Lesson 15

Scripture and the Imagination

Mike Freeman speaks of contemplating the Word of God as going beyond an intellectual level.
Materials Needed
First, read the following passages in your Bible: Genesis chapter 16, and Galatians 4:19-31.
This handout, in order to take notes and record your take-aways.
(Optional) Something to draw, write, doodle, or create with while you listen. You can pause the video
as needed if inspiration strikes you. (Sometimes inspiration happens when artists listen to Mike Freeman.)
The Three Angles of Ministry, according to Eugene Petersons Book Working the Angles

1.
2.
3.
Definition of Exegesis:

In Herman Melvilles White Jacket, what was Doctor Cuticles big mistake?

Lesson 15

Scripture and the Imagination

Practitioners of exegesis sometimes view anything beyond the literal text

as isogesis and often pay it little heed to it, or regard it with suspicion.
This is unfortunate.
Yashanet.com, a Messianic (Christ-following) Liturgical Jewish website

The Hebrew Scriptures, including the New Testament books, carry different layers of interpretation that
must be taken into account, beyond their directly obvious meaning. Below was the method used to write
and interpret Scripture by the Jewish authors themselves, and well understood to their audience in their
time and culture.
PARDES (PRDS)
The four level of interpretation are called: Parshat, Remez, Drash & Sod. The first letter of each word P-RD-S is taken, and vowels are added for pronunciation, giving the word PARDES (meaning garden or orchard). Each layer is deeper than the last, like the layers of an onion.
1. THE OBVIOUS: Pshat (pronounced peh-shaht - meaning simple):
The plain, simple meaning of the text in its natural, normal sense using the customary meanings of
the words being used, literary style, historical and cultural setting, and context. Excellent work,
kindergartener!
2. THE HINT: Remez (pronounced reh-mez - meaning hint):
Another (implied) meaning is alluded to in the text, usually revealing a universal truth or deeper
meaning. An example is Proverbs 20:10 - Different weights, and different measures, both of them are
alike an abomination to the Lord. The pshat would be concerned with a merchant using the same scale
to weigh goods for all of his customers. The remez implies that this goes beyond this into aspects of
fairness and honesty in anyones life, beyond literal market scales that weigh food.
3. THE QUEST: Drash (pronounced deh-rahsh):
The teaching or exposition or application of the Pshat and/or Remez. (In some cases this could be
considered comparable to a sermon.) For instance, Biblical writers may take two or more unrelated verses and combine them to create a third application. A drash understanding cannot be used to
strip a passage of its pshat meaning, nor may any such understanding contradict the pshat meaning
of any other scripture passage. As the Talmud states, No passage loses its pshat. Let scripture
interpret scripture.
4. THE SECRET: Sod (pronounced sawd [like God] or sood [like wood] - meaning hidden)
A hidden meaning of a text. An example would be Yeshuas command in Matthew 26:28 - Then He
took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them saying, Drink from it all of you, This is my blood
... Taken literally, this verse verse would not only be a violation of the Torah commandment against
consuming blood, but could be grounds for accusations of cannibalism. There is a far deeper, more
mystical meaning here (the sod). Even his disciples did not understand it (John 6:52).

Lesson 15

Scripture and the Imagination

Humans Operate on 3 Basic Levels: (and we need to integrate these areas)

1.

2.

3.

Next Video: Jessies Thoughts

Some Limits in Our Art and Our Imaginations

1. Artistic (limits of the medium itself, limits of our abilities) ...a lot depends on context.
- Community gives us training, inspiration, and grace, allowing us to continually push our artistic limits.
2. Spiritual (we are not omniscient!)
- Community gives accountability in Truth, and support in prayer.

Jessies advice for Scripture and the Imagination?

1) Pray....
2) Ask others to pray for you as you get ready to create.... and
3) wait on the Lords leading and His presence as you dwell on Gods Word.

DO NOT FEAR. If ideas dont come, let go and try again later. Ask God for the gift of His presence and creativity in your encounter with scripture, but remember: Your worth will never be determined by ANYTHING that
you do or dont create. His love for you is unearned. And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.