Arcana Coelestia # 32
32. Love and faith are first called 'the great lights', then love is called 'the greater light' and faith 'the lesser light'. In reference to love it is said that it will have dominion over the day, and in reference to faith that it will have dominion over the night. Because these are arcana and have become hidden, especially at this end of an epoch, in the Lord's Divine mercy let the whole subject be opened up. The reason they have become hidden, especially at this present end of an epoch, is that now is the close of the age, when love is almost non-existent, and consequently faith too, just as the Lord Himself foretold in the Gospels with these words,
The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Matthew 24:29.
Here 'the sun' is used to mean love, which is 'darkened', 'the moon' faith which does not give its light, 'the stars' cognitions of faith which fall from heaven, and which are the various 'powers of the heavens'. The Most Ancient Church acknowledged no other faith than love itself; celestial angels as well do not know what faith is except faith which stems from love. Love pervades the whole of heaven, for in the heavens no other life is found except the life that belongs to love. This is the source of all happiness in heaven, a happiness so great that no aspect of it can be described or in any way captured in human concepts. People in whom this love is present love the Lord wholeheartedly. Yet they realize, say, and perceive that all love, thus all life, which belongs exclusively to love, and so all happiness, come from the Lord and nowhere else, and that they derive not one trace of love, life, and happiness from themselves. The Lord's being the source of all love was again represented by the greater light, that is, the sun, at the Transfiguration, for His face shone like the sun, and His garments became white as the light, Matthew 17:2. What is inmost is meant by His face, and what emanates from the inmost by His garments. Thus His Divinity is meant by the sun or love, and His Humanity by the light or wisdom coming from love.
Psalms 86
1
Hear, Yahweh, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
2
Preserve my soul, for I am godly. You, my God, save your servant who trusts in you.
3
Be merciful to me, Lord, for I call to you all day long.
4
Bring joy to the soul of your servant, for to you, Lord, do I lift up my soul.
5
For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive; abundant in loving kindness to all those who call on you.
6
Hear, Yahweh, my prayer. Listen to the voice of my petitions.
7
In the day of my trouble I will call on you, for you will answer me.
8
There is no one like you among the gods, Lord, nor any deeds like your deeds.
9
All nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord. They shall glorify your name.
10
For you are great, and do wondrous things. You are God alone.
11
Teach me your way, Yahweh. I will walk in your truth. Make my heart undivided to fear your name.
12
I will praise you, Lord my God, with my whole heart. I will glorify your name forevermore.
13
For your loving kindness is great toward me. You have delivered my soul from the lowest Sheol.
14
God, the proud have risen up against me. A company of violent men have sought after my soul, and they don't hold regard for you before them.
15
But you, Lord, are a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth.
16
Turn to me, and have mercy on me! Give your strength to your servant. Save the son of your handmaid.
17
Show me a sign of your goodness, that those who hate me may see it, and be shamed, because you, Yahweh, have helped me, and comforted me. A Psalm by the sons of Korah; a Song.
