Summer
2006
The
Eye of a Dove
Wade E Taylor
In the first chapter of the Song of Solomon, the Lord compliments
His Bride, for He sees within her a quality that He intensely
desires to cultivate and use.
“Behold, you are fair, My love; behold, you are fair;
you have dove’s eyes.” Song of Solomon 1:15
When a dove fixes its gaze upon its mate, it is not distracted
by any activities around it. Therefore, having a “single
vision,” it can be referred to as being a “love
bird.”
Our having this “dove’s eye” indicates
that we increasingly desire the Lord’s person and presence,
and that we possess a spiritual awareness that will lift us
above the pulls of the earthly. This “single eye”
will enable 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 which
you shall go: I will guide you with My eye.” Psalm 32:8
A horse 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:
“Be you not as the horse, or as the mule, which have
no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and
bridle, lest they come near to 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.” This is
a special “set-apart” place in which we can enter
into intimate communion with Jesus, and in union with Him,
share 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 You 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 a 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, Himself.
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 when 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 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
The values in David’s life are now in divine order,
and the Lord can lead him to the throne of Israel.
“But seek you first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness;
and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew
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.”
Song of Solomon 1:15
These will be led into a further experience of union with
the Lord, in the outworking of His Kingdom purposes upon the
earth.