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<< Isaiah XLIII >>

1. BUT now, thus saith Jehovah, thy Creator, O Jacob, and thy Former, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine.
2. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt; and the flame shall not kindle upon thee.
3. For I am Jehovah thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I have given Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in thy stead.
4. Because thou hast been precious in My eyes, thou hast been honoured, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men instead of thee, and peoples instead of thy soul.
5. Fear not, for I am with thee: from the east I will bring thy seed, and from the west I will gather thee;
6. I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Withhold not: bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth;
7. Everyone that is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory, whom I have formed; yea, whom I have made.
8. Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.
9. Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the peoples be assembled: who among them will declare this, and will shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified; or let them hear, and say, It is truth.
10. Ye are My witnesses, saith Jehovah; even My servant, whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He: before Me no God was formed, and after Me there shall be none.
11. I, [even] I, am Jehovah; and beside Me there is no Saviour.
12. I have declared, and I have saved: I have made it known; nor was it any strange [god] among you: and ye are My witnesses, saith Jehovah, that I am God.
13. Yea, before the day was, I am He; and there is none that can deliver out of My hand: I work; and who shall hinder it?
14. Thus saith Jehovah, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: For your sake have I sent to Babylon, and I will cast down all her bars; and the Chaldeans, whose shouting is in their ships:
15. I am Jehovah, your Holy One; the Creator of Israel, your King.
16. Thus saith Jehovah, who made a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;
17. Who brought forth the chariot and the horse, the army and the power; together they lie down, they rise up no more: they are extinguished, they are quenched like tow.
18. Remember not the former things; and the things of old do not consider:
19. Behold, I make a new thing; even now shall it spring. forth: will ye not acknowledge it? yea, I will make in the.wilderness a way, and rivers in the desert.
20. The beast of the field shall honour Me; the dragons, and the daughters of the owl: because I have given waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My people, My chosen.
21. The people, whom I have formed for Myself, shall shew forth My praise.
22. But thou hast not called upon Me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of Me, O Israel!
23. Thou hast not brought to Me the lamb of thy burnt-offering: neither hast thou honoured Me with thy sacrifices. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense.
24. Thou hast not bought for Me with silver the sweet cane; neither hast thou filled Me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made Me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied Me with thine iniquities.
25. I, [even] I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake; and thy sins I will not remember. 
26. Put Me in remembrance; let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.
27. Thy first, father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against Me.
28. Therefore I will profane the princes of the sanctuary; and will give Jacob to thecurse, and Israel to reproaches.


 
1. BUT now, thus saith Jehovah, thy Creator, O Jacob, and thy Former, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine.

VERSE 1. That to "redeem" signifies to liberate from hell, and to claim and conjoin to Himself so that they may be His, is evident, for it is said-"I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name : thou art Mine ;" and inasmuch as this is effected by reformation and regeneration from the Lord, it is therefore said-" Jehovah thy Creator, O Jacob, and thy Former, O Israel." He is here called "Creator," because to "create" in the Word signifies to reqenerate, as may be seen above. n. 294. "Jacob" and " Israel" signify those who are of the church and who are in Truths from Good. A. E. 328.
    As to the signification of "fear," as predicated both of the spiritual and of the natural man, see Chap. xi. 3, Exposition.
    Verses 1, 6, 7. I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine. Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth, &c.-The subject here treated of is concerning the establishment of the church among the nations. From their reformation Jehovah is called "Creator and Former," wherefore it is said "I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy narne: thou art Mine." "Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth," signifies the nations which are out of the church, which receive the Truths and Goods of the church from the Lord; "afar off" and the" ends of the earth" denoting those who are out of the church; the" earth" is the church; "sons" are those who receive Truths, and "daughters" those who receive Goods. These are said to he "created, formed, and made to glory;" "glory" is the divine Truth which they receive. A. E. 294.
    Verses 1, 7. Jehovah thy Creator;-whom I have created for Miy glory, &c.-The very end of the creation of the universe was that an angelic heaven might be formed out of mankind, where all who believe in God might live in eternal blessedness; for the Divine Love, which is in God, and which essentially is God, can intend nothing else; and the Divine Wisdom, which is also in God, and which is God, can produce nothing else. Since, then, the creation of the universe had for its end an angelic heaven, to be formed out of the human race, and at the same time a church on earth, man's passage into heaven lying through the church; and since the salvation of mankind, being effected upon men that are born in the world, is thus a continuation of creation, therefore we so frequently meet in the Word with the term "to create," the meaning of which is to form for heaven; as in the following passages:- "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." (Psalm li. 10.) "Thou openest Thy hand, they are filled with good; Thou sendest forth Thy spirit, they are created." (Psalm civ. 28, 30.) "The people that shall be created, shall praise Jehovah." (Psalm cii, 18.) Hence will appear the meaning of "to create" in the following passages:-" Thus saith Jehovah, He that createth the heavens, He that spreadeth forth the earth;" &c. (Isa. xlii. 5; xlv. 12, 18.) "Behold, I create a new heaven and a new earth. Be glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create; for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing." (Isa.lxv. 17, 18.) T. C.R. 773. See
also 573.

2. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt; and the flame shall not kindle upon thee.

Verse 2. By "passing through the waters and through the rivers, and their not overflowing," is signified that falses and ratiocinations from falses against Truths shall not enter and corrupt; "waters" denoting falses, and the "rivers" ratiocinations from falses against Truths. By "walking through the fire, and not being burned, and the flame not kindling upon thee," is signified that evils and cupidities arising from them shall not hurt; "fire" signifying evils, and the "flame" cupidities thence derived. A. E. 504. See also A. C. 739, 790.
    By "rivers overflowing" are also signified temptations, because temptations are inundations of falsest A. R. 409.
    [As spiritual temptations are here treated of, the following extract will elucidate this important subject.]
    They alone who are being regenerated, undergo spiritual temptations; such temptations being pains of mind induced by evil spirits, in those who are in Good and Truth. While those spirits excite the evils of such persons, there arises in the mind an anxiety, which is temptation. Man does not know whence this anxiety comes, because he is unacquainted with its origin. There are both evil and good spirits attendant on every man; the evil spirits are in his evils, and the good spirits in his goods. When the evil spirits approach they draw forth his evils, while the good spirits, on the contrary, draw forth his goods; whence arise collision and combat, causing in the man an interior anxiety, which is temptation. Hence it is plain that temptations are not induced by heaven, but by hell; as is in accordance with the faith of the church, which teaches that God tempts no man." Interior anxieties are also experienced by those who are not in Goods and Truths; but natural, not spiritual anxieties; the two are distinguished by this, that natural anxieties have worldly things for their objects, but spiritual anxieties heavenly things.
    The object contended for during temptations, is the dominion of Good over evil, or of evil over Good. The evil which is desirous of obtaining the dominion resides in the natural or external man, and the Good in the spiritual or internal man. If evil prevails, the natural man obtains the dominion; but if Good prevails, the spiritual conquers. These combats are carried on by the Truths of faith derived from the Word. By these man must contend against evils and falses; for if he combats from any other principles, he cannot conquer, because in these alone the Lord is present. And as this warfare is carried on by the Truths of faith, man is not permitted to enter on it until he has been instructed in the knowledge of Good and Truth, and has thence obtained some degree of spiritual life; such combats, therefore, do not take place till men arrive at years of maturity. If man falls in temptation, his state after it becomes worse than before, because evil has thereby acquired power over Good, and falsity over Truth. Since at this day faith is rare, because there is no charity, the church being at its end, there are but few who are admitted into anv spiritual temptations; hence it is scarcely known what they are, and to what salutary purpose they are conducive.
    The ends to which temptations are conducive are these. They acquire for Good dominion over evil, and for Truth dominion over the false; they confirm Truths in the mind, and conjoin them to Good; and they disperse evils and the falsities thence derived. They serve also to open the internal spiritual man, and to bring the natural man into subjection to it; to destroy the loves of self and of the world, and to subdue the concupiscences which proceed from them. When these things are effected, man acquires enlightenment and perception respecting the nature of Good and its Truth, and of falsity and its evil; whence he obtains intelligence and wisdom, which afterwards increase continually. The Lord alone combats for man in temptations; and unless he believes that the Lord alone combats and conquers for him, he undergoes only an external temptation, which is in no respect conducive to his salvation. H.D.N.J. 187-195.

