"E mentre si avvicinavano, vide la città e pianse su di essa, dicendo: "Se aveste conosciuto, anche voi, soprattutto in questo vostro giorno, le cose che appartengono alla vostra pace! Ma ora sono nascoste ai vostri occhi"". (Luca 19:41,42 ).

"'Figlie di Gerusalemme, non piangete per me, ma piangete per voi stesse e per i vostri figli.... Perché se fanno queste cose nel bosco verde, che cosa si farà nel secco?" ( Luca 23:28,31).

Gesù pianse su Gerusalemme. Le donne piansero su di Lui, ed Egli disse loro di piangere per se stesse e per i loro figli. Dolore in un momento di trionfo, dolore in un momento di desolazione.

C'è ironia nella storia della Domenica delle Palme, perché sulla sua gioia pende l'ombra del tradimento, del processo e della crocifissione. La folla inferocita che chiedeva la sua crocifissione era la stessa moltitudine che lo aveva acclamato come re cinque giorni prima? Perché il Signore cavalcò in trionfo, sapendo le cose che sarebbero sicuramente accadute? Lo fece per annunciare che Lui, la verità divina dal bene divino, avrebbe governato tutte le cose; per darci un'immagine che resterà per sempre della Sua maestà. E poi gli eventi del Getsemani e del Calvario ci fanno conoscere la natura di quella maestà - che in effetti il Suo regno non è di questo mondo.

Possiamo immaginare la scena della Domenica delle Palme? Le folle si rallegravano e gridavano, e poi videro il loro Re piangere. Questo non fu un breve momento, ma un pianto prolungato, che fece sì che lo scrittore del vangelo ne sentisse parlare. Le loro grida si spensero mentre guardavano il Suo dolore, si meravigliarono quando pronunciò il castigo sulla città in cui vivevano? "I tuoi nemici costruiranno un terrapieno intorno a te, ti circonderanno e ti chiuderanno da ogni parte, e ti abbatteranno a terra, e i tuoi figli con te; e non lasceranno in te una pietra su un'altra perché non hai conosciuto il tempo della tua visita". Poi, forse, mentre Egli cavalcava, le acclamazioni ripresero e le strane parole furono dimenticate.

C'è ancora un'altra ironia, perché il popolo gridava che era arrivata la pace. "Benedetto il re che viene nel nome del Signore! Pace nei cieli e gloria nel più alto dei cieli!". Eppure, quando Gesù pianse, disse alla città: "Se tu avessi conosciuto, anche tu, soprattutto in questo tuo giorno, le cose che fanno la tua pace! Ma ora sono nascoste ai vostri occhi".

Questo grande panorama parla del mondo dentro ogni essere umano. È nella nostra mente, nel senso spirituale della parola, che Gesù cavalca in trionfo. Quando vediamo la meraviglia della sua verità, sentiamo il suo potere su tutte le cose, lo incoroniamo. Tutti gli eventi della Domenica delle Palme raccontano di quei momenti in cui riconosciamo che il Signore, il Dio visibile, governa le nostre menti attraverso la Parola che è in noi. È un momento di grande gioia. Come le moltitudini della Domenica delle Palme, sentiamo che questa visione spazzerà via tutto il male e il Signore regnerà facilmente in noi come nostro Re e nostro Dio.

Questi tempi felici vengono a noi, e possiamo rallegrarci in essi, e acclamare il nostro Signore e Re con giubilo. "Pace nei cieli e gloria nell'alto dei cieli!" La pace viene attraverso la congiunzione con il Signore che abbiamo visto (L'Apocalisse spiegata 369:9, 11). Eppure il Signore stesso sa che ci sono battaglie che verranno da coloro che non conoscono la pace. Anche di questo ci avverte nella Sua Parola. Nella Gerusalemme naturale del giorno del Signore i governanti avevano usato la falsità per distruggere la verità, e hanno portato molto dolore ai cristiani. Nella Gerusalemme spirituale nella nostra mente ci sono falsi valori che distruggono la pace. Prima di arrivare in cielo ci sarà una battaglia tra la nostra visione del Signore e il nostro amore per noi stessi che abuserà della verità per farlo accadere.

Così il Signore pianse, là sul monte degli Ulivi, mentre guardava la città. Il suo pianto era un segno di misericordia, perché Egli si addolora per gli stati in noi che ci faranno male e che si oppongono alla nostra pace. (Arcana Coelestia 5480; L'apocalisse spiegata 365 [9]; cfr. 365:11, 340). Eppure il Suo dolore è una forza attiva, è misericordia, che lavora per eliminare quegli stati. Gesù ha promesso che Gerusalemme sarebbe stata completamente distrutta - non una sola pietra rimasta in piedi. È vero che la Gerusalemme naturale fu rasa al suolo, ma non è questo che intendeva. Egli ci promette - anche se ci avverte delle battaglie che verranno - che Egli trionferà, e che la nostra Gerusalemme - le nostre scuse per fare il male - non staranno in piedi. Saranno decimate dalla Sua Parola. (Cfr. Arcana Coelestia 6588 [5]; L'apocalisse spiegata 365 [9]).

