Day 3: The Dove

When I wrote the song, “The Dove,” with my wife Kari and our friends Austin and Andrew, we wanted to connect the image of the Holy Spirit as a dove throughout scripture. Verse one of the song reflects this, unveiling the story of creation in Genesis and the Holy Spirit’s role in it.

God was there at the beginning

His Spirit brooding like a dove

Spoke the earth into existence

Formed creation that He loved

Man was born of perfect image

Made to be a friend of God

Meant to dwell within His presence

Yeah it’s where we all belong

Verse two carries on this theme, touching on the Holy Spirit’s symbolic representation through a dove after the flood. And finally, the dove resting on the “vine” Himself, Jesus Christ.

When sin had spoiled creation

The Creator sent a flood

On the cusp of new beginning

He again released the dove

And after all the searching

It found a place to land

On Christ the perfect son

Who would redeem it all again

Looking for the branches it landed on the vine

The One for our redemption

Who would bridge eternal life

One thing I noticed when writing this song is how the dove in scripture is present in moments of new creation and affirmation.

In Genesis 1, we see the Holy Spirit breathing creation to life, followed by the affirmation of God when He says, “It is good.” Then, in Genesis 8, we see the dove sent out to find a place to land, reappearing in Matthew 3 when the Holy Spirit as a dove descends on Jesus as God declares: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased (v.17, NKJV).”

But that’s not the end of the Holy Spirit’s story, and it’s reflected in the third verse of the song.

It is not by my own earning

To have the helper at my side

The gift was fully purchased

When the lamb was crucified

So now freely I can ask Him

For His blood has washed me clean

Let the dove of heaven rest upon the Christ in me

Now, through Jesus, and the victory of his blood, you and I are the new creation. And we are affirmed by the Father.

Through His grace, He declares over us: “This is my son. This is my daughter… In whom I am well pleased!”

So boldly we can pray, “May the dove of heaven rest upon the Christ in me!”