RePost Figures of Speech

From Previous Post: Friday, April 19, 2013

Figures of Speech

Excerpt from Bullinger's King James Version Companion Bible Appendix 6:

It is most important to notice these [figures of speech].  It is absolutely necessary for true interpretation.  God's Word is made up of "words which the Holy Ghost teacheth" (I Cor 2:13, I Thess 2:13, II Tim 3:16, II Pet 1:21, etc.).  

A "Figure of speech" relates to the form in which the words are used.  It consists in the fact that a word or words are used out of their ordinary sense, or place, or manner, for the purpose of attracting our attention to what is thus said.  A Figure of speech is a designed and legitimate departure from the laws of language, in order to emphasise what is said.  Hence in such Figures we have the Holy Spirit's own marking, so to speak, of His own words.

This peculiar form or unusual  manner may not be true, or so true, to the literal meaning of the words; but it is more true to their real sense, and truer to truth.

Figures are never used but for the sake of emphasis.  They can never, therefore, be ignored.  Ignorance of Figures of speech has led to the grossest errors, which have been caused either from taking literally what is figurative, or from taking figuratively what is literal.

The Greeks and Romans named some hundreds of such figures.  The only work on Biblical Figures of speech in the English language is by Dr. Bullinger, from which we have taken the whole of the information given here as well as in the marginal notes [of the Bullinger's KJV Companion Bible].  He has classified some 217 separate figures (some of them with many varieties or subdivisions), and has given over 8,000 illustrations.

Why do I mention any of this?  If you are not already aware of it, then now you are...and if you do not realize the enormity this plays in so many misunderstandings from the manuscripts then you soon will.  As we go along in our studies, I will point out these Figures of Speech and their meanings. 

Israel ... God's Firstborn

In follow up to my Posts on the first Passover in Egypt and the reason for God killing the Egyptians' firstborns in the final plague: The purpose for killing the Egyptians' firstborns was two fold. First, it was because God's firstborn were being killed by the Egyptians and followed the "eye for an eye" justice. Second, it was a testament that if the Israelites followed God's instructions regarding the death angel passing over them, then their firstborns would be saved.

Exodus 4:22-23 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, 'Thus saith the Lord, 'Israel is My son, even My firstborn: And I say unto thee 'Let My son go, that he may serve Me:' and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.'"

Moses was saved at God's direction when Pharoah was having all the firstborn Hebrew males killed, and God saved all of Israel from Pharoah's enslavement through the Exodus.

First Passover In Egypt
The Plagues 'n' Vials

Books Of The Bible

The Books of the Bible are in canonical order, not in chronological order. If in chronological order, then the Book of Job would be the first Book as it is the oldest. The initial chapters of Genesis dealing with Creation predate the events of Job, but were written through Moses much later. Moses was a young man already in Midian when Job died, and predated Moses return and exodus from Egypt.

There are many ways in which to read the Books of the Bible. If you have only read them in canonical order, then give reading it in chronological order and see how it provides you with a better historical overlay. 

Be A Doer Of God's Word

Romans 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

It neither matters to what heritage or country you are born, or how much you read Scriptures. It only matters what you "do" with what you know and understand through study of God's Word that matters to be "justified".

Romans 5:1-5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By Whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts --by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us. 

Through faith we believe upon Jesus Christ who died for our sins. By faith we study God's Word given to us for instruction. Through study we should act to be justified. Through all these we gain patience, experience, and hope. 

A brief interlude from study to share Posts from my Very Effective Living Blog (http://veryeffectiveliving.blogspot.com/) and suggest that both blogs walk hand in hand with living God's Word and instruction. If you haven't yet visited the site, please click over and give it a look. I have the two separate sites so not to intertwine my personal life experiences with that of the study of God's Word in one place. However, my perspective on the Very Effective Living Blog definitely stems from my understanding and following of God's Word and His very detailed instructions to us on how to live and serve Him.

Seek & You Shall Find

So here's an interesting thought: Do you "seek" love or do you just "want" love? Huh? Well, look at it this way...Jesus is available to us at any time, but He isn't going to knock the door down as He has instructed us the "if" in the relationship is that we have to act by seeking, knocking. Whatever situation you find yourself in, do you lament it and just desire it, or do you consider it and then act on it...for it? Perhaps it's not something to seek or act on once considered, so the consideration of any situation is the necessary first step whether it be work, friends, family, intimate relationship. After careful consideration of situation, desires, wants, needs, motives, then action is required. Waiting around to be served is never going to serve you well. Appropriate, positive forward motion in action however will. Seeking someone or something out involves healthy boundaries, impeccability with ones word, and not being just about self in application of the Golden Rule to successfully achieve any kind of desired outcome. 

What Is Discernment?

Discernment is the ability to decide between truth and error, right or wrong. To use discernment about a situation or a person is to observe and assess what is real from what is false, what is okay and what is not okay. Discernment is not "judgment" but judging the particulars to decide if it is real or false. Judgment of someone or something is the negative action tantamount to gossip or condemnation. Who are you to judge or criticize another? Usually in one's "judgment" of another, they are truly judging what is wrong within themselves. Listening to someone's judgmental "opinions" tells you a lot about that individual....and that my friends is discernment.

Very Effective Living

Your life's journey is not about who you were yesterday or who you wish you are today/tomorrow, but rather about how and who you are evolving into moment by moment. Very Effective Living offers thoughtful and insightful tips on being your own Life Coach! Embrace you every day, and acknowledge the good with the bad. Be happy with where you are in the present and you will arrive with much more ease at your destinations in the future.

If .... Thens

If you do "abc", Then (and only then) will God do "xyz". If you do not do "abc", Then God will not only not do "xyz", but will follow through with the consequences outlined. So often folks look at the promises of God without looking at the if/then of those very promises. His promises are only upheld, if we do what He stipulates as our end of the promise.

Deuteronomy 4:29-31 But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find Him, if thou seek Him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shalt be obedient unto His voice; (For the Lord thy God is a merciful God); He will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which He sware unto them.

These are the promises based upon God's people doing their part of the covenant (contract ... agreement). Deuteronomy 4:23-28 gives the flip side of this promise and that if not done, the consequence is that God will "call heaven and earth to witness against you."

God's promises are never empty. His covenants (all of them) have been and will be fulfilled based on our actions and us keeping our part of the contract. God has also provided the consequences to us not honoring our contract, and has proven those to have been fulfilled accordingly as well. Leviticus 26 outlines poignantly both the if/then promises and the if not/then consequences (consequences start with the "But" in verse 14).

Metal Testing

God teaches us discipline in all things. He allows us room to grow and to be the best we can be; and when we go astray, He has means for getting us back on track. In all cases, we have the ability for growth and blessings.

John 15:1-2 I am the true vine, and My Father is the Husbandman. Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

Think about that for a moment in light of The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30). We are the many member body (branches) of Christ, and if we are not producing good fruit, God will take away and trim us. Even when we produce good fruit, we get harvested so as to produce more fruit. Being tested and growing stronger and more productive in Christ is a blessing in and of itself. Jeremiah 6:26-30 If our metal (silver) isn't up to snuff, then we will be rejected or refined.

Deuteronomy 8:5 Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee.

Hebrews 12:5-6 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, "My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him: For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth."

I Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

God allows us to be tested and tempted by Satan and the world. The tools for which we succeed are in the discipline we gain through His Word and growth from having our metal tested/proofed. James 1:12-18 / I Thessalonians 2:11

Psalms 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalms 94:12-14 and Proverbs 3:11-12