3. For I am Jehovah thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I have given Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in thy stead.
4. Because thou hast been precious in My eyes, thou hast been honoured, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men instead of thee, and peoples instead of thy soul.

Verses 3, 4. These things also are said concerning the Lord, and concerning the redemption of those who acknowledge Him, and from affection receive Truths from Him. Redemption is signified by "a ransom [or an expiation]," and by "instead of thee," and "for thy soul;" the natural affection of knowing Truths derived from spiritual affection is signified by "Egypt, Ethiopia, and Seba;" their intelligence thence derived is signified by "man" [adam], and the church from them receive people." Inasmuch as by "Egypt" is signified the natural man, and all the intelligence of the spiritual man is terminated and has its foundation in the natural man, and in his knowledges and scientifics, therefore: man without them is not intelligent or wise, nor indeed rational, for the spiritual man must act as one by correspondences. Hence it is that, in ancient times, when the representative church was also in Egypt, the King of Egypt, or Pharaoh, was called "the son of thewise, and the son of the kings of antiquity;" (Isa. xix. 11.) also "Egypt, the corner-stone of the tribes;" (verse 13.) for by the tribes are signified all the Truths and Goods of tho church in one complex, and by the "corner-stone" is signified the foundation thereof. Hence also it is said of Solomon: by whom the Lord was represented as to His celestial and spiritual kingdoms, that his wisdom was above the sons of the East, and above all the wisdom of the Egyptians." (1 Kings iv. 30.) By "the sons of the East" are understood all who at that time were in the knowledges of Truth and Good, and thereby were made wise; and by the "Egyptians" are understood all who were skilled in sciences, especially in the science of correspondences, and in intelligence thence derived; wherefore also it is that the sciences of the Egyptians are called "the hidden things of gold and of silver and desirable things" in Daniel xi. 42, 43. A. E. 654.
    "Ethiopia" [Cush] and "Seba'" are the knowledges of spiritual things, which serve those who believe in the Lord. A. C. 1171. See also Chap. xlv. 14, Exposition.
    As to "Cush,", or Ethiopia, and its spiritual meaning, see above, Chap. xviii, 1, 2, Exposition.

5. Fear not, for I am with thee: from the east I will bring thy seed, and from the west I will gather thee;
6. I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Withhold not: bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth;

