During the perplexities of life, David remarked in Psalms 55: 6-8, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. I would flee far away and stay in the desert; I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.” He felt the Lord had ignored him so in his opening statement stated in Psalms 55: 1, listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea.
Life is full of uncertainties, yet with God’s children, it is full of certainties. No one knows when tempests and storms will occur. However, scripture says God has made a way of escape for us if He is our God. David knew this divine arrangement for chaotic times which are certain. So, why did David desire to flee on the wings of a dove to the desert rather than hiding in the Lord God Almighty, his Creator?
Mythology of the dove in Jewish tradition
The dove is not strong as the eagle yet David admired it. After the floods, Noah in Genesis 8: 8 sent a dove to see if the water had receded from the surface of the ground. In Jewish mythology the dove was associated with discernment, peace, and divine presence comprising purity, devotion, and faithfulness. Hence, its blood was a worthy offering. Leviticus 1: 14 says, “If the offering to the Lord is in burnt offering of birds, you are to offer a dove or a young pigeon.
For its link with divine presence, John 1: 32 says, “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him (Jesus). This affirmed God’s divine presence in the fullness of knowledge, truth and honesty in Christ Jesus. At Jesus’ baptism, Matthew 3: 16; Mark 1: 10; Luke 3: 22 says, as soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. David wanted an escape led by wisdom under divine presence. Are we discerning in trials to seek the Lord’s guidance? Why can we not reason as David did?
When we become slaves to anxiety
When David fell into trials, he prayed to God in Psalm 139: 23, search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Only God can weather our anxious moments for he alone knows our thoughts and our hearts. Our attitude must be as David said in Psalm 131: 2, but have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. God’s presence with us should make us calm and content with him.
To avert hasty decisions and anxiety, Jesus said in Matthew 6: 25-34; Luke 12: 25, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear… Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life…Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Anxiety and fear cloud sound reasoning and decisions so Acts 19: 36 says, therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to calm down and not do anything rash. Clouding our minds with Christ Jesus is what Jesus wants.
When we are ignorant of scripture
Oftentimes, we are ignorant of the true value of the alternative we seek to pursue other than God. For this reason, we must trust God alone in every circumstance. Ecclesiastes 8: 7 asks, since no one knows the future, who can tell someone else what is to come? Only God can tell what is to come, hence we must turn to only Him through Christ Jesus. Any other alternative could be disastrous for Proverbs 14: 12; 16: 25 say, there is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. Decisions we make in a rush are without God’s involvement but on our own but Isaiah 47: 10 says, your wisdom and knowledge mislead you when you say to yourself, “I am, and there is none besides me.
Our knowledge of God’s plan for us is crucial. God said in Hosea 4: 6, my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Our decisions and reactions must be predicated on our true knowledge of God’s plan for our lives. Where we lack that knowledge, we must ask God who will not withhold it from us. Jeremiah 29: 11 says, for I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Paul knew God’s plan for him so he wrote in Romans 8: 28, and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
When we misunderstand God
God has perfectly set out the season for everything under the sun. Yet, unsatisfied, we shop around at the least chance rather than preparing by grace for each season. Jeremiah 8: 7 says, even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration. The wise in God have always prepared. Ecclesiastes 3: 1 says, there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. The writer says in Ecclesiastes 3: 11, He (God) has made everything beautiful in its time… yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
Whatever the season be, Ecclesiastes 3: 12 says, I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. This is because, as stated earlier, Romans 8: 28 says, we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. God is able to turn every damn situation for our good to his glory. Isaiah 55: 8 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
When we lack trust and faith in God
We take our own decisions when we lack faith. However, Proverbs 3: 5 says, trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. We show faith by submitting to Jesus in every circumstance. When our path is obstructed in any form, Jesus is the answer because he who has promised will not fail but honour his vows.
Isaiah 55: 11 says, my word that goes out from my mouth will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it (paraphrased). No challenge is greater than or above God, hence Philippians 2: 10 says, at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledges that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Jesus said in Matthew 19: 26; Mark 10: 27, “With God all things are possible.” Where do we go in times of tempest and storms of life? In Christ Jesus nothing will be impossible for us.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, in times of tempest and storms, may we mount upon the wings of the Holy Spirit and hide in the peace of your presence and countenance in your Holy name, Amen!!
Send us your prayer request so we may join you in prayer
