2190. And he said, Behold, in the tent. That this signifies that it was in what is holy, is evident from the signification of a “tent,” as being what is holy (explained n. 414, 1102, 1566, 2145). It is said in what is holy, because it was in good. All good is called holy from the fact that it is of love and charity, which are solely from the Lord. But such as are the goods, such are the holinesses. Goods are formed, that is, are born and grow up, by means of the truths of faith, and their quality and quantity are therefore determined by those of the truth of faith implanted in charity (as just said, n. 2189), from which it follows that goods or the holinesses differ with everyone; and although in the external form they may appear to be alike, yet in the internal forms they are unlike; and this both with those who are out of the church and with those who are within the church. There are more things in the good of charity with a man than man can possibly believe. All the things of his faith are in it, and consequently they are in the holiness of his worship. The quality of the holiness of his worship appears to the angels as in clear day, although the man knows nothing beyond the fact that he is in a certain holy state. Myriads of myriads of his thoughts concerning the goods and truths of faith and of the derivative affections, are in the holiness of his state. But as to the holiness of worship, what it is in general, of the Lord’s Divine mercy elsewhere.

1102. And he shall dwell in the tents of Shem. That this signifies in order that the internals of worship may be in the externals, is evident from all that has been said before concerning Shem, namely, that “Shem” is the internal church, or internal worship, and that external worship is nothing but an inanimate affair, or else an unclean one, unless there is internal worship to vivify and hallow it. That the “tents” signify nothing else than what is holy of love, and the derivative worship, is evident from the signification of “tents” (concerning which, see above, n. 414). It was customary among the ancients to speak of “journeying” and “dwelling in tents” by which was signified in the internal sense holy worship, for the reason that the most ancient people not only journeyed with tents, but also dwelt in tents, and performed their holy worship in them. Hence also “to journey” and “to dwell” signified in the internal sense to live.

[2] That “tents” signify holy worship, the following passages—in addition to those before cited (n. 414)—may serve for confirmation.

In David:

God forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent in which He dwelt in man (Psalms 78:60), where “tent” signifies the same as “temple” in which God is said to “dwell” when He is present with man in love. Hence the man who lived in holy worship, was called by the ancients a tent, and afterwards a temple.

In Isaiah:

Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations (Isaiah 54:2), meaning enlightenment in those things which are of true worship.

In Jeremiah:

The whole land is laid waste, suddenly have My tents been laid waste, and My curtains in a moment (Jeremiah 4:20), where it is very manifest that tents are not meant, but holy worship.

In Zechariah:

Jerusalem shall yet again dwell in her own place, even in Jerusalem. Jehovah also shall save the tents of Judah (Zechariah 12:6-7), where the “tents of Judah” stand for the worship of the Lord from the holy of love.

[3] From these passages it is now evident what it is “to dwell in the tents of Shem” namely, that internal worship is in external. But because the man Japheth, or the man of the external church, does not well know what internal things are, this shall be briefly told. When a man feels or perceives in himself that he has good thoughts concerning the Lord, and that he has good thoughts concerning the neighbor, and desires to perform kind offices for him, not for the sake of any gain or honor for himself; and when he feels that he has pity for anyone who is in trouble, and still more for one who is in error in respect to the doctrine of faith, then he may know that he dwells in the tents of Shem, that is, that he has internal things in him through which the Lord is working.