Thank you for the question, Mary. It is true generally that a literal interpretation is necessary to correctly interpret the Bible. However, the Psalms are mostly poetry, and as such many of their meanings are meant to be figurative. In my post, I said “Like all poetry, the words and images are suggestive and symbolic, not literal.” For example, Psalm 17:8 states, “Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings” this should be interpreted symbolically to represent God's protection and care for us, rather than literally meaning that we are apples in God's eyes or that God has physical wings. This figurative interpretation conveys the idea of being cherished and sheltered by God and would be the correct interpretation. Again, thank you for you question.
“The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not believe in Me, to sanctify Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you will not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.’”— Numbers 20:12🙏
What do you mean by "...not literal?"
Thank you for the question, Mary. It is true generally that a literal interpretation is necessary to correctly interpret the Bible. However, the Psalms are mostly poetry, and as such many of their meanings are meant to be figurative. In my post, I said “Like all poetry, the words and images are suggestive and symbolic, not literal.” For example, Psalm 17:8 states, “Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings” this should be interpreted symbolically to represent God's protection and care for us, rather than literally meaning that we are apples in God's eyes or that God has physical wings. This figurative interpretation conveys the idea of being cherished and sheltered by God and would be the correct interpretation. Again, thank you for you question.
“The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not believe in Me, to sanctify Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you will not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.’”— Numbers 20:12🙏