Genesis 8:9-12 But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned to him into the ark… God has designed but one resting place for the soul, and that is the restoration of peace between it and Himself. On Jesus' breast we may lay our weary heads. Here at last the dove finds a sure perch. I. AS IT WANDERED TO AND FRO, IT COULD FIND REST NOWHERE SAVE BY RETURNING TO THE ARK. There, and only there, was rest. Oh, weary soul, have you Bet come to that point? You will not come until you give up all confidence in your self-power. II. "When the dove came back, IT CAME WITHOUT ANYTHING. Bring no excuse. III. God had provided but ONE ARK. Only one name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. IV. That ark had only ONE WINDOW AND THAT WINDOW WAS OPEN. A woman, who was striving to find rest for her soul, was sitting in her summer house, when in through an open door flew a bird. It was alarmed, and flew up toward the roof, and tried to get out at this window and at that. It flew from side to side until it panted with fright and weariness. The woman said, "Poor bird, why do you not come down lower, then you would see this open door, and you could fly out easily?" But the bird kept wounding itself against the closed windows and at every crevice. At last its wings grew tired, and it flew lower and lower until it was on a level with the open door, when quickly it escaped, and soon its song was heard in the trees of the churchyard near by. A new light dawned upon the mind of the woman: "I, like that poor bird, through my pride and self-sufficiency, have been flying too high to see the door which stands wide open." Her heart was humbled, and soon she too was singing songs of gladness. (T. L. Cuyler, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark. |
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