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Day 105: Signs of the Harvest 3 (SoS 2:12c)

The flowers appear on the earth; The time of singing has come, And the voice of the turtledove Is heard in our land. (Song of Songs 2:12) 

In the last two lessons, we discussed the first four signs of the harvest. Today let's talk about the fifth.

     5. The voice of the turtle dove:

Doves are gentle and peaceful and are used in many passages of the bible to signify that. They are also symbols of hope and new life as seen in Genesis 8 at the end of the flood.

They are also symbols of purity and grace because they were the only birds allowed as sacrifice to God in the Old Testament. Those who could not afford lambs for sacrifice in the Old Testament could bring doves. 

Most importantly, they symbolize the Holy Spirit. When Jesus came out of the water after His baptism in Matthew 3:16-17 the Holy Spirit descended on Him in the form of a dove. 

Our text mentions one turtledove with a definitive article: the. This tells us that it's referring to one turtledove in particular: the Holy Spirit.

According to Jeremiah 8:7, the turtledove is one of the migratory birds seen in Israel. They recognize seasons and times. They appear in the spring and summer and are rarely seen in the winter.

In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit did not reside in any of the prophets or priests. He was not a resident of Earth. He came upon them for a short time and left when His mission was done. It was prophesied repeatedly in the Old Testament of a time when God's Spirit would reside and remain in men. Examples are Joel 2:28 and Ezekiel 36:26-27.

In Genesis 8, the dove Noah sent out to check if the waters had receded kept returning until it finally found the world pleasant enough to dwell in. The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament kept returning to the Father until He found a pleasant abode not tainted by the nature of sin first in Jesus, then in us the redeemed and sanctified.

The presence of the Holy Spirit on earth is one of the major marks of the church/harvest age. Jesus said in Acts 1:8 (The Message Translation):

What you’ll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world.” 

The Holy Spirit enables, works, and speaks through us to be bold and effective witnesses of Jesus. Jesus in John 16:7 calls Him the Helper. He helps us labor effectively in the harvest.

Our text however emphasizes not the sight but the voice of the turtledove. This correlates with Jesus emphasizing in John 10 that we must follow His voice. We are not to be guided by signs, wonders, and miracles but by God's voice through the Holy Spirit.

The voice of the turtledove refers to its cooing all day from dawn till dusk. The purpose of these cooings is to mourn the death of a mate, attract a potential mate, or entice the mate they have. 

Everything the Holy Spirit does is motivated by God's love for men as shown through Christ. It is captured in the three purposes of turtledove cooing.

  • Attracting potential mates - He convicts the world of sin (John 16:8).

  • Enticing/Calling mates - He guides (John 16:13).
  • Mourning the loss of a mate - He grieves when we don't follow God's ways and commands (Ephesians 4:30).

The voice of the Holy Spirit carries His attributes related to dove symbols and characteristics.

  • Purity: He is a Holy God. He will never lead us to disobey God's command.
  • Hope and new life: the Holy Spirit recreates our spirits and gives us new life at salvation. His words give life (2 Corinthians 3:6).
  • Grace: He supplies God's grace. Romans 8:26 says He helps us in our infirmities. He does not guilt trip or condemn (Romans 8:1-2).
  • Peace: When He speaks, His words bring peace (James 3:17).
  • Love: Romans 5:5 He sheds abroad God's love in our hearts. Everything He says or does will always be to reveal God's love to men
  • Humility: As Jesus said in John 16:13&15 He doesn't speak of Himself but of Jesus so He won't say anything that negates God's word.
  • Loyalty: He always glorifies Jesus (John 16:14). Every word and act of the Holy Spirit exalts Jesus as Lord and praises His name. 
The voice of the Holy Spirit must also be in accordance to His fruits mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23.

When it's time to take our place in the harvest, the Holy Spirit gives us specific instructions and assignments. Our responsibility is to respond to and follow His guidance 

Romans 8:14 in the Message Translation says:

God’s Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go! 

If we are to be effective laborers in the harvest, we must yield to His voice, instructions, and nudgings to do the uncomfortable promptly. 

PRAY WITH ME:

Dear Lord, open the ears of my heart to hear clearly when Your Spirit beckons and help me recognize, understand and follow His lead promptly. Amen.

REFLECT & ACT:

  • How do you recognize the voice of the Spirit?
  • What specific instructions and assignments have you received from God's Spirit and how are you executing them?
  • How can you ensure that you promptly obey and follow the voice of the Spirit?

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