October 21st, 2024
Poetic Devices for God's Glory
by Jonathan Molengraf

I am sure some people read the title and had flashbacks of their high school English teacher belittling them because they could not identify a metaphor. While I am an English teacher, my hope is to not make you feel silly, but show you how these literary features glorify God. Let’s take a look at Isaiah 44:21-22 and see how God’s glory is being shown through a chiasmus and simile.
Chiasmus
Verse 21 employs a chiasmus structure, repeating words in reverse order like a mirror. This device appears throughout scripture, most famously in Matthew 19:30, “ But many who are first will be last, and the last first”. The word “first” we would label A and “last” we would label B. Thus, the structure is ABBA, which creates a reflective effect. Verse 21 does something similar:
A: Remember these things,
B: O Jacob, and Israel,
C: for you are my servant;
D: I formed you;
C: you are my servant;
B: O Israel,
A: you will not be forgotten by me.
The structure is ABCDCBA which emphasizes God’s love for his people. He first instructs us to remember what was previously stated: that idols are worthless. Then concludes by assuring us that He will not forget us—He will remember us. Notice, in the middle of this chiastic structure is the phrase, “I formed you”. This identification highlights how we have always belonged to God. Then the repetition reaffirms that God’s children will always belong to Him. Even if we revert to the folly of idolatry, we will still be His.
Simile
Similes are more familiar to us. I learned them from listening to rap music as a teenager. A simile figuratively compares two unlike things by using “like” or “as”. Verse 22 has two of them, “I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud / and your sins like mist”. God removes our sins in the same way a cloud or mist vanishes. Just as a cloud dissipates from the sky, so too does God remove our sins through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who paid the price for our transgressions.
Isaiah ends the verse with, “return to me, for I have redeemed you”. God has made our sins disappear, but that does not mean we should disappear from God. This is a false teaching known as antinomianism, which suggests we have license to live in sin since it has already been paid for. Instead, it is God’s kindness that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). God has a hold on us and all of the world's strongest men could not break His grip. We should not abuse this gift. For we are dead to our sins and should now glorify God as His new creation (Rom. 6:1-2, 1 Cor. 6:20, 2 Cor. 5:17).
Chiasmus
Verse 21 employs a chiasmus structure, repeating words in reverse order like a mirror. This device appears throughout scripture, most famously in Matthew 19:30, “ But many who are first will be last, and the last first”. The word “first” we would label A and “last” we would label B. Thus, the structure is ABBA, which creates a reflective effect. Verse 21 does something similar:
A: Remember these things,
B: O Jacob, and Israel,
C: for you are my servant;
D: I formed you;
C: you are my servant;
B: O Israel,
A: you will not be forgotten by me.
The structure is ABCDCBA which emphasizes God’s love for his people. He first instructs us to remember what was previously stated: that idols are worthless. Then concludes by assuring us that He will not forget us—He will remember us. Notice, in the middle of this chiastic structure is the phrase, “I formed you”. This identification highlights how we have always belonged to God. Then the repetition reaffirms that God’s children will always belong to Him. Even if we revert to the folly of idolatry, we will still be His.
Simile
Similes are more familiar to us. I learned them from listening to rap music as a teenager. A simile figuratively compares two unlike things by using “like” or “as”. Verse 22 has two of them, “I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud / and your sins like mist”. God removes our sins in the same way a cloud or mist vanishes. Just as a cloud dissipates from the sky, so too does God remove our sins through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who paid the price for our transgressions.
Isaiah ends the verse with, “return to me, for I have redeemed you”. God has made our sins disappear, but that does not mean we should disappear from God. This is a false teaching known as antinomianism, which suggests we have license to live in sin since it has already been paid for. Instead, it is God’s kindness that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). God has a hold on us and all of the world's strongest men could not break His grip. We should not abuse this gift. For we are dead to our sins and should now glorify God as His new creation (Rom. 6:1-2, 1 Cor. 6:20, 2 Cor. 5:17).
More from the blog:
What Rehoboam Teaches Us About Servant Leadership
October 6th, 2025
Rebellion is a common theme throughout human history. Nearly every nation has some event, either real or mythic, that depicts a righteous and rebellious force fighting for their dignity. Our own nation was born from a rebellion against British control and tax. 1 Kings 12 tells the story of Israel’s rebellion against King Rehoboam.When Rehoboam is named king of Israel, the Israelites ask him to “li...
Once-for-All Forgiveness: The Power and Promise of Redemption
September 29th, 2025
Paul begins the letter of Ephesians by blessing God for all of the blessings that He has blessed us with (1:3-14). One of those blessings is redemption. Redemption, as a secular term means “to secure the release or recovery of persons or things by paying a price.” However, in Christianity, redemption refers to the act of being saved through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. J...
When Envy Meets Eternity: Learning from Asaph in Psalm 73
September 23rd, 2025
‘Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.” Asaph iswrestling with this foundational truth. The observable world around him has stirredup a great storm within his soul.“Why do bad things happen to good people and why do good thingshappen to bad people?”The exact wording of this question is not found in scripture, but it aligns withthe thoughts and questions in Psalm 73 as well a...
Better Than Life
September 16th, 2025
As I write this, it is the first week of school. Before we begin rigorous lessons on algebraic equations or essay writing, we teachers spend the first week getting to know our students. We use games and activities to learn their names, interests, and hobbies, and in turn, we share about ourselves. What people outside of education often do not understand is that students today do not automatically ...
Does David's Faithlessness Nullify the Faithfulness of God?
September 8th, 2025
Does David’s unfaithfulness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Even when “we have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done, and there is no health in us,” Yahweh remains “a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Exod 34:6). This is the point of Psalm 51....
Recent
What Rehoboam Teaches Us About Servant Leadership
October 6th, 2025
Once-for-All Forgiveness: The Power and Promise of Redemption
September 29th, 2025
When Envy Meets Eternity: Learning from Asaph in Psalm 73
September 23rd, 2025
Better Than Life
September 16th, 2025
Does David's Faithlessness Nullify the Faithfulness of God?
September 8th, 2025
Archive
2025
February
March
April
September
2024
March
April
September
October
2023
April
May
July
August
October
November
No Comments