Verses 5, 6. These things are not said concerning the posterity of Jacob, but concerning the nations or Gentiles of whom the church is to be formed, By "Jacob and his seed" are understood those who will be of that church. That it is to be formed of those who are in falses from ignorance, and thence in obscurity as to Truths, is signified by "from the west I will gather thee, and I will say to the north, Give up;" and that these are not to be repelled by those who are in the Good of love and in Truths of doctrine from a clear [principle], but to be accepted, is signified by "from the east I will bring thy seed, and I will say to the south, Withhold not;" for the "east" signifies the Good of love in clearness, the "south" the Truth of doctrine in clearness, and the "west" the Good of love in obscurity, and the "north" the Truth of doctrine in obscurity, such as it exists with those who, from ignorance of Truth, are in falses, and yet desire Truths. The reason why those quarters have such a signification is, because in the spiritual world all dwell distinctly in those quarters according to the light of Truth and the affection of Good in which they are principled. Similar things are signifled in Matthew, where it is said that "the elect are to be gathered together from the four winds, from the boundaries of heaven even to their boundaries." (xxiv. 31.) That all who are in falses from ignorance, and yet in the desire of Truth, are to be brought into that church, is signified by "Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth;" "sons" denoting those who are in Truths, and" daughters" those who are in the affection thereof, and hence also, abstractedly from persons, they signify Truths and their affections; and "afar off" and the "ends of the earth" signify removal from the light of Truth, because in falses from ignorance, by reason of their not having the Word, or not understanding the sense thereof. A. E. 724.
    Verses 5-8. To "bring seed from the east, the west, the north, and the south," denotes all of whatsoever religion they be; for the "east" and "west " signify where the Good of love is in clearness and in obscurity, and the "north" and the "south" where the Truth of faith is in obscurity and in clearness. In this place they are understood who are in obscurity from ignorance, for it is said "Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth." "Sons" are predicated of those who receive Truths, and "daughters" of those who receive Goods; "from afar" and "from the ends of the earth " signify those who are remote from the Truths and Goods of the church. That all will be received and reformed by the Lord, who acknowledge Him, is signified by "I have created, I have formed, and I have made everyone called  by My name." These, then, are they who are understood by "the blind who have eyes, and the deaf who have ears." A. E. 239.
    As to the "blind" and the "deaf," see Chap. xlii. 18, Exposition.
    The subject here treated of is concerning "Jacob" and "Israel," and unless it be known that the above spiritual things are understood by the quarters there mentioned, it may be supposed that nothing further is implied than that the sons of Israel and Jacob are to be collected from all parts; but by "Jacob" and "Israel" is understood the church which consists of those who are in the Good of love and in Truths from that Good; and bv "their seed" are understood all who are of that church. The bringing and gatherillg together of those who are in the Good of love, is understood by "I will bring thy seed from the east, and I will gather thee from the west;" and the same with respect to those who are in Truths from that Good, is understood by "I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south Withhold not." That all who are in those Truths and Goods even to those who are in the ultimates, shall be brought, is signified by "Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth." A. E. 422. See also A. C. 1458, 9642.

7. Everyone that is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory, whom I have formed; yea, whom I have made.
8. Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.

Verse 7. Everyone that is called by My name, &c.-What is meant by being "called by the Lord's name," see Chap. iv. 1, and especially Chap. xxvi. 8, Exposition.

9. Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the peoples be assembled: who among them will declare this, and will shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified; or let them hear, and say, It is truth.

Verse 9. Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the peoples be assembled, &c.-As to "nations" and "peoples," see Chap. ix. 2, 3, Exposition.

10. Ye are My witnesses, saith Jehovah; even My servant, whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He: before Me no God was formed, and after Me there shall be none.

Verse 10. Where by "Servant" is understood the Lord as to His Divine Human, That the Lord calls Himself a "minister" by reason of His serving, is evident in the Evangelists:-"Whosoever will become great among you, ought to be your minister; and whosoever would be first, ought to be your servant; as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister:" (Matt. xx, 25-28; Mark x. 42-44; Luke xxii. 27.) A. E. 409.

11. I, [even] I, am Jehovah; and beside Me there is no Saviour.

Verse 11. The idea of a Son born from eternity [which is a prevalent idea in the present Theology], descending and assuming the Humunity, must be found to be altogether erroneous, and will therefore fall to the ground and vanish when those passages in the Word are attended to where Jehovah Himself asserts that He Himself is the Saviour and Redeemer of the world, as He does in the following passages :-" I, [even] I, am Jehovah; and beside Me there is no Saviour." [Isa. xliii, 11.) "Is it not I, Jehovah, than whom there is no other God? a just God, and a Saviour; there is none beside Me." (Isa, xlv, 21, 22; xliv. 6, 24; xlvii 4; xlviii. 17; xlix. 26; lx. 16; Hosea xiii. 4.) From these and many other passages it must be evident to every man who has the use of his eyes, and whose mind is opened by such use, that God, who is One, descended, and was made Man for the purpose of effecting the work of Redemption. How plainly is this seen, as in morning light, by attending to the divine declarations here quoted. Such men, however, as walk in the shadows of night, from a firm persuasion in their minds of the birth of another God from eternity, and of His descent and redeeming labours, close their eyes against the light of these divine declarations, and in that state consider how theymay apply and pervert them to the confirmation of their own falses. T. C. R. 83. See also 188, 294.