Ha pianto per misericordia, e ha promesso la fine del pianto, perché "la sua tenera misericordia è su tutte le sue opere".

Il Venerdì Santo c'era sicuramente motivo di piangere. Immaginate questa scena: Le donne stavano seguendo la croce, lamentandosi. Gesù doveva essere sanguinante per le frustate e sfregiato dalla corona di spine. Era circondato da persone che godevano nel vedere qualcuno morire. Quelli che lo chiamavano nemico erano soddisfatti di aver vinto.

I suoi seguaci erano desolati. Mai avrebbero immaginato che il sogno che aveva alimentato sarebbe finito così, o che il capo che amavano sarebbe stato trattato così terribilmente. Sentivano per Lui quello che erano sicuri fosse la Sua sofferenza. Piangevano per Lui.

Poi forse le folle che lo insultavano si placarono quando Egli si rivolse a coloro che piangevano. Per il suo infinito amore parlò. "Figlie di Gerusalemme, non piangete per me, ma piangete per voi stesse e per i vostri figli". Non pensava alla sua agonia imminente, si affliggeva per coloro che amava. Egli avrebbe trionfato. Era su di loro che la sofferenza sarebbe venuta. Quale immagine più chiara possiamo avere dello scopo che ha portato il nostro Dio sulla terra di questa frase? Egli è venuto perché le persone malvagie e i sentimenti malvagi portano miseria ai Suoi figli. Venne per dare loro gioia dopo il loro pianto, per dare loro consolazione e speranza, e infine per dare loro la certezza che non ci sarebbe stata più morte, né dolore né pianto.

Le donne di quel tempo hanno effettivamente affrontato il dolore fisico. È straziante apprendere delle persecuzioni dei cristiani, pensare a persone uccise perché adorano il loro Dio, a bambini che vengono loro tolti, a persone buone soggette alla misericordia di coloro che non conoscono misericordia. In effetti doveva sembrare che il Signore avesse ragione nel dire che sarebbe stato meglio che non avessero mai partorito figli che avrebbero sofferto così per la loro fede. "Perché infatti stanno arrivando i giorni in cui diranno: "Beate le sterili, i grembi che non hanno mai partorito e i seni che non hanno mai allattato!""

Ma la vera ragione per cui il Signore è sceso sulla terra è che all'interno della crudeltà fisica c'è un male molto più grande. Ci sono un sacco di persone che camminano su questa terra che non penserebbero di uccidere qualcun altro, ma che godono regolarmente nel togliere qualcosa di molto più prezioso - la sua capacità di seguire il suo Signore.

Ecco perché il Signore disse quelle parole: "Non piangete per me, ma piangete per voi stessi e per i vostri figli". Le figlie di Gerusalemme rappresentano l'amore gentile della verità con persone sincere in tutto il mondo. I loro figli sono la carità e la fede che viene dall'amore della verità. Queste sono le vittime del male, specialmente quando infesta una chiesa. Queste sono le cose che causano un pianto interiore, un dolore dello spirito che è tanto più devastante perché è silenzioso.

"Figlie di Gerusalemme", le ha chiamate. Il nostro amore innocente per la verità cresce insieme alla nostra giustificazione di essere egoisti. Infatti, è governato dall'auto giustificazione, come le figlie di Gerusalemme erano governate da una chiesa corrotta. Quando quelle donne cercarono di staccarsi dalla Chiesa ebraica furono perseguitate. Quando il nostro innocente amore per la verità cerca di portarci a seguire il Signore, soffriamo tentazioni nel nostro spirito. Gli inferi si alzano e ci tentano con tutti i piaceri egoistici e malvagi che abbiamo mai avuto, e noi davvero piangiamo per noi stessi.

Vedete, non è la verità stessa che soffre! "Non piangete per me", disse Gesù. La verità è onnipotente. È il nostro amore per questa verità che è tentato. Sono la nostra carità e la nostra fede - i figli di questo amore - che soffrono.

Infatti stanno arrivando i giorni in cui si dirà: "Beate le sterili, i ventri che non hanno mai partorito e i seni che non hanno mai allattato". Non ci sembra a volte che le persone che non hanno verità, che non hanno ideali, siano quelle felici? In effetti questa è una profezia che coloro che sono fuori dalla Chiesa e la trovano di nuovo avranno un tempo più facile di quelli che portano le falsità della vita nella battaglia.

La Domenica delle Palme, quando Gesù pianse, disse che Gerusalemme sarebbe stata distrutta. Come ho detto, in realtà stava promettendo la distruzione del male in noi. Il Venerdì Santo diede la stessa assicurazione: "Allora cominceranno a dire ai monti: "Cadeteci addosso!" e alle colline: "Copriteci!"". Queste parole apparentemente dure sono di conforto, perché promettono che quando la verità del Signore trionferà in noi, il cielo si avvicinerà. Quando ciò accadrà, gli inferni che ci tentano non potranno sopportare la presenza del cielo, e si copriranno e si nasconderanno.

