Interpretation and the Psalms

Book 2 of On Christian Teaching focuses strongly on how the holy scriptures should go about being interpreted. One of the points I found to be extremely important, especially considering all of the analogies that exist in the holy texts, is that, "Ignorance of things makes figurative expressions unclear..."(44) St. Augustine goes on to describe how knowing the qualities of the snake would enable a reader of the scriptures to make connections between them and the message trying to be portrayed. For example, when suggested by the Lord that man be as wise as snakes, it may seem like a strange comment. However, when considering that the snake sheds it's skin, a new conclusion can be made, that the Lord intended for humans to do away with old ways of thinking and believe in the current.

This concept can obviously be tied in with the interpreting of the Psalms. The many analogies and metaphors that exist in the text including things such as rocks, shields, the sea-god, fortresses, etc. which would have no meaning if the significance of each item was not known to the reader, provide insight into the intended message of the Psalm writer. For instance we know that a shield is used to block harmful objects, in the way that God is said to protect the just from the unjust. This concept is overall extremely important if one wishes to be able to understand the content to the fullest extent.