will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, \u201cHe is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.\u201d
Surely he will save you
from the fowler\u2019s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
God has a shelter? Is this like something we might have for the homeless? Does this mean that if you reside in God\u2019s shelter, you\u2019ll be okay, but if you live in your own house or apartment, you\u2019ll be hosed?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
God casts a shadow? Like on a sunny day?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
God is a refuge? Like a wildlife refuge?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
God is a fortress? With walls and ramparts? Do people ever lay siege to him?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
God will save you from a fowler\u2019s snare? That\u2019s a relief, since I get trapped in those regularly. I mean, who doesn\u2019t?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
God has feathers and wings? So God is a parakeet? Is this why he knows about fowler\u2019s snares?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When we read the Bible, we should be naturally reading it with the same skill-set we use when we read anything. Most grown up human beings understand the way literature works. We have some concept of allegory, metaphor, hyperbole and the like. We realize that poetry works differently than prose. We would be startled if a cookbook were written in limericks. Taylor Swift is not going to use her computer\u2019s warranty as the basis for the lyrics in her next hit song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thus, when we look at the book of Revelation, we\u2019re going to have to pay attention and use the skills we would use in reading anything else. Taking it literally will only get us into trouble unless we\u2019re purposely trying to be funny.<\/p>\n
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Send to Kindle<\/span><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"We do not usually interpret the Bible literally. Anymore than we interpret much of anything we encounter in print literally. Consider Psalm 91:1-4 as an example: Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of … Continue reading