8567. Why do ye tempt Jehovah? That this signifies that it was against the Divine, of whose aid they despair, is evident from the signification of “tempting Jehovah,” as being to complain against the Divine; that it denotes even to despairing of His aid, is because complaints in temptations involve such despair. For temptations are continual despairings of salvation, in the beginning slight, but in course of time grievous, until at last there is doubt, almost denial, of the presence of the Divine and of His aid. In temptations the spiritual life is for the most part brought to this extremity; for in this way the natural life is extinguished, because then, in the midst of the despair, the inmost is kept by the Lord in combat against falsity; and therefore this despair is soon dissipated by comfortings that are in the next place insinuated by the Lord; for after every spiritual temptation there is consolation, and as it were newness of life. (That temptations are carried even to despair, see n. 1787, 2694, 5279, 5280, 7147, 7155, 7166, 8165, and that after temptations there is consolation, n. 3696, 4572, 5246, 6829, 8367, 8370)

3696. And lay down in that place. That this signifies the tranquillity of the state, is evident from the signification of “lying down,” as being to be in a state of tranquillity; for “lying down” and “sleeping” signify nothing else. That in the internal sense this is the signification of “lying down,” may also be seen from other passages in the Word, concerning which just below. With those who are to be regenerated, who are here treated of in the internal representative sense, the case is that first of all they are in a state of tranquillity, or in a state of external peace (for external peace, or peace in externals, is called “tranquillity”); and the same is produced from the Divine state of peace that is inmostly within it; and it comes forth into the externals through the removal of cupidities and falsities; for these are what cause all unrest. Moreover at the beginning of his life, that is, during his infancy, every man is in a state of tranquillity; but as he advances in life, that is, grows up to manhood, he removes himself from this state, because he gives himself up to worldly cares, and consequently to anxieties caused by the cupidities of the love of self and of the world, and the derivative falsities.

[2] The case is almost the same with the new life in the man who is being regenerated: at first he is in a state of tranquillity; but as he passes into a new life, he also passes at the same time into an untranquil state; for the evils and falsities with which he had before become imbued emerge and come forth, and disturb him, and this at last to such a degree that he is in temptations and vexations inflicted by the diabolical crew, who are continually striving to destroy the state of his new life. Yet inmostly the man is in a state of peace, for unless this were with him inmostly, he would not combat, for in his battlings he is continually looking to this state as the end, and unless he had such an end, he would in no wise have power and strength to combat. This moreover is the reason why he overcomes; and because this is the end in view, he also comes into this state after the combats or temptations. This is like the state of spring, which succeeds the state of autumn and winter; or it is like the state of dawn, which succeeds evening and night. (That a state of peace in spiritual things is like spring and dawn in natural things, may be seen above, n. 1726, 2780; and that peace is from good and truth, and unrest from what is evil and false, n. 3170)

[3] That in the Word “to lie down” signifies a state of tranquillity, may be seen from the following passages.

In Moses:

If ye walk in My statutes, and keep My commandments and do them, I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid; and I will cause the evil wild beast to cease out of the land, neither shall the sword pass through your land (Leviticus 26:3, 6); where “lying down” is manifestly predicated of a state of peace and tranquillity; “evil beasts” denote the cupidities of evil (n. 45, 46, 908), which shall “cease;” the “sword” denotes, falsity fighting against truth (n. 2799), which shall not “pass through;” all which shows that peace and the tranquillity of peace are from good and truth, and that the destruction thereof is from evils and falsities.

[4] In Isaiah:

The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together (Isaiah 11:6-7); where the Lord is treated of, and the state of peace in His kingdom; that they shall “lie down together” signifies that they cannot be infested by any evil and falsity.

In Hosea:

In that day will I make a covenant for them with the wild beast of the field, and with the fowl of the heavens, and with the creeping thing of the earth; and I will break the bow and the sword and war out of the land, and will make them to lie down in confidence (Hos. 2:18); where in like manner “to lie down” signifies a state of tranquillity on the removal of falsities and evils, which occasion unrest.

[5] In David:

I will lay me down and sleep; and I will awake, for Jehovah sustaineth me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of the people that have set themselves against me round about (Psalms 3:5-6); where “to lie down and sleep” signifies a state of tranquillity and security. Again:

In peace I will both lay me down and sleep; for Thou, Jehovah alone, makest me to dwell in confidence (Psalms 4:8).

And again:

He will make me to lie down in green pastures; He will lead me to the waters of rest; He will restore my soul (Psalms 23:2-3).

From these passages it is evident that a state of peace and tranquillity is signified by “lying down;” and that by “lying down in that place” is signified the tranquillity of the state, for in the internal sense “place” signifies state (n. 3692).