jesus oftimes resorted thither” (John 18:2²And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples. (John 18:2)).

EVERLASTING PEACE will be the happy portion of all the redeemed in heaven. Amid the storms, the trials, the sorrows of earth, they very often view that heavenly land afar off and say, “O that I had wings like a dove, that I would flee away and be at rest.” One day they will reach it sure, for the Lord Jesus is coming to take them there, to be with Himself forever. Oh, that you might be among them, dear reader.

ML 12/22/1968

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