I’ve always loved birds. I’ve had canaries, parakeets, chickens, ducks, geese and even an owl as pets. My children have often collected feathers for me because they know how much I appreciate them. Now my grandchildren do it, too.

I take comfort in knowing that many of God’s servants, including King David (Ps 50:11) and even Jesus (Mt 6:26), shared my interest. You see…they were bird lovers, too.

John the Baptist watched in fascination as the Holy Spirit descend upon Jesus, “like a dove”. Raised in urban, ancient Egypt, Moses, too, was forever impacted by a bird scene he most likely observed while spending weeks on the mount with God.

“As an eagle stirs up its nest,
Hovers over its young,
Spreading out its wings, taking them up,
Carrying them on its wings.” De 32:11

There is perhaps no verse in the entire Bible that captures the nature of the Holy Spirit more than this one. Let me break it down.

The Holy Spirit is the One who anoints the prophet’s eagle eyes. They see from a distance. They are laser-focused, penetrating, and relentless. We know when a prophet speaks; but it is his vision—his ability to see movement on the other side of deep, dark ravines—that forges his words into weapons, that make his voice a rallying cry to action or to war.

Like an eagle, Holy Spirit hovers over each of our lives. We see this characteristic manifest in the Cloud that camped over the nation of Israel in the wilderness, as well as when He hovered over the face of the waters in creation (Gen 1:2). Through this, we understand: Wherever He broods, darkness is bathed in light, chaos surrenders to peace, and confusion gives way to order. The ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives is absolutely essential. It has always been, and always will be “not by might, not by power, but by My Spirit.” It is only and ever through Him that anything transformational or eternal is accomplished.

He spreads out His wings around us, sheltering and nurturing us as only the Comforter can. David famously marveled that we are covered with His feathers and given refuge under the shadow of His wings (Ps 91:4). There is a sweetness to this endearing image that, once impressed upon the recesses of our hearts, never fails to bring a tickling smile.

What Moses saw next could have become a National Geographic highlight reel. He witnessed those scrawny eaglets climbing onto Papa’s back, perched in first class comfort, and being regally carried far above threats and danger. Or, maybe, he just wanted to take them out for a bit of fun! For Moses, this wasn’t about posting a scintillating meme for likes. This was deeply personal. Moses had been struck by the realization that he was just like one of those chicks and God the Holy Spirit was his majestic sweep-me-off-my-feet Giant Eagle.

Peter later described the work of those who wrote the Scriptures in this way: “no prophecy of scripture comes from one’s own interpretation…but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pt 1:20-21 BSB). Amen.

Finally, Moses writes of how the eagle stirred its nest. Beloved, stirring the hearts of men is the exclusive domain of the Holy Spirit. He stirred the prophets. He stirred King Cyrus. He stirred Samson. He stirred people to give sacrificially. He stirred people to rise up and build. He stirs people who were once apathetic to give themselves unreservedly to divine purposes. He stirs nations to set aside everything else to seek a visitation from God. To be stirred is to be given a holy injection of resolve to pursue God, to exercise our gifts, to be bold and courageous, and to move as one man in lockstep with His will. Stir us, O God!

Holy Spirit has taken the backseat in the Church for too long. And yet, at this very hour, He is hovering over us, brooding to catalyze the great revival we have all been longing for. Like a mighty Eagle, He is stirring our nest.

The hour is late. It’s time for “bird lovers” to arise. Get yourselves to a high place and strap those binoculars on your neck in watchful anticipation. Clothe yourselves in your forerunner’s garb, that together we may witness Holy Spirit descending upon our generation…like a dove.