Ezekiel 24:2-3a

Ezekiel 24:2-3New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Mortal, write down the name of this day, this very day. The king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day. And utter an allegory to the rebellious house.

Spoiler alert!

The allegory that God is describing to Ezekiel isn't full of sunshine and good news.  It's full of images of bones and blood and rust and the wrath and fury of God.  It foretells the destruction of Israel by the Babylonians.

Allegory is a common - and effective - way that Scripture presents God's message to God's people.  It's one that I believe is still effective.

Allegory gets lost in the "Bible as literal" debate.  Allegory is not literal.

But allegory is powerful.  Words evoke power in allegory and metaphor and symbolism in a way I think that the literal word can't always do.

Think of truth itself.  How would you describe truth literally in a way that was effective?  It's hard to do and do well, or do persuasively.  Things like allegory, metaphor and even hyperbole strengthen the presentation of "truth" by opening the mind's eye and imagination.  God we know, is a creative God.  God likes imagination.  God likes imagery.

I've often found that I've learned more about things like truth, and faith, and beauty and love and courage in more of the fiction books I've read than in non-fiction or text books.  

And I've been captured more by the Biblical story - the sometimes imperfect witness and confession of those who framed the Biblical narrative - than I have by literal sound bytes from scripture.

Allegory in the Old and New Testament might be confusing (see Daniel and Revelation!) and it might be hard to peg down, but even if it is not "literal," it has an important and inspirational place.  

Once we see the images God wants us to see and hear the story God wants to be told, truth opens up and bigger and wider and more encompassing than literal facts.

God of Truth, help us to hear your message of salvation for this world through the images and stories and allegories and metaphors put down by the Biblical witness of your people.  Guide us to be witnesses to your story ourselves using images that draw people to your Word of love.  Amen.