“I said, ‘Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.’” Psalm 55:6
Doves have been a beloved symbol for many centuries. Ancient cultures used the form of a dove to represent peace and love. Some say that in early Christianity the symbol of a dove was used more often than the cross.
The NIV Bible mentions doves nearly 50 times. We often associate doves with two main Bible stories. The first time is after the flood. Noah and his family were in the ark for many months, and it was time to see if the land was dry so he sent out a raven. The raven never returned. Next he sent out a dove, which quickly returned because it found no place to rest or eat. A week later he again sent out the dove, and it returned with an olive leaf in its mouth. After seven more days, he again sent out the dove which never returned. Genesis 8:12 says, “He waited seven more days and sent the dove out again, but this time it did not return to him.” The Lord’s flood was over. He was once again at peace with his people.
The next significant time we see a dove mentioned is at the baptism of Jesus. All four gospel writers tell us that the Holy Spirit landed on Jesus in the form of a dove. John 1:32 reports, “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.” The Holy Spirit cannot be seen, but in this instance he took the form of a dove. All the people witnessed that Jesus was the chosen one of God, sent to bring peace, love, forgiveness, and hope to all people. The next time you see a dove, remember the faithfulness God has shown to you, and be thankful!
From Precious Words of the Bible by Reynold R. Kremer