"Perché se fanno queste cose nel bosco verde, che cosa si farà nel secco?". Gli ascoltatori sapevano cosa significava: se quando era in mezzo a loro hanno rifiutato la sua verità, cosa faranno quando il ricordo della sua presenza e dei suoi miracoli si sarà seccato? In senso interno il legno verde è la verità che è ancora viva per amore di essa. Anche quando vediamo gli ideali della Parola, lotteremo con la tentazione. Ma quando quel legno si secca, quando non possiamo sentire la vita e la potenza della verità, la battaglia diventa molto più dura.

In entrambe queste immagini - il Suo pianto nella Domenica delle Palme, il Suo triste avvertimento alle donne di piangere per se stesse e per i loro figli, il Signore ci sta preparando a combattere per ciò in cui crediamo. Come ci prepara? Assicurandoci, non solo delle prove che verranno, ma della certezza della vittoria ora che ha rivelato la sua potenza. C'è tanta meraviglia, tanta speranza di felicità eterna nella vera religione cristiana. Eppure nessun amore che valga la pena sarà mai nostro finché non avrà affrontato le sue sfide. Ci deve essere un tempo di pianto: il nostro Signore misericordioso che piange sulle nostre lotte e ci dà forza dalla misericordia; i nostri sogni e le nostre speranze che piangono quando temiamo che siano persi. Attraverso la prova esprimiamo il nostro impegno verso i nostri sogni, ed Egli ci libera.

Meno di ventiquattro ore prima del suo arresto il Signore parlò di nuovo del pianto. Durante l'ultima cena disse: "In verità vi dico che voi piangerete e vi lamenterete, ma il mondo si rallegrerà". Ma non si fermò lì. "E sarete addolorati, ma la vostra tristezza sarà trasformata in gioia. Una donna, quando è in travaglio, ha dolore perché è giunta la sua ora; ma appena ha dato alla luce il bambino, non si ricorda più dell'angoscia, per la gioia che un essere umano è nato nel mondo. Perciò tu ora hai dolore; ma io ti rivedrò e il tuo cuore si rallegrerà, e la tua gioia nessuno te la toglierà".

Quando fu crocifisso e risuscitò, devono aver pensato che ora le sue parole si erano avverate. Ora avevano trovato la gioia che nessuno poteva togliere loro. Forse quando hanno sofferto per mano dei persecutori e hanno trovato la gioia tra i compagni cristiani, hanno pensato lo stesso. E infine, quando avevano combattuto le loro battaglie private, e dalla Sua potenza avevano vinto il nemico dentro di loro, sapevano cosa intendeva veramente.

"Gesù pianse sulla città". "Piangete per voi stessi e per i vostri figli". Il nostro amore per la verità sarà minacciato e con esso la nostra speranza di vera fede e vera carità. Fu a questo scopo che Egli venne nel mondo e cavalcò in trionfo e bevve il calice del rifiuto e della morte apparente - per poter trasformare il nostro dolore in gioia. Perciò Egli poteva anche dire: "Nel mondo avrete tribolazioni; ma state allegri, io ho vinto il mondo". Amen.

(Riferimenti: Luca 19:29-44, 23:24-38)

518. And it fell upon the third part of the rivers and upon the fountains of the waters, signifies that consequently all understanding of truth perished and thereby the doctrine of the church. This is evident from the signification of "falling" from heaven, as being, in reference to stars, to perish (of which presently); also from the signification of "the third part," as being everything (of which above, n. 506, here all, because it is said of the understanding of truth and of doctrine, which are signified by "rivers" and "fountains of waters;" also from the signification of "rivers," as being the understanding of truth (of which presently); and from the signification of "fountains of waters," as being the Word and doctrine from the Word, thus "fountains" mean the truths of the Word and doctrinals (of which above, n. 483).

[2] When "to fall" is predicated of stars, which mean the knowledges of truth and good from the Word (as above), it signifies to perish, because when Divine truth in the spiritual world falls out of heaven to the earth there, where the evil are, it is turned into falsity, and when Divine truth becomes falsity it perishes. This is signified also by:

The stars shall fall from heaven (Matthew 24:29; Mark 13:25);

namely, that in the last time of the church the knowledges of truth and good will perish. That when Divine truth in the spiritual world falls out of heaven to the earth there, where the evil are, it is changed into falsity and thus perishes, may be seen above (n. 413, 418, 419, 489); for Divine truth is changed into falsity of the same character as the evil belonging to those into whom it flows. This becomes evident from the following experience: It has been granted me to observe carefully how Divine truth was changed into falsity while it was passing down deep into hell, and it was perceived that it was changed successively as it flowed down, at length even into what was most false.

[3] "Rivers" signify the understanding of truth, likewise intelligence, because "waters" signify truths, and the understanding is the receptacle and complex of truths, as a river is of waters, and because thought from the understanding, which is intelligence, is like a stream of truth. From the same origin, namely, from the signification of "waters" as being truths, a "fountain" signifies the Word and the doctrine of truth, and "pools," "lakes," and "seas," signify the knowledges of truth in the complex. That "waters" signify truths, and "living waters" truths from the Lord, may be seen above (n. 71, 483); and also in the following passages in this article.

[4] That "rivers" and "streams" signify the understanding of truth and intelligence can be seen from the Word where "rivers" and "streams" are mentioned. Thus in Isaiah:

Then shall the lame leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing; for waters shall break out in the wilderness, and brooks in the plain of the desert (Isaiah 35:6).

