THE IMPORTANCE OF SYMBOLISM IN SCRIPTURE
The Bible is a colourful book. It was written mostly by people with Hebrew language,
culture, and background, just as God ordained. They wrote God’s word using the
machinery of their languages to express the truth under the inspiration and
direction of the Holy Spirit.
2 Peter 1:19-21 NLT
[19] “Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the
message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they
wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day
dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts. [20] Above all, you
must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own
understanding, [21] or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by
the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.”
One of the colourful ways which the Holy Spirit uses to express God’s truth is
symbolism. Many different pictures convey to us spiritual truths which are
difficult for us otherwise to understand.
The dictionary definition of a symbol…
“A thing that stands for or represents something else especially a
material object representing something abstract.”
Since symbolism is an important part of God’s inspired word, symbols describe
and explain truths as they are. We are not permitted to add to or alter anything
written in God’s Word without serious consequences.
Deuteronomy 4:2 NLT
[2]”Do not add to or subtract from these commands I am giving you. Just
obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you.”
Revelation 22:18-19 NLT
[18] “And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy
written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will
add to that person the plagues described in this book. [19] And if anyone
removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that
person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in
this book.”
So, Jesus used the symbols of bread and wine to represent His death for us in
the New Covenant.
Among the many hundreds of symbols in the Bible, I found one that challenges a
common practice among people today, including believers. I refer to the
practice of cremation.
Cremation is probably the method of choice to dispose of a body for practical
purposes. Burial grounds take up real estate. How much easier to dispose of
ashes than a body in a casket!
However, are we as God’s children to consider what Scripture says about
cremation versus burial by the symbols it uses?
An incident recorded in Exodus comes to mind that clinches the deal for me.
When Israel was desperate for water, God instructed Moses to strike the rock
from which, when he obeyed, copious water flowed.
Once again, later, the Israelites rebelled and demanded water. God instructed
Moses to speak to the rock. However, Moses was so angry with the people that he
struck the rock as he had done before, twice.
Numbers 20:9-11 NLT
[9] “So Moses did as he was told. He took the staff from the place where
it was kept before the Lord. [10] Then he and Aaron summoned the people to come
and gather at the rock. “Listen, you rebels!” he shouted. “Must we bring you
water from this rock?” [11] Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock
twice with the staff, and water gushed out. So the entire community and their
livestock drank their fill.”
Now, God was angry with Moses, so angry in fact that He forbade Moses entry
into the Promised Land.
What was so significant about Moses’ action that it brought judgment on him?
Was it because he lost his temper with Israel? Was it because he disobeyed
God’s instruction?
Paul answers the question for us.
1 Corinthians 10:1-2 NLT
[1] “I don’t want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, about our
ancestors in the wilderness long ago. All of them were guided by a cloud that
moved ahead of them, and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground. [2]
In the cloud and in the sea, all of them were baptized as followers of Moses.
[4] and all of them drank the same spiritual water. For they drank from the
spiritual rock that travelled with them, and that rock was Christ.”
Israel’s journey through the wilderness is often used as a symbol of our
journey through life. The first “rock” incident in the wilderness
symbolised, for Israel, the smitten Rock, Jesus, who provides the living water
for His people by His death.
By striking the rock twice, Moses confused the symbolism. God judged him for
that!
There is significant symbolism in the New Covenant for the death and burial of
believers, in the picture of a seed.
Firstly, Jesus Himself used the symbolism of a seed to explain His own death
and resurrection.
John 12:23-24 NLT
[23] “Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter
his glory. [24] I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in
the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new
kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives.”
in a lengthy explanation, Paul picks up on this symbolism in 1 Corinthians 15 …
1 Corinthians 15:35-38 NLT
[35] But someone may ask, “How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies
will they have?” [36] What a foolish question! When you put a seed into the
ground, it doesn’t grow into a plant unless it dies first. [37] And what you
put in the ground is not the plant that will grow, but only a bare seed of
wheat or whatever you are planting. [38] Then God gives it the new body he
wants it to have. A different plant grows from each kind of seed….
[42] It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies
are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever.
[43] Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory.
They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. [44] They are
buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies.
For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies….
[46] What comes first is the natural body, then the spiritual body comes later.
[47] Adam, the first man, was made from the dust of the earth, while Christ,
the second man, came from heaven. [48] Earthly people are like the earthly man,
and heavenly people are like the heavenly man. [49] Just as we are now like the
earthly man, we will someday be like the heavenly man. [50] What I am saying,
dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the
Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever. [51]
But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will
all be transformed!”
How clear is that!
By contrast, fire is the symbol of the way in which the bodies of evil doers
were dispatched. Outside Jerusalem, the Valley of Hinnom, from which the Greek
word “gehenna” was derived, was the rubbish dump where garbage and
bodies were burned. This fire never went out!
Revelation 20:10 NLT
[10] “Then the devil, who had deceived them (unbelievers), was thrown into
the fiery lake of burning sulphur, joining the beast and the false prophet.
There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
Does this mean that cremation confuses this symbolism of a seed just as
Moses’ action messed with the symbolism of Jesus, the smitten Rock?
Only we can answer that question for ourselves through an honest evaluation of
the truth of God’s Word.