On the subject of interpretation~something to think about

"The medieval theory of levels of meaning in the biblical text, with all its undoubted defects, flourished because it is true, while the modern theory of a single meaning, with all its demonstrable virtues, is false. Until the historical-critical method becomes critical of its own theoretical foundations and develops a hermeneutical theory adequate to the nature of the text which it is interpreting, it will remain restricted-as it deserves to be-to the guild and the academy, where the question of truth can endlessly be deferred."

David Steinmetz

This is not approving fanciful allegory but it is saying that there are multiple levels of meaning in Scripture. It is important to teach and preach the central truth and force of a text, but never, never are we to be either confusing or reductionistic/simplistic when summarizing the Bible's teaching. The Bible is profoundly simple, poetic and deep/complex at the same time.. If only I and other preachers could be that too. It's hard, pray for us!