12. I have declared, and I have saved: I have made it known; nor was it any strange [god] among you: and ye are My witnesses, saith Jehovah, that I am God.
13. Yea, before the day was, I am He; and there is none that can deliver out of My hand: I work; and who shall hinder it?

Verse 12. Ye are My witnesses, saith Jehovah, that I am God [El]. In the Word, Jehovah, or the Lord, in many places is named El in the singular, also Eloah, and likewise Elohim in the plural,-each sometimes in one verse or in one series. The reason why He is so named cannot be known, unless the internal sense of the Word be known. That El involves one thing, and Eloah another, and Elohim another, every one may judge from this, that the Word is divine, that is, derives its origin from the Divine, and that it is hence inspired as to all expressions, yea, as to the smallest apex. What is involved in El, when it is named, and what in Elohim, may appear from what has been abundantly shewn above, viz., that El and Elohim or "God" is mentioned when Truth is treated of, see n. 709, 2580, 2769; hence it is that by "El" and "Elohim;" in the supreme sense, is signified, the Divine-Spiritual, for this is the same with Divine Truth, but with the difference that by "El" is signified Truth in the will and act, which is the same thing with the Good of Truth, see n. 4337, 4353, 4390. "Elohim" in the plural is used, because by the Divine Truth are meant all Truths which are from the Lord; hence also the angels in the Word are sometimes called Elohim or "gods," n. 4295, as will likewise appear from the passages below adduced from the Word. Inasmuch now as "El" and "Elohim," in the supreme sense, signify the Lord as to Truth, they also signify Him as to power, for it is Truth of which power is predicated, for Good acts by Truth when it exercises power, n. 3091, 4015; therefore wheresoever power derived from Truth is treated of in the Word, the Lord is called El and Elohim, or "God;" hence also it is that "El," in the original tongue, likewise signifies one who is powerful. That the names El and Elohim, or "God," are used in the Word where the Divine-Spiritual is treated of, or, what is the same thing, the Divine Truth, and thence the Divine power, may further appear from these passages :-" God said to Israel in the visions of the night, I am the God of the gods [El elohe] of thy father: be not afraid of descending into Egypt; because I will place thee there into a great nation." (Gen. xlvi. 2, 3.) Inasmuch as these words were spoken to Israel, whom He would place into a great nation, and thereby Truth and the power thereof are treated of, it is said "El Elohe," which in the proximate sense signifies God of gods. That "Elohim" in the proximate sense are gods, because they are predicated of Truths and the power thence derived, is evident also from the following passage:-"There Jacob built an altar, and called the place El-beth-el, because there the Elohim were revealed to him, in his flying before his brother." (Gen. xxxv, 7.) And in another place:-"Jehovah our God, Himself the God of gods, and Lord of lords, the God [El] great, powerful, and formidable;" (Deut. x. 17.) where "God of gods" is expressed by Elohe elohim, and afterwards "God" by El, to whom is attributed greatness and power. So in David: "God [El] the great Jehovah, and the great King over all gods [Elohim], in whose hand are the tracings out [pervestigationes] of the earth; and the strengths of the mountains are His;" (Psalm xcv. 3, 4.) where the name "God," or El, is used, because the subject treated of is concerning the Divine Truth, and the power thence derived; also mention is made of "gods," because Truths thence derived are treated of; for "king" in the internal sense signifies Truth, see n. 1672, 2015, 2069, 3009, 3670. Hence it is evident what is involved in the expression, "a great King above all gods;" the "tracings out of the earth" are also the Truths of the church, which are called "strengths of the mountains" from power grounded in Good. A. C. 1402.

