Daily Devotion: The Dove Came To Him In The Evening by Charles Spurgeon

Bible Reading: Genesis 8:4-11 KJV 

Key Verse:  "And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth."
- Genesis 8:11 KJV

Blessed be the Lord for another day of mercy—even though I am now weary with its toils. Unto the preserver of men, I lift my song of gratitude. The dove found no rest out of the ark, and therefore returned to it; and my soul has learned yet more fully than ever, this day, that there is no satisfaction to be found in earthly things—God alone can give rest to my spirit.

As to my business, my possessions, my family, my attainments—these are all well enough in their way—but they cannot fulfill the desires of my immortal nature. "Return unto your rest—O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you."

It was at the still hour, when the gates of the day were closing, that with weary wing the dove came back to the master. "O Lord, enable me this evening thus to return to Jesus!" The dove could not endure to spend a night hovering over the restless waste, not can I bear to be even for another hour away from Jesus, the rest of my heart, the home of my spirit. The dove did not merely alight upon the roof of the ark, she "came in to him." Even so would my longing spirit look into the secret of the Lord, pierce to the interior of truth, enter into that which is within the veil, and reach to my Beloved in very deed. To Jesus must I come—short of the nearest and dearest communion with Him—my panting spirit cannot stay. "Blessed Lord Jesus, be with me, reveal Yourself, and abide with me all night—so that when I awake I may be still with you!"

I note that the dove brought in her mouth an olive branch, the memorial of the past day, and a prophecy of the future. Have I no pleasing record to bring home? No pledge of loving-kindness yet to come? "Yes, my Lord, I present You my grateful acknowledgments for tender mercies which have been new every morning and fresh every evening. And now, I ask You—put forth Your hand and take Your dove into Your bosom!"

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