The other day I was talking books with a friend when he mentioned one that I had read but hadn’t been particularly moved by.
“It’s given me the language I need to understand and face the things I’m struggling with,” he said.
That is the power of metaphor. What speaks to you will be a little different than what speaks to me because our experiences, the things we know, are different. Metaphor is a literary device that uses something known to illustrate or explain something that is unknown. It is used throughout Scripture to describe the indescribable, measure the immeasurable, and give shape to the infinite.
Over the last month, we’ve explored some of our favorite metaphors from the Bible.
Eat This Book – Scripture is Food (Deuteronomy 8:3)
“Food, like faith, connects us to our sense of self and cultural identity. The smells, tastes, and feelings associated with certain dishes enrich our memories and take us back to the traditions they represent. We are rooted in how we are raised and free to grow in our understanding and experience as we mature.”
Jesus is the Door – John 10:7
“After all the sheep were in, the shepherd would lie across the opening, using his own body as the “door of the sheep.” This prevented predators from getting in and sheep from getting out. The sheep were completely in the shepherd’s care, trusting him for their protection and security.”
It’s Good to Be a Roadie – Jesus is the Way (John 14:6)
“Jesus always gives us the very next step we need, just when we need it. He even corrects our missteps and wrong turns and fender benders to create beautiful new paths for each of us, individually and collectively.”
Connected to the Vine – John 15
“Like the vine delivers sap, the vital nutrients, to the rest of the plant giving it vitality and vigor, Jesus delivers everything we need for spiritual growth and maturity.”
Living Water – a metaphor for God’s Spirit, John 7:37-39
“Oh, what a gift. The life-sustaining, thirst-quenching, ever-cleansing, fully-healing, Holy Spirit dwells and bubbles up within us and flows out from us. THIS is the living water He offers.”
A Dwelling Place (Psalm 90:1)
“Dwell in Him. Make Him your peace and security. Fulfill your role in being another generation that dwelled in Him.”
They say a picture is worth a thousand words and each picture in the Bible connects us to the Word who was God and was with God, who is the image of the invisible God, and through whom all life is created and sustained.
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