Song of Solomon 2:12

Many have thought and said that Israel's winter would last for ever — that no spring or summer would ever return for the cast-off nation. But no one ever learned that from the book of God. There we read in the plainest terms that in due time "He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root. Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit." The budding flowers, the ripening figs, the blooming vines, the singing of birds and the voice of the turtledove are sure signs. They show not only that winter is past but that spring has come. Nothing in the bride's vineyard is ripe yet. But the opening bud of promise is a sure pledge of a glorious summer and an abundant autumn.

Wherever the older Authorised Version uses the word "turtle," it always means the turtle-dove. These birds belong to the pigeon family. They are plentiful in Palestine, where there are several species. Even the poorest could easily get them for the offerings, and a pair of them was brought when the Lord was presented in the temple. They announce the coming of spring, and their return from migration makes them a symbol of fruitfulness.

The winter is past, the time of death and coldness; the rain is over, springtime is at hand. The morning without clouds is breaking! Flowers appear. The birds begin their song. You can hear the cooing of the bird of love, the turtledove. The fig tree also puts out her green figs — the national fruit-bearing of the fig tree that was once cursed. The vines too begin to give the tender grapes. Who cannot see in the imagery of all these statements that millennial times are about to begin!

Israel has been passing through the winter of cold unbelief toward her Messiah. That winter will reach its worst in the great tribulation. But the springtime, "the time of singing," will follow this long distress.

So it was with the blessed Lord Jesus. He went down into death to destroy the one who had the power of death. There was not a breath for God in the whole universe. Everything lay in death, in the grip of winter. The disciples' hopes went into the grave with Him. God's ways are wonderful. The way of life lay through death. In His resurrection there is the dawn of a new day, life from the dead. The winter is past and gone, the time of singing has come.

All the darker and colder age is past. That whole order of things which kept the soul in bondage and fear is over. Now the voice of the turtledove sounds — the voice of that perfect love which casts out fear. The believer should now rise up and take his place as the loved and beautiful one. He can be fully sure that grace has made him spotless and lovely, and that his Lord fully favours him and delights in him.

He can look beyond the darkness and the judgment and open to our view a new home. There faith will be changed to sight — the flowers will appear. There the time of weeping will be past and the time of singing will have come. There the voice of the dove will be heard, as the saints join to sing the new song of glory to the Lamb.