U is For Understanding Scripture

The "U" in Public Ministry is for Understanding Scripture.

We have looked at getting the SPECS on Scripture. We have looked at praying with scripture (found in the P Is For Prayer Part 2 blog). In this post we look at reading Scripture as metaphor.

Psalm 48 (last post) was a good example of engaging Scripture as metaphor. Look at it again and see all the metaphors (in bold).

God majestic, praise abounds in our God-city! God’s sacred mountain, breathtaking in its heights—earth's joy. Zion Mountain looms in the North, city of the world-King. God in his citadel peaks impregnable. The kings got together, they united and came. They took one look and shook their heads, they scattered and ran away. They doubled up in pain like a woman having a baby. You smashed the ships of Tarshish with a storm out of the East. We heard about it, then we saw it with our eyes— In God's city of Angel Armies, in the city our God set on firm foundations, firm forever. We pondered your love-in-action, God, waiting in your temple: your name, God, evokes a train of Hallelujahs wherever it is spoken, near and far; your arms are heaped with goodness-in-action. Be glad, Zion Mountain; dance, Judah's daughters! God does what he said he'd do! Circle Zion, take her measure, count her fortress peaks, Gaze long at her sloping bulwark, climb her citadel heights— then you can tell the next generation detail by detail the story of God, our God forever, who guides us till the end of time.

Here are some of the metaphors in this wonderful Scriptural poem.

1. The City:
   

   God-city, City of the World-King, City of Angel Armies, City God set firm

2. The Mountain:

   God’s Sacred Mountain, Zion Mountain, Citadel Peaks, Fortress Peaks, Citadel Heights

3. Directions:
   North, East

4. Earthly Powers:

   Kings, Ships of Tarshish

5. Earthly Powers’ Actions:

   United and Came (got together), Took One Look, Shook Their Heads, Scattered and Ran, Doubled Up

6. Other Metaphors

   Storm, Foundations, Temple, Train of Hallelujahs, Judah’s Daughter, Bulwark

7. God’s Actions

   Smashed

8. Our Actions

   Circle, Measure, Count, Gaze, Climb

But it is not easy for everyone to take a metaphorical approach to Scripture. Sometimes people want something sure (which religious officials will call "truth"). But "truths" are treasures that must be sought for and found. As a religious system ages, it probably moves toward more and more metaphorical approach to its religious stories and writings. But movements spring forth as sects, cults, and even branch-off religions, all wanting a more literal approach.

But God, being God, is beyond the limits a literalist approach would put on God, and on our experience of God. And on the Scriptures God has chosen to use as a vehicle of God's revelation to us. Taking a metaphorical approach to Scripture will open our senses, our hearts, our minds, and our spirits to understandings that are deeper than any that a literalist approach could give.