1158. “那些分布于岛上的民族就出于这些人, 有自己的陆地” 表源于这些人的更多民族的敬拜; “岛” 是指特定地区, 因而是指距离内在敬拜更遥远的特定敬拜形式; “陆地” 表这些敬拜形式的共同特征. 这从圣言中 “岛” 的含义清楚可知. 目前为止, 所论述的主题一直是那些具有与内在相对应的外在敬拜之人. 雅弗的七个儿子表那些更接近真正的内在敬拜之人, 歌篾的儿子和雅完的儿子一起表那些距离真正的内在敬拜相对遥远之人. “岛上的民族” 表那些更为遥远的人, 严格来说, 表那些彼此生活在仁爱中, 但仍处于无知, 对主, 教会的信之教义和内在敬拜一无所知的人. 然而, 他们具有某种虔诚遵守的外在敬拜形式. 在圣言中, 这种人被称作 “岛”, 因此, “岛” 的内义是指距离内在敬拜更为遥远的敬拜. 象天使那样通晓内义的人不知道岛是什么, 因为他们对这类事物不再有任何概念. 他们感知到的不是岛, 而是更遥远的敬拜, 诸如教会外的外邦人所具有的敬拜. 同样, 他们将 “岛” 理解为距离仁爱有点远的教会自身里面的那些事物, 如友谊和礼貌. 友谊不是仁爱, 礼貌更不是. 它们是从仁爱那里延伸下来的; 它们从仁爱汲取得越多, 就越纯粹.

“岛” 表这类事物, 这可从以下圣言经文看出来. 以赛亚书:

众海岛啊, 当在我面前静默; 众民当从新得力, 都要近前来. 海岛看见就都害怕; 地极也都战兢, 就近前来. (以赛亚书 41:1, 5)

此处, “岛” 表教会之外正直的外邦人, 他们虔诚遵守自己的外在敬拜. 教会的最远界限被称为 “地极”. 同一先知书:

他不灰心, 也不丧胆, 直到祂在地上设立公理, 海岛都等候祂的训诲. 航海的和海中所有的, 海岛和其上的居民, 都当向耶和华唱新歌, 从地极赞美祂! 他们当将荣耀归给耶和华, 在海岛中传扬他的颂赞. (以赛亚书 42:4, 10, 12)

此处, “海岛” 也表教会外的外邦人, 他们过着无知, 简单和正直的生活.

同一先知书:

众海岛啊, 当听我言! 远方的众民哪, 留心而听! (以赛亚书 49:1)

这同样表距离对主的敬拜和对信的认知更为遥远的外邦民族; 因此, 经上说 “远方”. 又:

海岛都要期待我, 等候倚赖我的膀臂. (以赛亚书 51:5)

“海岛” 所表相同. 由于他们是过着正直生活的人, 故经上说他们 “都要期待我, 等候倚赖我的膀臂”. 耶利米书:

列国啊, 要听耶和华的话, 传扬在远处的海岛. (耶利米书 31:10)

“海岛” 同样有相同的意思. 西番雅书:

耶和华必向他们显可畏之威; 因祂必叫地上的诸神瘦弱, 列国海岛的居民各在自己的地方敬拜祂. (西番雅书 2:11)

“列国海岛” 表距离对信的认知更为遥远的民族.

诗篇:

耶和华作王, 愿地快乐, 愿众海岛欢喜! 密云和幽暗在祂的四围. (诗篇 97:1, 2)

“海岛” 表相同的意思. 在此, 他们的无知通过 “密云和幽暗” 以代表性的方式来表述. 但由于他们过着简单和正直的生活, 故经上说 “在祂的四围”. 因 “岛” 表更远的事物, 故 “他施, 普勒, 路德, 土巴和雅完” (他们也表外在敬拜形式), 被称为 “海岛” (以赛亚书 66:19). 基提也是 (耶利米书 2:10; 以西结书 27:6).

与 “陆地” 或 “高山” 对比时, “海岛” 也表信之真理, 因为它们被种植在海里. 因此, 它们表教义, 也就是仪式.

457. Still did not repent of the works of their hands. This symbolically means, nor did they refrain from their native proclivities, which are evils of every kind, as being sins.

The works of a person's hands symbolize a person's native proclivities, which are evils and their attendant falsities, because the hands symbolize in summary the things that emanate from a person; for the forces of the mind and consequently of the body are directed into the hands and terminate there. Consequently the hands in the Word symbolize power. For the same reason the works of a person's hands symbolize his native proclivities, which are evils and falsities of every kind. Evils are the native proclivities of his will, and the attendant falsities the native proclivities of his intellect.

We are told regarding the people who are the subject here that they did not repent, because people who make faith alone the totality of religion say to themselves, "What need do I have of repentance, when through faith alone our sins are forgiven and we are saved? What do our works contribute to this? I know that I was born in sin and that I am a sinner. If I confess this and pray that my faults not be imputed to me, then I have repented. What need do I have of anything more?"

Thus the person then gives no thought to sin, even to the point of not knowing what sins are. Consequently the delight and gratification they afford continually carry him along in them and into them, the way a favorable wind and current carry a ship onto rocks when both captain and crew are asleep.

[2] In the natural sense of the Word, the works of a person's hands mean carved images, cast images, and idols; but in its spiritual sense, they symbolize evils and falsities of every kind, which are a person's native proclivities. As, for example, in the following passages:

...do not provoke Me to anger by the work of your hands...; (if you were) to provoke Me to anger by the work of your hands to your own hurt..., I will repay them according to their work and according to the deeds of their hands. (Jeremiah 25:6-7, 14)

...the children of Israel have provoked Me... to anger by the work of their hands... (Jeremiah 32:30, cf. 44:8)

I will utter My judgments against them concerning all their wickedness, because they... bowed themselves to the works of their hands. (Jeremiah 1:16)

In that day... people's eyes will look to the Holy One of Israel, and... not to the altars, the work of their hands, and... what their fingers have made... (Isaiah 17:7-8, cf. 31:7; 37:19, Jeremiah 10:9)

[3] The work of a person's hands is his own doing, thus evil and falsity, and this can be clearly seen from the fact that it was for this reason that the Israelites were forbidden to built an altar or temple out of hewn stones, or to use an iron tool on those stones; for they symbolized the work of a person's hands:

If you make Me an altar of stones, you shall not build it of hewn stones; for if you use your chisel on it, you will profane it. (Exodus 20:25)

Joshua built... an altar of... stones, on which he did not use an iron tool. (Joshua 8:30-31)

The temple (at Jerusalem)...was built of whole stone, and no hammer or axe or any iron tool was heard... while it was being built. (1 Kings 6:7)

[4] Everything that the Lord does is likewise called the work of His hands, and these are His inherent attributes, which in themselves are goods and truths. As, for example, in the following places:

The works of (Jehovah's) hands are truth and judgment. (Psalms 111:7)

Your mercy, O Jehovah, endures forever; do not cease the works of Your hands. (Psalms 138:8)

Thus said Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: "Seek from Me signs concerning My children; concerning the work of My hands, command Me." (Isaiah 45:11)

Your people are all just..., the offshoot of My planting, the work of My hands... (Isaiah 60:21)

...O Jehovah, You are our Father, we are the clay, and You our potter, and all we the work of Your hands. (Isaiah 64:8)