Biblical Imagery: The Metaphorical Symbols of the Holy Spirit

Ezekiel saw a vision of the future temple of God where the water of life was flowing like a river. John also saw the vision of the river of life. “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him” (Revelation 22:1-3). With the new heaven and new earth comes the fulfillment of the biblical prophecy concerning the restoration of creation. The new city fills the earth and the Spirit is the source of the new life. For, “Where the river flows everything will live” (Ezekiel 47:9).

Water imagery is often found in the lyrics of our songs. We sing about the early and latter rain, about moving deeper into the river, about the showers of God raining down upon us. Pentecostal identity has been shaped by the water imagery of the early and latter rain (Joel 2:23), and this water imagery continues to spill out in our contemporary songs of praise. The early and latter rain was understood to be the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit. “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy” (Acts 2:17-18).

We should expect to experience the pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon our lives. We find life and refreshment in the Spirit of God. I pray that the Lord would send the latter rains, because we are living in the last days. How we need a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit to soften our hearts. We need the rain to water the seed of life implanted by the Word so that the fruit of the Spirit would grow. We must allow the living water to overflow out of our lives in order to share it with others. This will only happen when we are drenched in the Spirit—we need the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Interestingly, the primary symbols of the Holy Spirit dramatically coalesce in the event of Pentecost (Acts 2). Prior to Pentecost, Jesus ascended in the cloud of glory. At Pentecost, wind came from heaven; tongues of fire danced upon God’s people; the Holy Spirit was poured out, and they spoke in tongues as the Spirit gave the utterance. This event marks the beginning of a new era. The Spirit has been poured out upon the faithful followers of Jesus. The prophetic promises are being fulfilled, yet the invitation still remains. The invitation that the apostle Peter extended to the observers of the miracle of Pentecost was not just for them but also for us.”Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:38-39). I pray that you will experience the fullness of the Spirit in your life.

Tags: Biblical, featured, holy, imagery, metaphorical, spirit, symbols

Category: Spirit, Summer 2011