Analogies in the Psalms

Earlier this year I wrote a paper that focused on the disadvantages of using metaphors and similes in scientific writing. To briefly summarize my argument, I feel that analogies, although engaging, can divert attention from the core principles of a theory. Furthermore, analogies can be downright distracting. However, one of the things that struck me most as I was reading the book of Psalms was the artistic use of metaphor and language to describe intense religious emotions and experiences. Many of these analogies reminded me of the works that we studied earlier this year in Freshman Studies (particularly Chaung Tzu), and I would like to do a more thorough examination of the purpose and function of the analogies in the book of Psalms.

The first Psalm contains a simple yet elegant simile: “And he shall be like a tree planted by streams of water, that bears its fruits in its season, and its leaf does not wither- and in all that he does he prospers. Not so the wicked, but like chaff that the wind drives away” (4). This imagery of one seed being guided by a river to a favorable destiny as opposed to a solitary seed being battered around in a hostile environment directly connects to the underlying ethic found in the Psalms; one cannot survive without the guidance and beneficence of the LORD (YHWH), and those who discard their beliefs will be subject to the cruelties of the world.

Another analogy that struck me as particularly powerful is found in Psalm 42: “As a deer yearns for streams of water, so I yearn for You, O God” (148). This simple sentence conveys the intense desire and primal thirst that man feels for god; the god-shaped vacuum that I mentioned earlier this year. Similarly, the seemingly unfair prosperity of evildoers is explained by Psalm 37: “Do not be incensed by evildoers. Do not envy those who do wrong. For like grass they will quickly wither and like green grass they will fade.” Simply saying that bad people will eventually get their comeuppance is not as strong as the visual imagery of seemingly-flourishing grass quickly dying and losing all of its attractive color.

The purpose that these analogies serve is simultaneously simple and complex. On a baser level, they are generally quite appealing and beautiful; I was initially drawn to these specific lines because of their engaging traits. Indeed, this is one of the main reasons that I feel metaphors are not as appropriate in scientific texts. However, the analogies found in the book of Psalms also express human emotion and qualitative aspects of life in a way that would otherwise be difficult or impossible. One cannot quantize a desire for God in a consistent manner; every individual’s experience and perception is different. However, by using elegant analogies, the authors of the Psalms express abstract human emotion and thought in a way that is much more accessible and engaging than any other method that comes to my mind. Much like the analogies found in Chuang Tzu’s Basic Writing, I feel that the analogies in the book of Psalms strengthens the overall text and makes it more accessible.