Winter 1999
The Eye Of A Dove
By Wade E. Taylor

In the first chapter of the Song of Solomon, the Lord compliments His Bride, for He sees within her a quality, which He intensely desires to cultivate and use.

"Behold, you are fair, my love!
behold, you are fair!
You have dove's eyes." SS 1:15

When a dove fixes its gaze upon its mate, it is not distracted by any activities around it. Therefore, it is often referred to as a "love bird."

Our having this "dove's eye" indicates the possession of a spiritual awareness and commitment which lifts us above the pulls of the earthly, and enables us to become sensitive to the Lord's presence, and obedient to His desire and purpose.

The Lord's favor rests upon those who have cultivated a "single eye" toward Him. These can be easily led by Him, for they are close enough to see which way His eye is looking.

"I will instruct you and teach you
in the way you should go; I will
guide you with My eye." Psalm 32:8

A horse on the other hand is distracted by side vision. Therefore, it must have "blinders" placed beside each eye, and a "bit" set within its mouth. Only then can it be kept on the path.

Therefore, we are admonished,

"Do not be like the horse or like the
mule, which have no understanding;
Which must be harnessed with bit and
bridle, else they will not come near
you." Psalm 32:9

Once we have developed this "single eye" toward the Lord, we will no longer respond as a horse or mule - according to our desires. We will have become responsive to Him alone.

Now the Lord can further instruct us, in order to prepare us to be brought into His Chambers, a special prepared place where we can share with Him in the outworking of His redemptive purposes.

"Come, My beloved, let us go forth into the field;
let us lodge in the villages. Let us get up early

to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish,
whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates
bud forth: there will I give you My loves." Song of Solomon 7:11-12

The quality that had so moved the Lord to be with His Bride in this cooperative relationship was her "single eye." She had cried out,

"Tell me, O Thou whom my soul loves, where You feed,
where You make Your flock to rest at noon: For why
should I be as one that turns aside by the flocks
of Your companions." Song of Solomon 1:7

This intense desire that she expresses is singularly toward her Lord, and she seeks to gaze upon Him alone. She can no longer be satisfied with the knowledge of things about the Lord. The ministries, abilities, or personalities of His servants are no longer enough, for now she must personally know the Lord.

An intense reduction of all her ambitions, desires, and dreams, has brought her to this place. Now that her vision has become single, the Lord is ready to lead her on. His next word to her is,

"Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away." Song of Solomon 2:10

Psalm 27 was written by David about his experience with the Lord during the time he was hiding in a cave, while Saul's armies were outside, seeking to kill him.

In the darkness of his present circumstances, David's dreams about sitting on the throne of an earthly kingdom with all its grandeur, faded in the light of the eternal Kingdom, which he now saw.

In this seemingly hopeless situation, David realized that only that which is of God has any lasting value. All else vanished in the darkness of the cave, including the hope of his sitting on the throne of Israel, according to the prophecy given him by Samuel.

David, now reduced to a single vision, has but one desire - to abide in the presence of the Lord. The dark, musty cave has become a cathedral, for he has the eye of a dove, and he sees only the Lord.

Only now could David say,

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I
fear? ... one thing have I desired of the Lord, that
will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of
the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty
of the Lord, and to inquire in His Temple." Psalm 27:1-4

Now, the values in David's life are in divine order, and the Lord can lead him to the throne of Israel.

"But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness;

and all these things shall be added unto you." Matt 6:33

Today, the Lord is seeking those who are willing to be reduced to this singleness of vision. Only then will He be able to say,

"Behold, you are fair, you have dove's eyes."

These will be led into a further experience of union with the Lord in the outworking of His Kingdom purposes upon the earth.