See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.
Song of Solomon 3:11-12
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“The cooing of doves is heard in our land…” I have always enjoyed having pets in our home. Our dear Shetland Sheepdog, Maggie, died three years ago, and while I have been glad to not have a dog, cat, bird, turtle, snake, guinea pig, or chicken (all of which we have had at one time or another), I was beginning to miss having a bit of God’s animal kingdom to take care of. In what may prove to be a lapse in good judgment, I bought a bonded pair of white doves on Monday. They are so sweet and peaceful, and whenever I take the female out to train her a bit, he calls for her. There is no doubt in his little mind (or in mine) that she belongs with him. I do not know how they identify each other, but somehow they do. I love that the “cooing of doves is heard in our land.”
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One of my favorite verses in the Bible is this one:
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He has brought me to his banquet hall, and his banner over me is love. Song of Solomon 2:4
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You might remember that the word “banner” or “standard” is used frequently in the book of Numbers; the various tribes had a distinguishing mark that identified them as belonging to a certain household. The Shulammite woman in the Song of Solomon was easily identified as she was brought into the banqueting hall – the banner, the distinguishing mark, over her was his love.
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Are we so easily identified? Do we have a distinguishing mark over us? Do the people we meet see the love of God over us and know that we belong to Him?
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As we prepare for Easter, many songs go through my mind. Chris Tomlin’s “I Will Rise” has so spoken to my heart, and part of that song seems to have come from the Song of Solomon, for look at the rest of the passage I began earlier:
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See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.”
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The greatest mark, the one that will beyond a shadow of a doubt identify us as being under the banner of His love is when He calls us up from the grave. We will hear His voice calling us, we will rise as His Bride, and we will be with Him forever. Just as with our beautiful doves, there will be no doubt that we belong with Him. Let’s ponder that as we approach Resurrection Sunday…
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Prayer:
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One of my favorite verses in the Bible is this one:
*
He has brought me to his banquet hall, and his banner over me is love. Song of Solomon 2:4
*
You might remember that the word “banner” or “standard” is used frequently in the book of Numbers; the various tribes had a distinguishing mark that identified them as belonging to a certain household. The Shulammite woman in the Song of Solomon was easily identified as she was brought into the banqueting hall – the banner, the distinguishing mark, over her was his love.
*
Are we so easily identified? Do we have a distinguishing mark over us? Do the people we meet see the love of God over us and know that we belong to Him?
*
As we prepare for Easter, many songs go through my mind. Chris Tomlin’s “I Will Rise” has so spoken to my heart, and part of that song seems to have come from the Song of Solomon, for look at the rest of the passage I began earlier:
*
See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.”
*
The greatest mark, the one that will beyond a shadow of a doubt identify us as being under the banner of His love is when He calls us up from the grave. We will hear His voice calling us, we will rise as His Bride, and we will be with Him forever. Just as with our beautiful doves, there will be no doubt that we belong with Him. Let’s ponder that as we approach Resurrection Sunday…
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Prayer:
Dear Lord, In the midst of all that is going on today, let me be listening for Your call to my heart to be with You – in Your word, in prayer, and in Your presence. Help me to know that Your banner over me is love, your banner over my husband is love, and your banner over my little ones is love. Show me how to demonstrate Your love for them. Thank You that You love me so much, Lord.
Challenge:
Challenge:
Listen for the Lord calling you today. Then take a few minutes and be with Him. Ask Him to show you one simple way to demonstrate His love for your husband and children today.
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Julie Bailey 2009
1 comment:
Beautiful, Julie. Thank you for sharing this!
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