Lesson 7: Books of Poetry – Discovery

As we read and study poetry, we find a lot of use of metaphor, simile and sometimes also allegory. Let me define those words for you:
> Metaphor is using a word or phrase that means one thing but is used to describe something else that is similar. An example might be – he rode a tornado through the house.
> Simile is a comparison. An example might be – he ran through the house like a tornado.
> Allegory is using events or characters to express other ideas or symbols. An example might be – she was David against Goliath in her fight for her children.

Let’s take one verse from Psalm 119 – verse 105 - as an example of the metaphor to see how this teaching is done in multiple layers of understanding. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Immediately we might understand this to say the Bible is our guideline for how we should live our life. This is true. We live by the principles given in the Bible, and our life will be better for having followed God’s path.

However, in John 8:12, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” In John 1:1-14 we read “the Word was God” and “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” We suddenly see a different relationship in the words of Psalm 119:105, a very personal and intimate relationship with Jesus as He becomes the light by which I walk my path.


But we turn again to find “light” in the Scriptures, and find Jesus saying to His disciples in Matthew 5:14-16 that THEY are the light of the world, and they are not to try to hide their light. Is Jesus saying we are the same kind of light He is? The answer is obviously “no” since we cannot live perfect lives as He did. Then we remember we who are Christians are Christ’s body here on earth, so we may touch the lives of others for Him in this chapter of history (see Ephesians 5). We are His witnesses (Acts 1:8). We are His kingdom-workers while He is gone (Matthew 24:36-51).

As we study the books of poetry, we will find many treasures from God as we uncover the layers of meanings and truth as we seek them throughout the Scripture. We do not need a great library to do such searching for many of the online Bibles have search capabilities so we can find words – such as light – found elsewhere in the Bible.

The principle for studying the Books of Poetry is that we always let the Bible interpret the Bible. If we ever have questions on a subject, we need to look especially at verses where Jesus or His disciples talked about this same subject. The Bible will NEVER contradict itself.

*What is the main principle for studying the Bible? Let the Bible interpret itself