“He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove.”
- Mat:3v16
As the Spirit of God descended upon the Lord Jesus, as the head, so he also, in measure, descends upon the members of the mystical body. His descent is to us after the same fashion as that in which it fell upon our Lord.
There is often a singular rapidity about it; or ever we are aware, we are impelled onward and heavenward beyond all expectation. Yet is there none of the hurry of earthly haste, for the wings of the dove are as soft as they are swift. Quietness seems essential to many spiritual operations; the Lord is in the still small voice, and like the dew, His grace is distilled in silence. The dove has ever been the chosen type of purity, and the Holy Spirit is holiness itself. Where he come, everything that is pure and lovely, and of good report, is made to abound, and sin and uncleanness depart.
Peace reigns also where the Holy Dove comes with power; He bears the olive branch which shows that the waters of divine wrath are assuaged. Gentleness is a sure result of the Sacred Dove’s transforming power: hearts touched by His benign influence are meek and lowly henceforth and for ever. Harmlessness follows, as a matter of course; eagles and ravens may hunt their prey-the turtledove can endure wrong, but cannot inflict it. We must be harmless as doves. The dove is an apt picture of love, the voice of the turtle is full of affection; and so, the soul visited by the blessed Spirit, abounds in love to God, in love to the brethren, and in love to sinners; and above all, in love to Jesus. The brooding of the Spirit of God upon the face of the deep, first produced order and life, and in our hearts, he causes and fosters new life and light. Blessed Spirit, as thou didst rest upon our dear Redeemer, even so rest upon us from this time forward and for ever.
The material of the book of Isaiah is arranged to highlight the trustworthiness of Yahweh, the covenant God. This is clearly seen in the contrast between the actions of the two kings Ahaz and Hezekiah. Ahaz did not trust Yahweh, but sent for the Assyrians to aid him in time of political crisis (against the advice of Isaiah). This only resulted in replacing one crisis with another. Hezekiah, though he initially counted on Egyptian help, depended on Yahweh and was delivered in a mighty way. Hezekiah thus became a convincing example of how God in his sovereignty can bring deliverance. This was an important lesson for the Israelites in exile, who were thereby encouraged to respond to their crisis with trust.
Although some oracles explicitly give this emphasis (e.g., chaps. 30--31), it is more discernible in the arrangement of the oracles. The purpose of a prophet was to deliver the words that God gave him to say. The oracles of the first part of Isaiah (1--39) are largely oracles of indictment and judgment. Chapters 40--66 are more concerned with God's forgiveness, deliverance, and restoration of Israel.
Although some oracles explicitly give this emphasis (e.g., chaps. 30--31), it is more discernible in the arrangement of the oracles. The purpose of a prophet was to deliver the words that God gave him to say. The oracles of the first part of Isaiah (1--39) are largely oracles of indictment and judgment. Chapters 40--66 are more concerned with God's forgiveness, deliverance, and restoration of Israel.
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