Symbolic Acts – Discussion Starters
- Symbols in Scripture. Are you ever amazed by how many symbols we see in Scripture? Isn’t there also a good share of realism in Scripture? Have you ever heard the plaintive plea from a class member, “Is this symbolic or real?” especially while studying final events through the prism of Biblical prophecy? And have you ever received a rich blessing from studying—and applying—the rich symbolism of Scripture to God’s plan to save us?
- Truth in symbols. Why do you think your lesson authors divert from the study of Jeremiah in order to present the importance of symbolism in the Bible? What is it about salvation that brings the term “plan” to bear? Is salvation a plan we hope for but may never see? What is the greatest symbol in all Scripture of the plan of salvation? What is the most important lesson that the Israelites learned from the sanctuary service? Did the people of Old Testament times understand the plan of salvation in the same way that we do? What important differences are there?
- The Potter’s Clay. How strong do you think Jeremiah’s desire was to give up when he was persecuted for obeying God and reaching out to his fellow human beings? What primary message did God give Jeremiah by means in his trip to the potter’s house? If we could be more like the clay in the potter’s hands and could see the potter’s hands as the hands of God, what would happen in our church? Our neighborhood? Our family? Our hearts? How long does God take to respond when His people turn from their evil ways and choose to follow Him? Does God have a desire just as intense for us today to become like clay in His hands as He did in the time of Jeremiah?
- Judah forsakes God. How complete was the rebellion of the people of Judah against God? What was the effect of their degenerate attitude on the people as a whole? What could be worse than seeing God’s people sacrifice their own children to an evil spirit? If you and I are totally turned off by such a practice, how do you suppose God feels? How hard was it for the people of the tribe of Judah to turn so completely against the teachings of God? Do we sometimes find it easy to accept certain sinful practices or language of those who do not care to obey God? Can God change our longing within us to be more like the worldly minded among us?
- Smashing the jar. Why was the potter’s wheel an ideal place for the people of Judah to learn the value of following God? Imagine for a minute what the clay jar God asked Jeremiah to break looked like. Was it pretty? Smooth? Solid? Who watched while Jeremiah smashed the jar to bits? Can you imagine hearing their gasps as the pieces mingled among the dirt and trash? Did they know a sure way to fix the jar? How did the bits and scraps of that broken pottery jar symbolize the people of Judah? Were they lost forever? Was there still a shred of hope if they would repent?
- The linen belt. Have you observed how Jeremiah’s preaching ranges from one object lesson to another? Now God tells Jeremiah to find a linen sash and stash it in a hole in a rock by the Euphrates River. Yes, He does. After Jeremiah stashes the sash in the rock, many days go by before he hears from God about this again. What does God tell Jeremiah to do? After digging in the muddy banks of the river, does he find the sash? What is its condition? What is the object lesson for Judah’s people? What about us? Are we ever eager to follow the ways of the ungodly? Do we prefer to go by what we think is right rather than by what God commands? What is the result of a self-centered lifestyle? Or a religion that ignores God and His will for us?
- Symbolism in the church. Should we seek out the meaning of symbols in Scripture? How should we do that? Have you ever talked with someone who is baffled by the irony of an infinite and all-powerful God allowing sin to exist? I remember being in a circle of people from church while a faithful, long-term member of the church lay dying in another room. One of the members spoke up. “Someone here has sin in his heart. If not, she would be healed.” Should we love people with mixed up feelings like that? And reach out to them? Did God ever stop loving His rebellious children of the tribe of Judah? Did He ever stop requiring obedience to His commands of mercy and love?
We believe in a God that we cannot hear, see, taste, touch, or smell. There is no measuring tape, telescope, ultrasound device, infrared spectrometer, gamma ray detector, or gravity inteferometer that can determine the physical characteristics of God. That does not mean that there is no God. It simply means that our devices don’t work when it comes to God.
Seeing so much of our experience is based on our senses, or on the measuring devices that are really only an extension of our senses, it comes as no surprise that a lot of what we know about God comes in the form of symbolism.
We often use symbols to explain concepts that are difficult to express otherwise. For example, we use the Greek letter pi to represent the circumference/diameter ratio of a circle because we cannot represent it exactly in our number systems. The number exists but our expression of it fails so we represent it with a symbol. (Every mathematician knows exactly what I mean)
God is a big idea! And our language fails miserably in expressing God. The Bible writers resort to using symbols and metaphors to describe God and God’s will for us. Some of these symbols are physical objects, others are activities such as feasts and ceremonies. Many of them have become cultural icons, and sometimes it is difficult for us to separate the representation and the iconic status. It is important in any study of symbolism to understand the big idea behind the symbol and its limitation. Sometimes we become so engrossed in the symbolism that we forget the big idea. For example Foot-washing at communion is an example of humility, but living humility is much more important that an action in a church service 4 times a year. There is no point in doing foot washing without living humility. We call that hypocrisy!
If a symbol draws us to the big idea it is still relevant. If it replaces the big idea, it has become an idol.
Great illustration indeed Maurice, thank you, l especially liked the one on foot washing
God uses symbol so we can understand but i want to comment on the lady that says it is because someone is having sin in him that is why the prayers are not been answered. To me she is not totally wrong afterall the bible say when we have iniquity ibour heart he will not hear us and if we have faith so small as a mustard seed we will move mountains. So does that mean that there are times our faith does not matter to God. it does matters to God but we need to know when to surrender to his absolute will. just as Jesus did when he asked let this cup pass over me but not my will but thine