“In order to communicate truth, most of the times, humans use prose…full sentences, complete paragraphs, linear logic. Prose is fine for propositional truth or for flat, mundane things…But, at times, in order to move people to change and communicate the most profound truths of the human condition, humans have needed to go beyond prose, to parable, prophecy, and poetry,” says Rolf Jacobson, Dean of the Faculty, Professor of Old Testament, and the Alvin N. Rogness Chair of Scripture, Theology and Ministry at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. Jacobson continues, “This distinction is true when it comes to biblical truth as well…To communicate God’s character and God’s agency, divine salvation and spiritual healing, at times the Bible needs to speak in parables or prophetic visions, or poetry. Because where prose describes, poetry evokes.” Listen as Jacobson explains how Psalm 30 “offers just such evocative proclamations of divine salvation.”
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