This is said of the Lord, also of the reformation of the Gentiles, and of the establishment of the church among them. "The lame who shall leap as a hart" signifies one who is not in genuine good because he is not in the knowledges of truth and good; "the tongue of the dumb which shall sing" signifies confession of the Lord by those who are in ignorance of the truth; "waters shall break out in the wilderness" signifies that there shall be truths where there were none before; "and brooks in the plain of the desert" signifies that there shall be intelligence where there was none before, "wilderness" meaning where there is no truth, and "plain of the desert" where there is no intelligence; "waters" mean truths, and "brooks" intelligence.

[5] In the same:

I will open rivers on the heights, and fountains will I place in the midst of the valleys, I will make the wilderness into a pool of waters, and the dry land into springs of waters (Isaiah 41:18).

This is said of the salvation of the Gentiles by the Lord; "to open rivers on the heights" means to bestow interior intelligence; and "to place fountains in the midst of valleys" means to instruct the external man in truths. (The rest may be seen explained in n. 483.)

[6] In the same:

Behold I am doing a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even place a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild beast of the field shall honor Me, the dragons and the daughters of the owl; because I will give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My people, My chosen (Isaiah 43:19, 20).

This treats of the Lord and of a new church to be established by Him, which is meant by "Behold I am doing a new thing; now it shall spring forth;" "to place a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert" signifies that there shall be truth and the understanding of truth where there were none before, "way" meaning truth leading to heaven, and "rivers" understanding; "to give drink to the people" signifies to instruct those who desire it; "the wild beast of the field, the dragons, and the daughters of the owl" signify those who know truths and goods merely from memory, and do not understand and perceive them; these speak about truth with no idea of truth, depending solely upon others.

[7] In the same:

I will pour out waters upon him that is thirsty, and streams upon the dry ground; I will pour out My spirit upon thy seed, and My blessing upon thine offspring (Isaiah 44:3).

"To pour out waters upon him that is thirsty" signifies to instruct in truths those who are in the affection of truth; "to pour streams upon the dry land" signifies to give intelligence to those who are in a desire for truth from good; the like is signified by "pouring out the spirit and the blessing;" for God's "spirit" signifies Divine truth, and "blessing" its multiplication and fructification, thus intelligence. Who does not see that here and above, waters and streams, wilderness and desert, are not meant, but such things as pertain to the church? Therefore it is here added, "I will pour out My spirit upon thy seed, and My blessing upon thine offspring."

[8] In Moses:

For Jehovah leadeth thee to a land of brooks of water, of fountains, of depths flowing forth in valley and mountain (Deuteronomy 8:7).

The land of Canaan, to which Jehovah was to lead them, signifies the church, therefore "brooks of water, fountains, and depths flowing forth in valley and mountain," signify such things as belong to the church; "brooks of water" signifying the understanding of truth, "fountains" doctrinals from the Word, and "depths flowing forth in valley and mountain" the knowledges of truth and good in the natural and in the spiritual man.

[9] In Isaiah:

Look upon Zion and Jerusalem, where the glorious Jehovah will be with us a place of rivers, of streams, of breadth of spaces; no ship of oar shall go therein, and no magnificent ship shall pass through it (Isaiah 33:20, 21).

Here, too, "a place of rivers and streams" signifies wisdom and intelligence (the signification of the rest is explained above, n. 514.

[10] In Joel:

In that day the mountains shall drop down must, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the watercourses of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall go forth out of the house of Jehovah and shall water the brook of Shittim (Joel 3:18).

(This also has been explained above, n. 433, 483.) "The fountain that shall go forth out of the house of Jehovah" signifies the truth of doctrine out of heaven from the Lord; and "the brook of Shittim that it shall water," signifies the illustration of the understanding.

[11] In Ezekiel:

The waters issued out from under the threshold of the house of God towards the east. The man led me and brought me back upon the bank of the river. When I returned, behold upon the bank of the river very many trees on the one side and on the other. He said, Every living soul that creepeth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live; whence there are exceeding many fish, because these waters come thither and are healed, that everything may live whither the river cometh. And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, cometh up every tree for food, whose leaf falleth not, neither is the fruit thereof consumed; it is renewed in its months, because its waters flow out of the sanctuary (Ezekiel 47:1-12).

This, too, has been explained above (n. 422, 513), which makes evident that "the waters flowing out of the house of God towards the east" signify Divine truth proceeding from the Lord and flowing in with those who are in the good of love; and that "the river, upon the bank of which was every tree for food, and by the waters of which every soul that creepeth lived, whence there were many fish," signifies intelligence from the reception of Divine truth, from which all things with man, his affections and perceptions, as well as his cognitions and knowledges and the thoughts therefrom acquire spiritual life.

[12] In Jeremiah:

Blessed is the man that trusteth in Jehovah; He shall be like a tree planted by the waters and that sendeth forth his roots by the stream, and he shall not see when the heat shall come, his leaf shall be green (Jeremiah 17:7, 8).

"The tree planted by the waters" means a man with whom there are truths from the Lord; "he sendeth forth his roots by the stream" means the extension of intelligence from the spiritual man into the natural. (The rest may be seen explained above, n. 481.)

Where trees and gardens are treated of in the Word, waters and rivers to water them are also mentioned, for the reason that "trees" signify perceptions and knowledges, and "waters" and "rivers" truths and understanding therefrom; for without the understanding of truths man is like a garden where there is no water, whose trees wither away.

[13] As in Moses:

As the valleys are they planted, as gardens by the river, as lign-aloes – three times which Jehovah hath planted, and as cedar-trees beside the waters (Numbers 24:6).

This is said of the sons of Israel, by whom the church is signified which was then to be planted. This church is compared to valleys which are planted, and to a garden by the river, because "valleys" signify the intelligence of the natural man, and a "garden" the intelligence of the spiritual man, and it is compared to lign-aloes – three times and cedar-trees, because "lign-aloes – three times" signify the things of the natural man, and "cedar-trees" the things of the rational man; since these all live from the influx of Divine truth from the Lord they are said to be planted "by the river and beside the waters," which signifies Divine truth flowing in, from which is intelligence.

[14] As "the garden in Eden" or "paradise" means the wisdom and intelligence that the most ancient people had who lived before the flood, so where their wisdom is described, the influx of Divine truth, and of intelligence thence, is also described in these words:

A river went forth from Eden to water the garden, and from thence it was parted and was in four heads (Genesis 2:10, et seq.). "A river from Eden" signifies wisdom from love, which is Eden; "to water the garden" means to bestow intelligence; intelligence is described by the four rivers there treated of. (This may be seen explained in Arcana Coelestia 107-121.)

[15] In Ezekiel:

Asshur, a cedar in Lebanon. The waters made it grow, the abyss made it high, so that with its rivers it went round about its plant, and sent out its conduits unto all the trees of the field (Ezekiel 31:3, 4).

"Asshur" signifies the rational man, or the rational of man, likewise "the cedar in Lebanon;" and because the genuine rational is perfected by the knowledges of truth and good it is said that "the waters made it grow, and the abyss made it high," "waters" meaning truths, and "the abyss" the knowledges of truth in the natural man; the increase of intelligence is signified by "with its rivers it went round about its plant;" and the multiplication of the knowledges of truth by "it sent out its conduits unto all the trees of the field."

[16] In David:

Thou hast caused a vine to go forth out of Egypt. Thou hast sent out its boughs unto the sea, and its shoots unto the river (Psalms 80:8, 11).

"A vine out of Egypt" means the sons of Israel, who are called a "vine" because they represented the spiritual church, which is what "vine" signifies in the Word; their tarrying in Egypt represented their first initiation into the things of the church, for "Egypt" signified the knowledges [scientifica] subservient to the things of the church when, therefore, "the vine" signifies the church, and "Egypt" the knowledge serving it, it is evident what is signified in the spiritual sense by "Thou hast caused a vine to go forth out of Egypt." The extension of the intelligence of the church even to things known and things rational is signified by "Thou hast sent out its boughs unto the sea, and its shoots unto the river;" "to send out boughs and shoots" meaning multiplication and extension, the "sea" knowledge []scientificum]; and the "river," which here is the Euphrates, the rational. The extension of the church and the multiplication of its truths and of intelligence therefrom are described by the extension of the land of Canaan to the Sea Suph, to the sea of the Philistines, and to the river Euphrates.

[17] In Moses:

And I will set thy border from the Sea Suph even to the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness even to the river (Exodus 23:31).

"The borders of the land of Canaan" signify the ultimates of the church, which are true knowledges [scientifica vera], cognitions of truth and good from the Word, and things rational. "The Sea Suph" signifies true knowledge; "the sea of the Philistines," where Tyre and Sidon were, signifies the knowledges of truth and good from the sense of the letter of the Word; and "the river Euphrates" signifies the rational; for knowledges [scientifica] serve the cognitions of truth and good from the Word, and both these serve the rational, and the rational serves intelligence, which is given by means of spiritual truths joined to spiritual good.

[18] The like that is here said of the church and its extension is said of the Lord's power over all things of heaven and the church, in David:

I will set his hand in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers (Psalms 89:25).

This is said of David, by whom is here meant the Lord; the Lord's power, even to the ultimates of heaven and the church, thus over the whole heaven, and over everything of the church, is signified by "setting the hand in the sea, and the right hand in the rivers," "hand" and "right hand" signify power, and the "sea" and "rivers" the ultimates of heaven and the church. The ultimates of heaven are seas and rivers, as has been several times said above. These were represented by the two seas and by the two rivers that formed the boundaries of the land of Canaan. The two seas were the sea of Egypt and the sea of the Philistines, where were Tyre and Sidon; and the two rivers were the Euphrates and the Jordan. But the Jordan was the boundary between the interior land of Canaan and the exterior; in the exterior were the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh. Likewise in Zechariah:

His dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth (Zechariah 9:10).

This, too, is said of the Lord, and has a like meaning; His dominion even to the ultimates of heaven and the church means over all things of heaven and the church, for the ultimates are the boundaries.

[19] In David:

Thy throne is established from then; Thou art from everlasting. The rivers have lifted up, O Jehovah, the rivers have lifted up their voice; the rivers have lifted up their roaring. More than the voices of many glorious waters, more than the waves of the sea, Jehovah is glorious (Psalms 93:2-4).

This, too, is said of the Lord; His dominion from eternity to eternity over heaven and earth is signified by "Thy throne is established from then; Thou art from everlasting." The glorification of the Lord because of His coming and because of the consequent salvation of mankind is signified by "the rivers have lifted up their voice (and their roaring);" for "rivers," here three times mentioned, signify all things of man's intelligence, both in the internal and in the external man. Divine truth from the Lord, through which there is power and through which there is salvation, is signified by "more than the voices of many glorious waters, more than the waves of the sea," "waters" meaning truths, and "the voices of many glorious waters" Divine truths.

[20] The glorification and celebration of the Lord from joy of heart are thus described elsewhere in David:

Let the sea and the fullness thereof give forth a sound, the world and they that dwell therein. Let the rivers clap their hands; let the mountains sing aloud together (Psalms 98:7, 8).

The glorification of the Lord by the universal heaven is signified by these words. The glorification from its ultimates is signified by "Let the sea and the fullness thereof give forth a sound;" the glorification from the whole heaven is signified by "let the world and they that dwell therein give forth a sound," "the world" signifying the universal heaven in respect to its truths, and "they that dwell therein" signifying the universal heaven in respect to its goods; for "inhabitants" signify in the Word those who are in the goods of heaven and the church, and thus the goods of such. The glorification of the Lord by the truths of intelligence and by the goods of love, is signified by "let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing aloud together," "rivers" meaning the truths of intelligence, and "mountains" the goods of love.

[21] Divine truth from the Lord, the reception of which is the source of intelligence, is signified by "the waters from the rock in Horeb" (Exodus 17:6), thus spoken of in David:

He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and made them to drink out of the great abysses, and He brought flowing waters out of the rock, and made the waters to run down like rivers. He smote the rock, so that the waters gushed out and the brooks overflowed (Psalms 78:15, 16, 20).

And again:

He opened the rock that the waters might flow; the rivers ran in the dry places (Psalms 105:41).

The "rock" here means the Lord; and the "waters that flowed out therefrom" mean Divine truth from Him; and the "rivers" signify intelligence and wisdom therefrom; "to drink of the great abysses" signifies to imbibe and perceive the arcana of wisdom.

[22] In John:

Jesus said, If anyone thirst, let him come unto Me and drink. He that cometh unto Me, as the Scripture saith, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. This saith He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him were to receive (John 7:37-39).

"To come to the Lord and drink" signifies to receive from Him the truths of doctrine and belief therein; that spiritual intelligence is therefrom is signified by "out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water," "living water" being Divine truth which is from the Lord alone, "rivers" the things belonging to intelligence, and the "belly" thought from memory, for to this the belly corresponds; and as "rivers of living water" signify intelligence through Divine truth from the Lord it is added, "this saith He of the spirit which they that believe on Him were to receive," "the spirit that they were to receive from the Lord," meaning Divine truth and intelligence therefrom; so, too, the Lord called the spirit that they received "the spirit of truth" (John 14:16-18; 16:7-15).

[23] In David:

Jehovah hath founded the world upon the seas, and established it upon the rivers (Psalms 24:2).

The "world" signifies heaven and the church in the whole complex, the "seas" signify cognitions and knowledges which are the ultimates of the church, and in particular, the cognitions of truth and good, such as are in the sense of the letter of the Word; "rivers" signify introduction through knowledges into heavenly intelligence. This makes clear the meaning of these words in the spiritual sense, namely, that the interior things of heaven and the church, which are called celestial and spiritual, are founded upon the cognitions of truth and good which are in the sense of the letter of the Word rationally understood. It is said, "He hath founded the world upon the seas and established it upon the rivers," because there are seas and rivers in the boundaries of heaven, represented by the Sea Suph, the sea of the Philistines, the river Euphrates, and the river Jordan, which were the boundaries of the land of Canaan; and because what is ultimate means in the Word what is lowest, it is said that Jehovah "founded" and "established" upon these. Evidently the earth is not founded upon seas and rivers.

[24] In the same:

The Lord at thy right hand hath stricken through kings in the day of His anger, He hath judged among the nations, He hath filled with dead bodies, He hath stricken through the head over many a land. He drinketh out of the brook in the way; therefore shall He exalt the head (Psalms 110:5-7).

This is said of the Lord, and of His combat against falsities and evils from the hells, and of their subjugation. "Kings" mean falsities from hell, and "nations" evils therefrom. The Lord's Divine power is meant by "the Lord at the right hand;" "He hath stricken through them in the day of His anger, He hath judged among the nations, and He hath filled with dead bodies," signifies the subjugation and destruction of evils and falsities from the hells; "the head that He hath stricken through in many a land," means the love of self, which is the source of all evils and falsities; "to strike through in many a land" signifies total destruction and damnation; "the brook out of which the head drinketh," and because of which "it shall be exalted," signifies the Word in the letter, "to drink out of it" meaning to learn something from it, and "to lift up the head" meaning to resist for a time; for all those who are in falsities from evil cannot be cast down into hell until the things that they know from the Word are taken away from them, since all things of the Word communicate with heaven, by which communication they exalt the head; but when these are taken away they are cast down into hell. This is the meaning of these words, which no one can see except by means of the spiritual sense and a knowledge of the quality of the Word.

[25] In Habakkuk:

Was Jehovah displeased with the rivers? Was Thine anger against the rivers? Was Thy wrath against the sea? Because Thou ridest upon Thy horses, Thy chariots are salvation (Habakkuk 3:8).

This is a supplication that the church may be guarded and not perish; the "rivers" and the "sea" signify all things of the church, because they are its ultimates (as above); "to ride upon horses," in reference to Jehovah, that is, the Lord, signifies the Divine wisdom which is in the Word; and "chariots" signify doctrinals therefrom.

[26] In David:

We will not fear when the earth shall be changed, and when the mountains shall be moved from ¹ the heart of the seas; the waters thereof shall be in tumult, shall be made turbid, the mountains shall quake in the pride thereof. There is a river the streams whereof shall make glad the holy city of God, the dwelling places of the Most High; God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved (Psalms 46:2-5).

This involves in the spiritual sense, that although the church and all things thereof perish, still the Word and the Divine truth it contains shall not perish; for the "earth" signifies the church; "mountains" signify the goods of love; "waters" truths; and "to be changed," "to be moved," "to be in tumult" "to be made turbid" and "to quake" signify the states of these when they perish, and falsities and evils enter in their place, consequently the states of the church when it is vastated in respect to goods and desolated in respect to truths (See above, n. 304, 405, where this is more completely explained). That the Word or Divine truth for the church is not to perish is signified by "There is a river the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God; she shall not be changed;" "river" signifying here the like as "fountain," namely, the Word, because "streams" are predicated of it, by which are signified truths; the "city of God" signifies the church in respect to doctrine; "to make glad" signifies influx and reception from joy of heart, and "not to be changed" signifies not to perish in any respect.

[27] In Isaiah:

Then the waters shall fail in ² the sea, and the river shall dry up and become dry, and the rivers shall recede; the rivers of Egypt shall be minished and dried up, the reed and flag shall wither; the paper reeds by the stream near the mouth of the stream, and all seed of the stream shall become dry, be driven away, and be no more (Isaiah 19:5-7).

This is said of Egypt, which signifies the knowing faculty [scientificum] of the natural man, and its "stream" the cognition and apperception of truth, and in the contrary sense the apperception of falsity; that these are to perish is signified by "the stream shall dry up and become dry;" that thus there would be no longer truths, not even natural and sensual truths, which are the lowest, is signified by "the reed and flag shall wither, the paper reeds by the stream, and all the seed of the stream shall become dry, be driven away, and be no more."

[28] In the same:

I have digged and have drunk waters; and with the sole of my steps have I dried up all the streams of Egypt (Isaiah 37:25).

These are the words of Senacherib, the king of Assyria, by whom the perverted rational destroying all knowledge and apperception of truth is signified; this is signified by his "drying up with the sole of his steps all the streams of Egypt." The "streams of Egypt" signify knowledges and apperceptions of truth, because "Egypt" signifies the natural man in respect to knowledges (scientifica), and cognition and apperception belong to the natural man, as intelligence does to the spiritual man.

[29] In Ezekiel:

They shall draw out their swords against Egypt, to fill the land with the slain. Then will I make the rivers dry land, and will sell the land into the hand of evil ones; and I will make the land waste, and the fullness thereof, by the hand of strangers (Ezekiel 30:11, 12).

"Egypt" signifies the knowing faculty [scientificum] of the natural man serving the intelligence of the rational and spiritual man. The destruction of true knowledges [scientifica] by falsities is signified by "They shall draw out their swords against Egypt," "swords" signifying falsities destroying truths; the "slain" signify those who are destroyed by falsities; "to make the rivers dry land" signifies that there shall no longer be any cognition or apperception of truth; "to sell the land into the hand of evil ones and to make it waste by the hand of strangers," signifies to destroy by evils and by falsities, "strangers" signifying falsities.

[30] In Zechariah:

All the depths of the river shall be dried up, and the pride of Assyria shall be cast down, and the staff of Egypt shall depart away (Zechariah 10:11).

"All the depths of the river (namely, the Euphrates) shall be dried up" signifies that all the acute reasonings from self-intelligence shall perish; the "pride of Assyria" signifies the self-intelligence of the perverted rational; "the staff of Egypt shall depart away" signifies that the knowledges [scientifica] that serve such reasonings shall be of no avail.

[31] In Isaiah:

I will lay waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herb; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools (Isaiah 42:15).

"I will lay waste mountains and hills" signifies that the goods of love and charity will perish; "and dry up all their herb" signifies that the truths that are from those goods will perish; "I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools," signifies that intelligence and knowledge of truth will perish.

[32] In the same:

Behold, at My rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers into a wilderness; their fish shall rot because there is no water, and shall die (Isaiah 50:2).

(See above, n. 342), where this is explained.)

In Nahum:

He rebuketh the sea and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers (Nahum 1:4).

