|
<< PSALM XIV. >>
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
1. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.
They are corrupt, they have done abominable works;
There is none that doeth good.
2. Jehovah looked down from heaven upon the children of
men,
To see if there were any that did understand,
That did seek after God.
3. They are all gone aside; they are together become
filthy;
There is none that doeth good, no, not one.
4. Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge,
Who eat up my people as they eat bread,
And call not upon Jehovah ?
5. There were they in great fear;
For God is in the generation of the righteous.
6. Ye put to shame the counsel of the poor,
Because Jehovah is his refuge.
7. Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion!
When Jehovah bringeth back the captivity of his people,
Then shall Jacob rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
1. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.
They are corrupt, they have done abominable works;
There is none that doeth good.
2. Jehovah looked down from heaven upon the children of
men,
To see if there were any that did understand,
That did seek after God.
1. Here "what is corrupt" is put for dreadful persuasions,and "abominable" for the filthy lusts which are in the work, or from which the work is done. A. 622.
1-3. There is no longer any understanding of truth or will of good whatever. P. P.
4. 5. They do not acknowledge God. P. P.
5. The generation of the just stands for truths from good, for justice is predicated of good. Generation in the Word signifies what is of faith and charity, because no other generation than spiritual can be understood in the internal sense. A. 6239.
6. They are against good and truth. P. P.
7. Jacob in the Word is not only Jacob, but also all his posterity. That by the hollow of Jacob's thigh being out of joint as he wrestled with him, is signified that this conjunction (of the spiritual man with the natural) was altogether impaired and displaced in Jacob's posterity. A. 4281.
By captivity spiritual captivity is here meant, which is to be seduced and so led away from truths and goods, and
to be led on into falsities and evils. R. 591.
Heaven and the church where the Lord alone is worshipped are signified by mount Zion. R. 612.
These things are spoken of the Lord who in these and other passages is called salvation from the act of saving,
and from this consideration, that He is salvation in man, for in proportion as the Lord is in man, in the same proportion man has salvation. E. 460.
In the place of joy exultation is also mentioned, because exultation in the same way as joy is predicated of good,
being of the love of the heart and the will. E. 660.
By Zion are here also understood those who are in the good of love from the Lord. Liberation from evils by the Lord and salvation is understood by, who will give out of Zion the salvation of Israel. By bringing back the captivity of his people, is meant deliverance from falses and evils. By Jacob shall exult, Israel shall be glad, is understood joy on account of deliverance with those who are in the church external and internal. -By Jacob they who are of the external church, and by Israel they who are of the internal church, and the gentiles are understood by both. E. 811.
The subject treated of is concerning the advent of the Lord, and concerning His kingdom in the heavens and in the earths. Since that kingdom is understood by Zion and by Jerusalem, therefore it is said that they shall come thither —Isaiah lix. 20. Hence it is evident that by Zion is understood heaven and the church in which the Lord reigns by Divine truth. E. 850.
The Lord will save those who are of the church, whence they will have joy from Him. P. P.
Author: EMANUEL SWEDENBORG (1688-1772)
|
