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Bible Similes

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Dec 21, 1905

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 82, No. 51.

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Bible Similes

By WM. COVERT

WM. COVERT
PAUL teaches that material things, visible to men's eyes, if properly studied, may aid us in obtaining a knowledge of the true God. See Rom. 1:19, 20.
It seems that every creature has a mission, and every object a lesson. The rocks and the rills, the hills and the dales, the mountains and the plains, the rivers and the seas, the days and the nights, the clouds and the storms, the heavens and the earth, with all their elements, instruct in divine lore.
David, hiding from King Saul behind the ramparts in the mountains, said, “The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” Ps. 18:2. As an impenetrable rock, the Lord stood between David and his jealous pursuer. The jagged hills provided the fugitive with fortresses on all sides, and he believed the Lord was using them as a means of defense from the stroke of his enemy. Through these agencies the Lord was speaking to his servant of deliverance from a foe more wily than the Benjamite king, and from a fate more to be feared than death by sword or javelin. Every object that served as shield or tower spoke to him of salvation from sin; yes, told of triumph over death. Through constant dangers he was led to praise the Lord for manifold blessings.
The last minor prophet referred to the sun as an emblem of Christ's righteousness, and restoration from the effects of sin. Through him the Lord says to his people that the “Sun of Righteousness” shall “arise with healing in his wings.” As the rising sun dispels the darkness of the night, it renews the assurance of salvation day by day. The chasing away of night tells anew from sun to sun the story of redemption.
Judah's weeping prophet saw in the gushing spring an emblem of the Saviour. He is a “Fountain of living waters.” Jer. 2:13. Often as he quenched his thirst at the stream that came from the rock, his mind would appropriate the truth regarding the Spirit of life.
To the seer of Patmos, the shining in their seasons of each “morning star”—Jupiter, Mars, Venus, and Saturn—was an emblem of Christ the Lord. Rev. 22:16. As the herald came to view, it told the lone apostle that day was dawning. The shining planet was heaven's banner leading the day up the eastern steep of the sky. As the Lord's servant watched earth's shadows recede, he beheld in the day-star a figure of Jesus bringing life to men out of earth's dark night.
The devout student of nature sees in the “rose of Sharon” and the “lily of the valley” an object-lesson setting forth the beauty of character possessed by the Lord. The blooming althea among the graceful shrubs speaks to his mind of the rich grace which adorned the life of the Carpenter of Nazareth.
Christ said of himself, “I am the true vine.” All branches of this Vine bear fruit. He is the “good olive tree.” He is that great Shepherd of the sheep, the one who owns all the sheep in every fold. He is priest, and he is king. He is man's peace and joy. He is man's song and exceeding great reward. He is a father, helper, brother, creator, redeemer, and everlasting father. He is wisdom, sanctification, righteousness, and redemption. He is “alpha,” the beginning, and “omega,” the ending, the source and the sun of all things.
An impressive emblem of the Lord's care for his creatures is found in the rainbow. After the flood of waters had receded from the earth, the Lord placed a bow in the heavens which spoke of safety. As he displayed it, he said, “This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud; and I will remember my covenant, which is between me and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.” Gen. 9:12-15, R. V. The shining of the sun through the falling rain-drops makes the bow, but there must be a cloud to produce rain, else the bow is not seen.
But there is another bow more brilliant than the colors of the arch which follows the receding storm, which the pen of inspiration likens to the rainbow. The prophet describes it as “the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain.” Eze. 1:28. John in vision beheld the same glory, and said, “Behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne: . . . and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.” Rev. 4:2, 3. The emerald is one of the precious stones, and is greatly prized for the purity and richness of its coloring of green or bluish green.
The bow that radiates from the throne has behind it a cloud intensifying the glory. “For,” says the Lord, “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee. Sing, O ye heavens, for Jehovah hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth; break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for Jehovah hath redeemed Jacob, and will glorify himself in Israel.” Isa. 44:22, 23, A. R. V. Once more he speaks, saying, “Thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption; for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.” Isa. 38:17. These sins are dark clouds which have spent their fury, but in the horizon they point toward the fleeing gale. The Lord has so ordered nature that man can look upon the bow of promise, and see in it an emblem of eternal peace. The bow in the heaven is to man a bright symbol of the everlasting covenant, a visible illustration of his salvation. It is hung out in plain view for all to study. It announces that the storm has abated, and that the sun is shining again. It is the Lord's memorial of peace, a variegated banner of love stretching across the sky, a token in the window of heaven inviting us home.
Chicago, Ill.