Spiritual Meaning of
Spiritual Meaning of |
|
Back to Words index | Back to Activity words index |
The signification of dwelling in Gerar is to be in the things which are of faith; thus the state in regard to these things; for to dwell signifies to live (AC 1293), and Gerar" signifies the things which are of faith, (AC 1209, 2504, 3365)-and from the representation of Isaac, as being the Lord as to the Divine rational (AC 1893, 2066, 2072, 2083, 2630). That it is relatively to the rational things that were to be adjoined, is evident from what goes before and from what follows; for in this whole chapter these things are treated of, namely, the rational things which when enlightened by the Divine of the Lord are appearances of truth.
[2] That to dwell denotes to be and to live, thus the state, is evident from many passages in the Word. As in David:--
I will dwell in the house of Jehovah for length of days (Ps. 23:6).
One thing have I asked of Jehovah, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of Jehovah all the days of my life (Ps. 27:4).
He that worketh deceit shall not dwell in the midst of My house (Ps. 101:7)
where dwelling in the house of Jehovah denotes being and living in the good of love, for this is the house of Jehovah. In Isaiah:--
They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined (Isa. 9:2)
they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death denotes the state of those who are in ignorance of good and truth. Again:--
Babel shall not he inhabited forever (Isa. 13:20)
denoting the state of damnation of those who are Babel.
[3] Again:--
O Jehovah God of Israel that inhabitest the cherubim (Isa. 37:16)
O shepherd of Israel inhabiting the cherubim, shine forth (Ps. 80:1)
to inhabit the cherubim is the Lord as to a state of providence, lest anyone should enter into the holy things of love and faith unless prepared by the Lord (AC 308). In David:--
In face will I both lay me down and sleep, for Thou Jehovah alone makest me dwell in safety (Ps. 4:8)
to make to dwell in safety signifies a state of peace. In Jeremiah:--
O thou that dwellest upon many waters, great in treasures, thine end is come, the measure of thy gain (Jer. 51:13)
concerning Babel; dwelling upon many waters denotes being in knowledges concerning truth.
[4] In Daniel:--
God Himself revealeth the deep and secret things, He knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with Him (Daniel 2:22)
where dwelling denotes being. Again in the same Prophet Under that tree the beast of the field had shadow, and the fowls of heaven dwelt in the branches thereof (Daniel 4:12). And in Ezekiel:--
Under its branches all the wild beast of the field brought forth, and in its shadow dwelt all great nations (Ezek. 31:6)
where dwelling denotes being and living. In Hosea:--
The threshing-floor and the wine-press shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail her. They shall not dwell in the land of Jehovah but Ephraim shall retain to Egypt (Hosea 9:2, 3)
not to dwell in the land of Jehovah denotes not to be in a state of the good of love, consequently not in the Lord's kingdom.
from AC 3384
Back to Words index, Back to Activity words index
| Author: E. Swedenborg (1688-1772). | Design: I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002. | www.BibleMeanings.info |