Opus 2026-304: Literally Test

I was reading through Psalm 72 this morning and I was struck by the picturesque language sprinkled throughout.  Early on I came across this,

(Psa 72:3 KJV)  The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.

It is a nice picture but my mind started wandering how my Mid-Acts Dispensationalist (MAD) friend, who insists that the Bible be interpreted literally, would deal with that.  How does a mountain bring peace?

Most rational people have no problem with this verse or verses like it.  Even people who claim to be literal can see this is poetic.  The disclaimer offered here is “rational people”.  

As often happens my mind started to wander to passages of the Bible that are loved by millions and what would happen if you took the words literally.  My mind went to the 23rd Psalm.  Allowing for the fact that dispensationalists often reject the OT because it was written to the Jews and not us gentiles, I decided to comment on it a a literal work.

(Psa 23:1 KJV)  A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

In my mind this would require Yahweh, that is what LORD translates, to show up with a shepherd’s crook, flowing robes, sandals and one of those turban type head coverings.  I would say that He would be standing by my bed when I wake up except the next verse says,

(Psa 23:2 KJV)  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Evidently I am going to be sleeping in the grass.  That does not thrill me because I am aware that the grass is full of ticks, fleas, ants, scorpions and all the varieties of creation, but that is where He is going to put me.  Still waters I can handle.

Then I get down to,

(Psa 23:4 KJV)  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

If God is in charge and is leading me beside still waters, how did I get in this valley?

The next verse starts off well,

(Psa 23:5 KJV)  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

The table is set.  Good.  But wait a minute, what are my enemies doing here?  You would think we could have found a restaurant with a nice quiet, corner table.  And what is this about my cup running over?  I don’t think my wife would approve of that.

It finishes by promising I will live in God’s house forever.  Of course that is except for the times when I am laying in the grass or walking in deadly valleys.  

We obviously don’t read it this way but that is what a literal approach demands.  The believer who has all of the synapses that God gave him will realize that such an approach does not work.  Some verses are meant to be poetical and figurative such as rivers clapping their hands or God having wings and feathers.  Others are meant to be taken quite literally,

(Rom 3:23 KJV)  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

I think that we can tell the difference and not just keep changing our standard to make scripture fit our preconceived notions.  But who am I to judge?

homo unius libri