In some ways, this verse expresses the pinnacle of human existence, the most beautiful, joyous state we have ever experienced: people at their purest and most loving living in a state of love and wisdom given them by the Lord.

This happened thousands of years ago, before the beginning of recorded history, in what the Writings call the Most Ancient Church, represented here by "man." A garden represents the intellect and Eden represents love, so the man in the Garden of Eden represents people pure of heart in a state of love to the Lord and the wisdom that comes from that love.

It's interesting that the man is to "dress" the garden ("serve" would be a more literal translation) and "keep" it. "Serving" in the Bible generally represents a more external spiritual state serving a more exalted one. "Keeping" means expressing higher spiritual things through lower ones, including external forms of worship. It seems, then, that the people of the Most Ancient Church were to serve the love in the garden and express the wisdom coming from that love.

The Writings also say directly that this means the love and the wisdom were not their own, but were from the Lord, and that they knew it to be true.

(რეკომენდაციები: Arcana Coelestia 122, 123, 124)

Title: The River of God

Topic: Word

Summary: River imagery pervades the Bible from Genesis to Revelation and visions often occur by rivers. What is the river of God and how can we tap into it?

Use the reference links below to follow along in the Bible as you watch.

References:
Genesis 2:8-14
Psalms 1:1-3; 46:1-5; 65:3, 5-13
Isaiah 30:18-26; 32:1-2; 41:17-18; 43:1-2; 48:16-18
Jeremiah 17:5-8, 10; 31:9
Ezekiel 1:1, 3; 3:15, 23; 10:15; 29:1-5, 9; 32:2; 43:1-3; 47:1-12
Daniel 8:2-3; 10:4-5, 7; 12:5-7
Zechariah 14:8-9
Matthew 3:5-6
John 7:37-38
Revelation 7:15-17; 21:6; 22:1-2, 17