By Tope Banso
“Behold, you are fair, my love! Behold, you are fair! You have dove’s eyes” (Song 1:15 New King James Version).
The Bible talks about different eyes. The eyes of the LORD is mentioned no fewer than twenty times in the New King James Version. The Bible also talks about the eyes of the wicked (Job 11:20) and the eyes of a fool (Proverbs 17:24). Also mentioned are an evil eye (Proverbs 28:22; Matthew 20:15; Mark 7:22), a generous eye (Proverbs 22:9), the wise man’s eyes (Ecclesiastes 2:14), blind eyes (Isaiah 42:7), etc.
The Song of Solomon particularly mentions dove’s eyes. The book talks about the love relationship between a bridegroom, King Solomon, and his bride, a Shulammite. The man said in Song 1:15, “Behold, you are fair, my love! Behold, you are fair! You have dove’s eyes” (New King James Version).
My focus is the last part of that verse. The lady is described as beautiful, but the second part of the verse specifically mentions that she had dove’s eyes. Yes, the dove’s eyes formed part of her beauty, but it went beyond that.
In Song 4:1, the groom again referred to the dove’s eyes of his bride. “Behold, you are fair, my love! Behold, you are fair! You have dove’s eyes behind your veil…” (New King James Version). But it was not the lady alone that had dove’s eyes, her lover also had. She said in Song 5:12, “His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set” (King James Version).
Husbands and wives need to have dove’s eyes like this couple. The dove is a small bird of the family of pigeons. I learnt from my study that dove’s eyes are not just beautiful, they have the capacity to only focus on one thing at a time. Dove’s eyes don’t see anything around them; they only see one thing they focus on. They can’t see anything in another direction unless they move their small head completely to face the direction.
According to Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, “They mate for life, sharing nesting and parenting duties. They are gentle birds that never resist attack or retaliate against their enemies. Even when her young are attacked, a dove will give only a pitiful call of distress. Because of its innocence and gentle nature, the dove is a common religious symbol.”
Doves were used to send messages in the past, because they have the ability to travel long distances and return home. During the flood that came upon the earth, Noah sent out the dove three times to see if it could find dry ground. It came back twice, but the third time it didn’t, a sign that it was safe for Noah to come out of the ark (Genesis 8:8-12). The dove is a symbol of peace. The Holy Spirit also descended on Jesus like a dove at his baptism (Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22).
However, my concern is not the other characteristics of the dove, but the dove’s eyes. Many homes have broken today because couples didn’t have dove’s eyes. They were distracted by other men and women. They didn’t have unbroken focus as the dove. They looked here and there, their attention was divided. They were not devoted to their spouses. They saw other men and women, whereas a dove only sees his or her mate; they pair or mate for life.
Couples must be undistracted in their relationships. Proverbs 4:25 says, “Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you” (New King James version). This is applicable to marriage. If couples look straight, they won’t know if other men or women exist! Couples should have a single focus. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24 New King James Version). If husbands and wives cleave; they won’t leave!
The Bible tells lazybones to take a lesson from the ants; learn from their ways and become wise (Proverbs 6:6). Similarly, couples can learn from doves. Doves mate for life. They are monogamous. Both male and female doves work together to build their nests. The male dove and female dove take turns to incubate the eggs – the female sits at night on the eggs she has laid while the male takes over the incubation in the early morning. The incubation lasts for 14-15 days.
The two parents raise their young ones together. They both take turns to feed their chicks. The cooperation and understanding between the male dove and female dove is a lesson for human beings. Do you and your spouse cooperate to raise your children?
But back to my original question: Do you have dove’s eyes? Are you being distracted in your marriage? Have you lost focus and you need to retrace your steps? Maybe you have even wandered from your home. Repent today and go back home. What are you doing with that woman or that man? Leave now and return to your spouse. Should the dove have more sense than you?
What about your relationship with God? Do you have dove’s eyes? Jesus said, ‘’You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38 New King James Version). Cut off from other things that have replaced God in your life. Seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; God will give you other things you need (Matthew 6:33).
Do you have dove’s eyes or do you have eyes that look around for other men or women? Repent! If you’ve been faithful, remain loyal to your spouse (Malachi 2:15).
Elijah told the Israelites, “How long are you going to waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” (1 Kings 18:21 New Living Translation). In your relationship with God, have dove’s eyes.
If you’re not born again, repent of your sins today and accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. Whoever comes to Him, He will by no means cast out.
This is wisdom for living, and it’s worth sharing. Please share.
(For more inspiring messages, visit: www.cedarministry.org).
▪Banso, an Abuja-based minister and pastor, is the head of Cedar Ministry International, and can be reached at any of these addresses:
cedarministryintl@yahoo.com, cedarministryng@gmail.com; or on:
Tel No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947