Favorite Bible Birds

From: Messages of God's Love: 1968

These “Birds of the Air” (Matt. 8:20²⁰And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. (Matthew 8:20)) were used by the Lord Jesus to illustrate several of His discourses (Matt. 13:32³²Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. (Matthew 13:32)), and they teach gospel lessons still.

THE RAVEN (Gen. 8:7⁷And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth. (Genesis 8:7)) is the first named bird in the Bible. It was with Noah in the ark during the flood, and although black and uncomely, it was as safe in the ark as the dove. So is the blackest sinner, who now comes to the Saviour and is received by Him (Luke 15:2²And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. (Luke 15:2)), never to be cast out (John 6:37³⁷All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)). In Song of {s 22221}Solomon 5:11¹¹His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven. (Song of Solomon 5:11) we read the words, “black as a raven”—nothing to boast of in either feathers or song, yet “God feedeth them” (Luke 12:24²⁴Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? (Luke 12:24)).

THE CUCKOO, or as it is spelled in Leviticus 11:16¹⁶And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind, (Leviticus 11:16), “Cuckow”—is one of the Bible birds who “knows her appointed time” (Jer. 8:7⁷Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the Lord. (Jeremiah 8:7)), for coming to the warmer climes in the early summer and then going before the winter leaves the forests bare. She likes to live in the sunshine amid the blooming flowers, where she delights to sound her familiar note which, it is said, other birds try to imitate. But it takes a real cuckoo to sing a cuckoo song, as it takes a true believer to sing the “new song” of redeeming love (Rev. 5:9⁹And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (Revelation 5:9)).

THE LARK (Song of Sol. 2:12¹²The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; (Song of Solomon 2:12)), although not mentioned by name, is believed to be the bird referred to in this Scripture. He comes to cheer us by his song after the winter is past, and “flowers appear on the earth,” pouring out his morning song up in the blue skies, while living in the sunshine. Here we have a lovely picture of what and where a Christian should do and be.

THE NIGHTINGALE is a well-known visitor to Palestine. There in the shade, while all is silent, he sings his sweetest song in the shades of the evening, while unseen. No gaudy plumage to attract, or color to dazzle, he cheers the village and countryside with his song. Those who love the Saviour may not be attractive to the world around, yet when they sing their Saviour’s praises, this is the sweetest music in God the Father’s ear.

ML 12/15/1968

Click here to show subject links in the text for more information.