14. Thus saith Jehovah, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: For your sake have I sent to Babylon, and I will cast down all her bars; and the Chaldeans, whose shouting is in their ships:
15. I am Jehovah, your Holy One; the Creator of Israel, your King.

Verse 14. The subject here treated of is concerning the liberation of the faithful from the oppression of those who, devastate the church, and who are understood by "Babylon;" and they devastate it by this, that they withhold all from the knowledges of Truth and of Good, saying that they themselves know, and that they are to be believed, when notwithstanding they know nothing of Truth, thus keeping others, together with themselves, in dense ignorance, and turning them away from the worship of the Lord, in order that they themselves may be worshipped. To "cast down their bars" signifies to destroy their principles of the false, and the false devastating Truths; "bars" here denoting principles of the false, and the "Chaldeans" those eho devastate by fallses: for by "Babylon," in the Word, are signified those who by evils destroy Goods, and by the "Chaldeans" those who by falses destroy Truths; a "shouting in their ships" denotes the destruction of their doctrinals, A.E. 514.
    As to the signification of "bars," see Chap. xlv. 2, Exposition.

16. Thus saith Jehovah, who made a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;

Verse 16. That by "sea,," in this passage, is not understood the sea, nor by "waters" are understood waters, is evident, forasmuch as it is said that "therein is the way and the path of Jehovah;" wherefore by "sea" and by "waters" are understood such things as Jehovah or the Lord is in, which are the knowledges of Truth in general from the Word, and Truths therein; tho "sea" denoting those knowledges, and the "waters" Truths. Knowledges and Truths differ in this, that knowledges are of the natural man, and Truths of the spiritual man. A. E. 275.
    As to the further meaning of the "sea," when mentioned in the Word, see Chap. xxi, 1, Exposition.

17. Who brought forth the chariot and the horse, the army and the power; together they lie down, they rise up no more: they are extinguished, they are quenched like tow.
18. Remember not the former things; and the things of old do not consider:

Verse 17. As to the spiritual meaning of "horses" and "chariots," see Chap. xxxi, 1, Exposition.
    They are quenched like tow. -As to the meaning of "tow," see Chap. i. 30, 31, Exposition, and ver. 31, note.

19. Behold, I make a new thing; even now shall it spring. forth: will ye not acknowledge it? yea, I will make in the.wilderness a way, and rivers in the desert.

Verses 19, 20.Treating of the Lord, and of the New Church from Him, which is understood by "Behold, I make a new thing; even now shall it spring forth." By "making a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert," is signified to give Truths and the intelligence of Truths where they were not before; "way" denotes Truth leading to heaven, and "rivers" intelligence. By "giving drink to the people" is signified to instruct those who desire to be instructed. By "the beast of the field, the dragons, and the daughters of the owl," are signified those who know Truths and Goods from the memory only, and do not understand and perceive them; such are they who speak Truth without any idea of it, depending only upon others. A. E. 518.

20. The beast of the field shall honour Me; the dragons, and the daughters of the owl: because I have given waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My people, My chosen.
21. The people, whom I have formed for Myself, shall shew forth My praise.

Verse 20. That "the beast of the field, dragons, and daughters of the owl," are not here understood, is evident, for these cannot " honour Jehovah;" but that the men of the church are understood, is manifest from its being said in what follows, "to give drink to My people, My chosen;" wherefore by the " beast of the field " are signified the affections of the knowledges of Truth, by "dragons " natural ideas, and by the "daughters of the owl" sensual affections, for the sensual principlce is affected with Truths, and sees them in darkness, as owls see objects in the night. Hence it is also evident that the nations or Gentiles are hereby understood, with whom the New Church was to be established, for before reformation they were in such an obscure affection and natural thought. By "giving waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert," is signified to imbue with Truths and thence with intelligence, those who were before in ignorance. "Waters" denoting Truths, "rivers" intelligence, and
"wilderness" and" desert" signify ignorance. To "Give drink to the people of Jehovah, and to His chosen," signifies to instruct those who are in the Truths of faith and In the Good of charity; they are called "people" who are principled in the Truths of faith, and they "chosen" who are in the Good of charity. A. E. 650.
    As to the "daughters of the owl," in a bad sense, or the sensual perceptions of the mind entirely perverted, see Chap. xiii. 19-22, Exposition. "Dragons" in this verse, as in chap. xxxv. 7, signify those who, although sensual, can nevertheless receive the Truth and be saved.

