The dove is in the cleft of the rock, the riven side of our Lord. There is comfort and security there. It is also in
the secret places of the stairs. It loves to build its nest in the high towers to which men mount by winding stairs
for hundreds of feet above the ground. What a glorious vision is there obtained of the surrounding scenery. It is
a picture of ascending life. To reach our highest altitudes we must find the secret places of the stairs. That is
the only way to rise above the natural plane.
Our lives should be ones of quiet mounting with occasional resting
places; but we should be mounting higher, step by step. Not everyone finds this way of secret ascent. It is only
for God's chosen. The world may think we are going down. We may not have as much public work to do as
formerly. It is a secret, hidden life. We may be hardly aware that we are growing, until one day a test comes and we find we are established. Have you arrived at the place where Christ is keeping you from willful disobedience? Does the consciousness of sin make you shudder? Are you lifted above the world?
[A.B. Simpson]
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Matthew 5:3 ... Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Exodus 33:21-22 ... And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:
Song of Solomon 2:14 ... O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.
Psalm 32:7 ... Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.❤
