When I read C.S. Lewis I get stretched out of shape in good ways. Lately, I been stretched because of a Daily Reading book we bought; I desired to make an analogy for the Christian Bible. Types, shadows, and metaphors of the Old Testament being seen and used in the New Testament are nothing new in my writings. Jesus quoted and used many examples from the Hebrew Scriptures when He taught; Him using parables relates to “God concealing a matter and kings having to search them out”. Proverbs and Ecclesiastes are like Jesus’ parables, in that they can have several layers of applications. Paul uses terms that talk of types and shadows and relied on them frequently in his writings. St. Augustine of Hippo saw a clear connection and is credited with saying, “The new is concealed in the old and the old is revealed in the new.”

Personally, I tend to over think analogies. I want them perfect and applicable no matter how I come at the topic; that does not always work. As my thoughts poured in, I had to reject some and put others in a holding pattern. Well, here are some attempts, yes, some I could not use.

A Watershed – When this first bubbled up I thought it was pretty good. Many branches (the 39 OT books) all flowing down to one center point and joining together, the river. I let this one keep on flowing for several reasons, mostly because it sounded too much like “there is more than one path to god”. (The small “g” was on purpose.)

A Flashlight – This bright idea has promise. The Old Testament is the power source, the bulb is Jesus, and He shines out as the New Testament.

The one I am working with is:

An Orchestra – Yes, this is a work in progress. I see my Bible as three sections: the 39 books of the Old Testament, 4 Gospels, and 23 Church books. If your Bible book has the Apocrypha, just keep Jesus as the Conductor.  

• The 39 instruments are all playing the same piece of music. Each adds a distinctive sound that is in harmony with the other instruments.
• Jesus/God is the conductor who directs them, as they all face Him. The Gospels share the baton in bringing out the harmonious sound. Jesus ties those instruments together as the melody “flows through Him” to the audience.
• The Tomb and the Resurrection add a very Christian nuance to this analogy. Jesus went in “one way” and “came out another”. I am thinking the Conductor would turn around, with the Orchestra still playing, so He is facing and directing the “Church”.
• The final 23 Books and the Church are facing Jesus and following His leading and they are listening to the same song from the Orchestra. JESUS IS LORD, not your denomination. The writers of those last Books had ONE Composer. I believe there are people in every denomination following the Conductor and doing their best to be in harmony with Him. The Father will direct the angels to harvest out the people-weeds and thorny-doctrines to burn them up.
• I have two talented musicians in my family, who have been given the gift of being able to play by ear and they can read sheet music. (When I have tried playing with my ear, all I accomplished was hurting my head.) They “hear more” (different things) in a song than I do. I agree with the writers of those last 27 books; weeds and thorns have snuck into the Church and have caused no end of problems.  

Analogies are useful teaching tools, that may allow you to show relationships. I am not sure that making analogies doctrines are a good idea. When you stop and take the time to think on the things of God and compare your thoughts to His Words, that is righteousness.

Did I extend my orchestra analogy to its full extent? No, I could compare the Books of the First Testament to specific musical instruments. With more study, I could bring in notes, chords, scales, and other musical things that are represented in a written musical work.

Could I make Watershed work? Sure, but I feel I would have to do a lot of parameters that might detract from the lesson. Who knows, I might get over myself and give it a try.  

Analogies are related to types and shadows, so here are some references: Shadows– Colossians 2:17, Hebrews 10:1 (See G4639 Strong’s); Types– Romans 5:14, Hebrews 11:19. Terms may vary with the translation.