The Old Testament is full of numerous figures of speech, such as metaphors and similes. For example, the psalmist metaphorically described God by saying:
I love you, Yahweh, my strength
Yahweh is my rock and my bastion,
my deliverer is my God.
I take shelter in him, my rock,
my shield, my horn of salvation,
my stronghold and my refuge.
From violence you rescue me. - Ps. 18:1-2 -

Moses gave this remarkable simile describing God's care of Israel in the wilderness:
Like an eagle watching its nest,
hovering over its young,
he spreads out his wings to hold him
he supports him on his pinions.
Yahweh alone is his guide,
with him is no alien god. - Deut. 32:11-12 -

Such figures speech are not to be interpreted literally but as poetic symbolism for God. He is the firm ground of life and a solid defense against evil. The worshiper sing for joy because of His protecting presence and the soaring power of His loving care.

Many of the subtleties of Hebrew poetry, such as puns and various play-on-word allusions are virtually untranslatable into English and may be fully appreciated only by an accomplished Hebrew scholar. Fortunately, many good commentaries are available to explain to the layperson these riches of Hebrew thought.

There are some poetry found in the New Testament too. 'The Beatitudes' - Matt. 5:3-10; Luke 6:20-26; - have a definite poetic form. The Gospel of Luke contains several long poems: Zacharias' prophecy, known as the 'Benedictus' - Luke 1:68-79 - the song of Mary, known as the 'Magnificat' - Luke 1:46-55 - the song of the heavenly host, known as the 'Gloria in Excelsis' - Luke 2:14 - and the blessing of Simeon, known as the 'Nunc Dimittis':

'Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace,
just as you promised:
because my eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared for all the nations to see,
a light to enlighten the pagans
and the glory of your people Israel.' - Luke 2:29-32 -

Examples of parallelism may be found in the New Testament. For instances, synonymous parallelism occurs in Matthew 7:6 - 'Do not give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls in front of pigs or they may trample them and then turn on you and tear you to pieces'. Antithetic parallelism occurs in Matthew 8:20 - 'Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head'. Synthetic parallelism occurs in John 6:32-33 - ' I tell you most solemnly, it was not Moses who gave you bread from heaven, it is my Father who gives you the bread from heaven, the true bread; for the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world'. -

In the writings of the apostle Paul several poetic passages may be found: his lyrical celebration of God's everlasting love - Rom. 8:31-39 - his classic hymn to love - 1Cor. 13 - his glorious faith in the truimph of the resurrection - 1Cor. 15:51-58 - and his thoughts on the humbled and exalted Christ. - Phil. 2:5-11 -

Who can deny the poetic passion in Paul's words to the Corinthians?
We are only the earthenware jars that hold this treasure, to make it clear that such an overwhelming power comes from God and not from us. We are in difficulties on all sides but never cornered; we see no answer to our problems but never despair; we have been persecuted but never deserted; knocked down but never killed; always, wherever we may be, we carry with us in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus, too, may always be seen in our body. - 2Cor. 4:7-10 -

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Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -