Literal & Symbolic

A while back I posted a quote & a few thoughts on how bits of the Bible can be both literal and symbolic at the same time.

Here's a non-Biblical example:

Her majesty was all ablaze
She was burning hot but not consumed
Our shoes removed in that holy place
In the hallowed ground of the living room

~Andrew Peterson (The Queen of Iowa)

This is obviously symbolic. It is likening the woman to the burning bush - expressing the fact that he was aware of the presence of God in the room.*

It is, however, also literal. She was running a high fever, and they had to remove their shoes before entering the room to prevent infection.*

If Andrew Peterson can write something that is poetic and symbolic and literal, I'm willing to bet God can.

Btw here's the song. If it sounds like a song about a woman dying of AIDS would be depressing, it's not!

Also, I love what he does with the rhymes.

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*I picked up these facts from various places on the internet but can't be bothered to link :-)