Arcana Coelestia #3148
3148. 'And the feet of the men who were with him' means purification of all things that were His in the natural man. This is clear from the meaning of 'the feet' as the things that belong to the natural man, dealt with in 2162, and from the meaning of 'the men who were with him' as all things in the natural man. It was customary for wayfarers on entering any house to wash their feet, as when Joseph's brothers were brought into his house, Genesis 43:24; when the Levite and those accompanying him were received into the old man's house, Judges 19:21; and when Uriah after his journey was ordered by David to go down to his house and to wash his feet, 2 Samuel 11:8. The reason for this custom was that journeys and travels meant things to do with instruction, and consequently with life, see 1293, 1457, 1463, 2025, and that these had to be purified, as shown just above in 3147. And there was the added reason that the filth that is meant in the spiritual sense should not cling to and defile the house, which is the human being, as also is evident from the requirement that they were to shake off the dust on their feet if a city or house did not receive peace, Matthew 10:14.
Psalms 51
1
Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.
2
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin.
3
For I know my transgressions. My sin is constantly before me.
4
Against you, and you only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight; that you may be proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge.
5
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity. In sin my mother conceived me.
6
Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
7
Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8
Let me hear joy and gladness, That the bones which you have broken may rejoice.
9
Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all of my iniquities.
10
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.
11
Don't throw me from your presence, and don't take your holy Spirit from me.
12
Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit.
13
Then I will teach transgressors your ways. Sinners shall be converted to you.
14
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation. My tongue shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
15
Lord, open my lips. My mouth shall declare your praise.
16
For you don't delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have no pleasure in burnt offering.
17
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
18
Do well in your good pleasure to Zion. Build the walls of Jerusalem.
19
Then you will delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offerings and in whole burnt offerings. Then they will offer bulls on your altar. For the Chief Musician. A contemplation by David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, "David has come to Abimelech's house."