In David:

Jehovah maketh rivers into a wilderness, and water springs into dry ground (Psalms 107:33).

In Job:

A man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? The waters depart from the sea, and the river drieth up and becometh dry (Job14:10, 11).

[33] It has been shown thus far that "rivers" signify the understanding of truth and intelligence. In the contrary sense "rivers" signify the understanding of falsity and reasoning from self-intelligence which is in favor of falsities and opposes truths, as is evident from the following passages. In Isaiah:

He shall send ambassadors by the sea to a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled (1 Isaiah 18:2).

"Rivers" here signify the falsities of self-intelligence that destroy. (What the rest signifies see explained above, n. 304, 331.) In the same:

When thou shalt pass through the waters I will be with thee; and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee (Isaiah 43:2).

"To pass through waters and through rivers and not be overflowed" signifies that falsities and reasonings from falsities against truths shall not corrupt.

[34] In Jeremiah:

Behold waters rising up out of the north, which like ³ an overflowing stream shall overflow the land and its fullness (Jeremiah 47:2).

"Waters out of the north" signify the falsities of doctrine from self-intelligence; these are compared to "a stream overflowing the land," because a "stream" signifies reasoning from falsities, the "land" the church, and "its overflow by a stream" its destruction by falsities.

[35] In David:

Unless Jehovah were for us when man rises up against us, then the waters had overflowed us, the river had gone over our soul; then the waters of the proud had gone over our soul (Psalms 124:2, 4, 5).

The "waters of the proud" here mentioned, signify falsities favoring the love of self and confirming it, also the falsities of doctrine from self-intelligence; the "river" signifies reasoning from falsities against truths; this makes clear what is meant by "Unless Jehovah were for us, when man rises up against us," namely, when man from himself, from self-love, and from self-intelligence, rises up and endeavors to destroy the truths of the church; for this treats of Israel, by whom the church is signified; the "waters that had overflowed them," and the "rivers that had gone over their soul," signify falsities and reasonings from falsities, and the consequent destruction of the spiritual life that man has through truths and through a life according to them; "waters" signify falsities, "rivers" reasonings from them, and "overflowing and going over the soul" signifies the destruction of spiritual life.

[36] In Isaiah:

Behold, the Lord will make to go up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, the king of Assyria and all his glory; and he shall go up over all his channels, and shall go over all his banks; and he shall go through Judah, and shall overflow (Isaiah 8:7, 8).

"Assyria" and its king signify in the Word the rational, here the rational perverted; so "his river" which was the Euphrates, means reasoning, and "the waters of the river" mean falsities confirmed by reasonings; these therefore are signified by "the waters of the river, strong and many," which are called "strong" from cupidity, and "many" from falsity; the abundance of falsities from evil destroying the truths of the good of the church is signified by "the waters of the river shall go up over all his channels, and over all his banks," also "he shall go through Judah, and shall overflow," "Judah" signifying the church where the Word is.

[37] In Jeremiah:

What hast thou to do with the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? Or what hast thou to do with the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river? (Jeremiah 2:18).

The "waters of Sihor," or of Egypt, signify false knowledges, or knowledges confirming falsities, and "the waters of the river" signify false reasonings from these, thus such as are from self-intelligence; that such falsities and reasonings must not be imbibed is what these words signify.

[38] In the same:

Towards the north, by the bank of the river Euphrates, have they stumbled and fallen. Who is this that cometh up like a stream, whose waters are tossed like the streams? Egypt cometh up like a stream, and his waters are tossed like streams; for he saith, I will come up, I will cover the earth, I will destroy the city and those that dwell in it (Jeremiah 46:6-8).

This signifies the destruction of the church and of its truths by false reasonings from confirming knowledges [scientifica]; the "north" signifies those in whom and from whom there is falsity, the "river Euphrates" false reasonings, "Egypt" confirming knowledges, the "waters that are tossed" falsities themselves, and "to come up, to cover the earth, to destroy the city and those that dwell in it," signifies the destruction of the church and of its doctrine, the "earth" meaning the church, the "city" doctrine of truth, and "those that dwell in it" its goods. Like things are signified by the Nile, "the river of Egypt," and by the Euphrates, "the river of Assyria," elsewhere in the Word (as in Isaiah 7:18, 19; 11:15, 16; Ezekiel 29:3-5, 10; 31:15; 32:2; Psalms 74:14, 15; 78:44; Exodus 7:17-21); also by "the rivers of Babylon" (Psalms 137:1). As all spiritual temptations come through falsities that break into the thoughts and infest the interior mind, thus through reasonings from falsities, so temptations are signified by the inundations of waters and by the irruptions of rivers and torrents. As in Jonah:

Thou hadst cast me into the depths, even into the heart of the seas; and the river was round about me; all Thy waves and Thy billows passed over me (Jonah 2:3).

In David:

The cords of death compassed me, and the brooks of Belial terrified me (Psalms 18:4).

In Matthew:

And the rain descended, and the rivers came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house; yet it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock (Matthew 7:25, 27).

In Luke:

When a flood arose, the stream dashed against that house and could not shake it; for it had been founded upon a rock (Luke 6:48, 49).

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