The Bible

 

Joel 1

Study

1 Riječ Jahvina koja dođe Joelu, sinu Petuelovu.

2 Čujte ovo, starci, počujte, svi žitelji zemlje! Je li ovakvo što ikad bilo u vaše dane il' u dane vaših otaca?

3 Recite ovo svojim sinovima, vaši sinovi svojim sinovima, a njihovi sinovi potonjem koljenu.

4 Što ostavi šaška, proždrije skakavac, što ostavi skakavac, proždrije gusjenica, što ostavi gusjenica, proždrije ljupilac.

5 Probudite se, pijanice, i plačite! Sve vinopije, tužite za novim vinom: iz usta vam je oteto.

6 Jer prekri moju zemlju narod moćan i bezbrojan; zubi su mu kao zubi lavlji, očnjaci mu kao u lavice.

7 Opustoši mi lozu vinovu i polomi smokve moje; oguli ih i razbaca, grane su im pobijeljele.

8 Plačite k'o djevica odjevena u kostrijet za zaručnikom svojim.

9 Nestade prinosnice i ljevanice iz Doma Jahvina. Tuže svećenici, sluge Jahvine.

10 Opustošeno polje, zemlja poharana. Poharano žito, vino propade, presahnu ulje.

11 Tugujte, težaci, kukajte, vinogradari, za pšenicom i za ječmom, jer propade žetva poljska.

12 Loza usahnu, uvenu smokva, mogranj, palma i jabuka: svako se drvo poljsko sasuši. Da, nestade radosti između sinova ljudskih.

13 Svećenici, opašite kostrijet i tužite! Službenici žrtvenika, naričite! Dođite, prenoćite u kostrijeti, službenici Boga mojeg! Jer iz Doma Boga našeg nesta prinosnice i ljevanice!

14 Naredite sveti post, proglasite zbor svečani; starješine, saberite sve stanovnike zemlje u kuću Jahve, Boga svojeg. Zavapijte Jahvi:

15 "Jao dana!" Jer Jahvin dan je blizu i dolazi k'o pohara od Svevišnjeg.

16 Ne iščeznu li hrana pred našim očima? Nije li nestalo radosti i sreće iz Doma Boga našega?

17 Istrunu zrnje pod grudama; puste su žitnice, porušene spreme jer žita nesta.

18 Kako li stoka uzdiše! Krda goveda podivljala lutaju jer im nema paše. Čak i stada ovaca kaznu podnose.

19 Tebi, Jahve, vapijem: oganj popali pašnjake pustinjske, plamen sažga sva stabla poljska.

20 Čak i zvijeri čeznu za tobom, jer presušiše potoci, oganj popali pašnjake pustinjske.

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Marriage #82

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82. Those who read the Word without doctrine - those who cannot avoid falling into many fallacies from the sense of the letter, which is in accordance with appearances in man's sight, and who have at the same time absorbed many falsities and convinced themselves of them, and who at the same time are consequently proud of their own intelligence - these produce adultery as of a father with his daughter-in-law.

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Society for the permission to use this translation.

Commentary

 

Fig

  
Still Life with Figs, by Luis Egidio Meléndez

In the Bible, a fig tree represents the "natural", outward life of a person in the world, and the thoughts and feelings directly connected it. Our natural selves have a tendency to be drawn toward evil, seduced by bodily pleasures and engaged in merely factual thinking. If our natural level is connected to a more elevated interior state, though, it can be engaged in doing the work of being good and gathering the knowledge that can be built up into truth. This "natural good" is represented by the figs themselves, the fruit borne by the tree. It's interesting how there is a hierarchy among the most common fruits in the Bible. Olives represent the most exalted human state, which is called "celestial" and is driven by love of the Lord. Grapes represent the next level, which is called "spiritual" and is led by truth from the Lord and love of the neighbor. Figs represent the lowest level, the natural. This makes sense if you think about it. Olives produce olive oil, which is not only food but can also be burned, and fire represents love. Grapes produce wine, which was prized in ancient times and which represents spiritual truth. Figs are food, giving the body energy to work.