The Metaphor that was a Mystery

Psalm 89:26 “He will cry to me, ‘You are my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.'”

The other night Abigail had a homework assignment she was struggling with. She came to me with a poem and asked if I could find the metaphor in the verses. First of all, I had to be reminded exactly what a metaphor was. The dictionary definition says a metaphor is the comparison of one thing or another without the use of like or as.

After I refreshed my memory about this literary device, we searched and searched the poem for the illusive metaphor.  We could not come up with a good answer, so we called in the “big guns” – Dad and Nathan. They also read and reread the poem to no avail. So we went the next step and got Luke and his college friends to give it a try. They also came up dry – the metaphor in this writing was a mystery to all of us.

As my brain sparked with thoughts and examples, it struck me that the Bible is full of metaphors for the Lord. When asking the question, “What is God like?” it is impossible to come up with a definite answer because to our finite brains God is indescribable. The best we can do is think of things that we know and understand to try to come up with a way to understand what God reveals about Himself in the Bible.

One of my favorites is detailed in Psalm 89 where it calls God the “Rock of our salvation.” We know God is not a cold, hard, inanimate object, but the comparison of Him to a rock brings about the feeling of steadfastness, immovableness, strength, security, and faithfulness. These things are true of God in a way that no other human being can fulfill. His faithfulness and lovingkindness to those who belong to Him will never falter.

When it feels like your life is unsteady and the world is crumbling beneath your feet, it is so comforting to have an immoveable and unchangeable “Rock” to approach for help. His faithfulness in the midst of trouble surrounds us. The heavens and the earth all belong to Him. He created the world and all it contains. Those who know the Lord as their “Rock” and walk in the light of His countenance can rely on His strong arm and mighty hand to support them at all times. These are the ones who rejoice no matter what their circumstances.

We never did figure out the metaphor in the homework poem – it is still a complete mystery. But I do know who is the “Rock of my salvation.” He is the One in Whom we can trust!

Love,

Mama