Have you ever read the Bible and wondered about the symbolism? Some people erroneously claim that everything in the Bible is literal. However, while divinely inspired, the Bible also uses literary techniques such as similes, metaphors, and hyperbole. But what if I told you that some symbolism in Scripture could be literal?
For example, consider what Psalm 69:34 says:
Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and all that move in them.
This verse calls for all creation to praise the Lord. That includes all the animals, trees, plants, rocks, water, and everything else you can think of! Obviously, when we reflect on Psalm 69:34, it's not saying that all creation should or even can literally praise the Lord. But is that true?
If Psalm 69:34 were the only verse or one of just a few, we might conclude it is symbolic. But let's take a closer look at this idea. Considering that the Bible contains verses that refer to all creation praising God, we might start to wonder. Consider these verses:
Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths.
This is just one verse from Psalm 148, where the subject matter is all creation praising God.
Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.
In this verse from Isaiah, the heavens and earth can't possibly shout or rejoice. Right? Indeed, the mountains can't burst into song either. Yet, the point behind this celebration is to praise God.
These are a few verses that refer to creation praising God, but if you've read the Bible, you know that a primary theme is that all creation, including us, should glorify God. Why is that?
All creation praises God because God made it!
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
These verses reveal our Creator as the Lord Almighty.
Since God made everything, why did he make it? Isaiah 43 gives us this insight:
I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth-everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made" (emphasis added).
God formed creation so it could bring him glory. Like the theme of all creation praising God, the theme of praising God is also found throughout the Bible.
Having explored creation's role in praising God, let's consider how it does so. Consider what Jesus said in John regarding our love for him:
"If you love me, keep my commands."
We reveal our love for God when we obey him. If our love is revealed by our obedience, is it any different for the rest of creation? Consider this observation about Jesus:
The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!" (emphasis added)
Even the very elements obey the Lord. In fact, when you think about it, everything in creation except us inherently obeys God by doing exactly what he created it to do. Water is always wet, the wind blows, clouds billow, and gravity never takes a break.
Therefore, we can say that creation literally praises God by obeying him. Considering that all creation obeys the Lord, we should obey God too because who among us wants to be outdone by a tree or even a rock? Indeed, consider what our Lord told the Pharisees when they complained about his disciples praising him:
"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."
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