Matthew Henry Commentary Genesis 8:4-12

"And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat. And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen. And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made: and he sent forth a raven, and it went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth. And he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground; but the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him to the ark; for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: and he put forth his hand, and took her, and brought her in unto him into the ark. And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark; and the dove came in to him at eventide; and, lo, in her mouth an olive-leaf plucked off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth. And he stayed yet other seven days, and sent forth the dove; and she returned not again unto him any more." — Genesis 8:4-12 (ASV)

The ark rested upon a mountain, where it was directed by the wise and gracious providence of God, so that it might rest sooner. God has times and places of rest for his people after their tossing; and many times he provides for their timely and comfortable settlement, without their own planning and far beyond their own foresight. God had told Noah when the flood would come, yet he did not give him an account by revelation at what times and by what steps it should go away.

The knowledge of the former was necessary for his preparing the ark; but the knowledge of the latter would serve only to gratify curiosity; and concealing it from him would exercise his faith and patience. Noah sent out a raven from the ark, which went flying about, and feeding on the carcasses that floated. Noah then sent out a dove, which returned the first time without good news; but the second time, she brought an olive leaf in her bill, plucked off, plainly showing that trees, fruit trees, began to appear above water.

Noah sent out the dove the second time, seven days after the first, and the third time was also seven days later, probably on the Sabbath day.

Having kept the Sabbath with his small church, he expected special blessings from Heaven and inquired about them.

The dove is an emblem of a gracious soul that, finding no solid peace or satisfaction in this deluged, defiling world, returns to Christ as its ark, as its Noah, its rest.

The carnal heart, like the raven, takes up with the world, and feeds on the carrion it finds there; but return thou to my rest, O my soul; to thy Noah, as the word is (Psalms 116:7).

And as Noah put forth his hand, took the dove, and pulled her to him into the ark, so Christ will save, and help, and welcome those who flee to him for rest (Genesis 8:13–19).