In most cases, the meaning of "before" is pretty straightforward, both as a way of assessing relative time, and in its use meaning "in someone's presence." It takes on a deeper significance, though, when used in connection with the Lord. To be "before" the Lord means not just in His presence, but also receiving the desire for good and the understanding of truth from Him, and living according to them. And when used as an assessment of time in connection with the Lord, "before" means "from eternity," and refers to a spiritual state rather than time as we experience it.

(Odkazy: Apocalypse Revealed 366, 617; Arcana Coelestia 6983, 8439, 9888)

8440. 'For He has heard your grumblings' means in order that He may bring help because of their grief in temptation. This is clear from the meaning of 'hearing', when said of Jehovah, as having pity and bringing help, and therefore also as bringing to an end, dealt with above in 8428; and from the meaning of 'grumblings' as grief in temptation, and complaint, dealt with in 8351, 8428, 8433.