2327. “脸伏于地下拜” 表谦卑. 这是显而易见的, 无需解释. 在过去, 尤其在代表性教会中, 他们俯伏以致脸伏于地, 是因为脸表人的内在 (358, 1999节). 他们脸伏于地的原因在于, 地上的尘土表亵渎的和被谴责的 (278节). 所以, 他们由此表明这一事实, 凭自己, 他们是亵渎的和被谴责的. 出于同样的原因, 他们脸伏于地, 甚至在尘土和灰中打滚, 扬起尘土和灰落在头上, 这从相关经文可以看出来 (如耶利米哀歌 2:10; 以西结书 27:30; 弥迦书 1:10; 约书亚记 7:6; 启示录 18:19等等).

他们通过这些行为表现真谦卑的状态, 人们若不承认凭自己他们是亵渎的和被谴责的, 因而凭自己无法仰望主, 主那里的一切事物都是神性和神圣的, 就绝不会有这样的表现. 因此, 人越承认自己的状态, 就越具有真谦卑, 在进行敬拜时就越具有真正的虔诚. 一切敬拜中必包含谦卑, 没有谦卑就没有崇拜, 因而没有敬拜可言.

谦卑的状态是敬拜本身必不可少的状态, 原因在于, 内心越谦卑, 我欲及由此而来的一切罪恶越止息, 这一切越止息, 从主而来的良善与真理, 即仁与信就越流入进来. 因为阻碍接受这些事物的, 主要是我欲. 我欲里面含有与自我相比对别人的蔑视, 并且若自我得不到尊敬, 就会报复. 我欲里面还含有无情和残忍, 因而含有最坏的邪恶. 良善与真理绝不会被引入到这些东西中, 因为它们是完全对立的.

Gates" in ancient times had a significance that does not hold in the modern world. Cities then were enclosed by walls for protection; gates in the walls let people in and out to do their business, but were also the weak points in the cities' defenses. In the Bible, cities on one level represent the minds of individual people. On a broader level, they represent beliefs shared by a community. The gates, then, represent openings where the Lord can feed us an understanding of truth and a desire for good. They also represent points where the hells can invade and sway us with false ideas and evil desires. We are kept in balance during our lifetimes, with influences from both the Lord and from hell. Ideally, we will over our lifetimes continue to invite the Lord farther and farther in and drive the hells back until ultimately the Lord can occupy our minds completely. And that point our belief in Him and His power and love will hold the gates and deny evil any entrance. As individuals, we at that point become angels. As communities, we at that point become part of the Lord's church. And at that point the gates become an entry point, introductory truths that allow people to enter churches and start bringing the Lord into their lives.