22. But thou hast not called upon Me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of Me, O Israel!

Verse 22. That to "call upon the name of Jehovah" is a frequent and common form of expression for all the worship ot the Lord,is well-known. The Lord cannot be worshipped except from charity; if from faith which is not from charity, there is no worship, because it is only from the mouth and not from the heart. "Thou hast not brought to Me the lamb of thy burnt-offering, neither hast thou honoured Me with thy sacrifices," &c. In these words, in a summary form, all representative worship is involved. A. C. 440.

23. Thou hast not brought to Me the lamb of thy burnt-offering: neither hast thou honoured Me with thy sacrifices. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense.

Verse 23. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering; nor wearied thee with incense.-Inasmuch as all worship of the Lord is effected from spiritual Good, which is derived frorn celestial Good, therefore both the "meat-offering" and the "incense" are mentioned in the letter separately, which, notwithstanding, in the internal or spiritual sense, are understood conjointly, but the one from the other. A. E. 324. See also 491.

24. Thou hast not bought for Me with silver the sweet cane; neither hast thou filled Me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made Me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied Me with thine iniquities.

Verse 24. These words stand for-thou hast not acquired for thyself the Truths of faith. "Neither hast thou filled Me with the fat of thy sacrifices," for-thou hast not acquired the Good of love. Burnt-offerings and sacrifices were the principal things of divine worship among the Jews; wherefore by " burnt-offerings" and" sacrifices" in general is signified worship, and by the things which were sacrificed, also by all the process of the sacrifice, is signified the quality of worship, and by the "fat" and the "burning" thereof, the very celestial divine principle, which is the Good of love from the Lord. A. C. 5943.

25. I, [even] I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake; and thy sins I will not remember.

Verse 25. As to the "remission of sins," and what are the signs that sins are remitted or removed, see Chap, xxxiii. 24, Exposition.

26. Put Me in remembrance; let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.

Verse 26. It is said in the Word concerning Jehovah, that is, the Lord, that He "remembers," and that He "does not remember,' by which is signified that whatsoever then happens, whether it be preservation or deliverance, is from Mercy; in like manner as when it is said of Him that He "sees," "hears," and" knows," and that He "does not see,"  " does not hear," and "does not know," by which also commiserations and non-commiserations are understood. That it is so said is from similitude with man, and from appearance, for when a man turns himself away from the Lord, which is the case when he does evil, then because the Lord is at his back, it appears as though the Lord did not see him, did not hear him, and did not know him, nor remember him; whereas all this is with man, Hence from the appearance it is so said in the Word; whereas, when a man turns himself to the Lord, which is the case when he does well, the contrary is the case. Every one may know that "remembrance" and "remembering" cannot be predicated of the Lord, since things past and future in Him are eternal, that is, are present to Him from eternity to eternity. A. C. 9849.
    As to "pleading [or reasoning] together," see Chap. i. 18, Exposition.

27. Thy first, father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against Me.

Verse 27. See Chap. i. 28, Exposition.

28. Therefore I will profane the princes of the sanctuary; and will give Jacob to thecurse, and Israel to reproaches.

Verse 28. To "profane the princes of the sanctuary " signifies holy Truths; the extirpation of the Truth of the external and of the internal church is signified by "giving Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches." A. C. 5044.

Author: Emanuel Swedenborg [Compiled by J. H. Smithson 1860]

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