Arcana Coelestia #9595
9595. 'Ten curtains' means all the truths of which it consists. This is clear from the meaning of 'ten' as all, dealt with in 4638, so that 'a tenth part', which is one curtain, means a sufficient amount, 8468, 8540; and from the meaning of 'curtains' as the interior truths of faith which belong to the new understanding. For 'the dwelling-place' means the middle or second heaven, which is heaven by virtue of its reception of Divine Truth emanating from the Lord's Divine Good, as shown above in 9594; consequently the curtains of which it was assembled and which enveloped it are the truths of faith belonging to the new understanding. They are interior truths, because exterior truths are meant by the curtains made from [the hair of] goats for the tent going all the way round, which are also dealt with in the present chapter.
[2] The fact that 'curtains' are the truths of faith which those in the Lord's spiritual kingdom possess is clear from places in the Word where they are mentioned, as in Isaiah,
Sing, O barren one that did not bear; for the sons of her that is desolate will be more than the sons of her that is married. Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwelling-places. Lengthen the ropes, because you will break out to the right and to the left, and your seed will inherit the nations. Isaiah 54:1-3.
This refers to the Church to be established among the gentiles, which is called 'a barren one that did not bear' because it lacks truths from the Word, 9325. It says that 'her sons will be more than those of her that is married' because it will have more truths than the devastated former Church had; for 'sons' are truths, 489, 491, 533, 1147, 3373, 3704. 'Enlarging the place of the tent' stands for the holiness of worship springing from the good of love, 3312, 4391, 4599, 'stretching out the curtains of dwelling-places' for the holiness of worship springing from the truths of faith.
[3] In Jeremiah,
The whole land has been laid waste. Suddenly My tents have been laid waste, My curtains in a moment. Jeremiah 4:20.
'A land laid waste' stands for the Church, 9325, 'tents laid waste' for the holiness of worship springing from the good of love, 'curtains laid waste' for holy worship springing from the truths of faith.
[4] In the same prophet,
My tent has been laid waste, and all My ropes torn away. My sons have gone away from Me, and they are not. There is no one stretching out My tent any more, and setting up My curtains. For the shepherds have become stupid. Jeremiah 10:20-21.
Here the meaning is similar. In the same prophet,
Arise and go up against Arabia, and lay waste the sons of the east. They will take their tents and flocks, their curtains and all their vessels, and bear their camels away for themselves. Jeremiah 49:28-29.
'Arabia' and 'the sons of the east' stand for those with cognitions or knowledge of goodness and truth, 3249; 'taking tents and flocks' stands for taking the Church's forms of interior good, 8937, 'taking curtains' for taking the Church's interior truths, 'their vessels' the Church's exterior truths, 3068, 3079, 'camels' general facts, 3048, 3071, 3143, 3145. In Habakkuk,
Below Aven I saw the tents of Cushan; the curtains of Midian shook. Habakkuk 3:7.
'The curtains of Midian' stands for the truths with those governed by simple good, 3242, 4756, 4788, 6773, 6775.
[5] All this shows what is meant by the following in David,
O Jehovah, You have put on glory and honour - He who covers Himself with light, as if with a garment; He stretches out the heavens like a curtain. Psalms 104:1-2.
'Covering Himself with light, as if with a garment' stands for Divine Truths. Truth is meant by 'light', see 9548, and also by 'a garment', 4545, 4763, 5319, 5954, 9093, 9212, 9216; therefore 'stretching out the heavens like a curtain' means enlarging the heavens by means of an influx of God's truth, from which come intelligence and wisdom. 'Stretching and spreading out the heavens' has reference to the new or regenerated understanding part of the mind, see at the end of the very next paragraph, 9596.
Psalms 103
1
Praise Yahweh, my soul! All that is within me, Praise his holy name!
2
Praise Yahweh, my soul, and don't forget all his benefits;
3
who forgives all your sins; who heals all your diseases;
4
who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies;
5
who satisfies your desire with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6
Yahweh executes righteous acts, and justice for all who are oppressed.
7
He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the children of Israel.
8
Yahweh is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness.
9
He will not always accuse; neither will he stay angry forever.
10
He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor repaid us for our iniquities.
11
For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his loving kindness toward those who fear him.
12
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13
Like a father has compassion on his children, so Yahweh has compassion on those who fear him.
14
For he knows how we are made. He remembers that we are dust.
15
As for man, his days are like grass. As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
16
For the wind passes over it, and it is gone. Its place remembers it no more.
17
But Yahweh's loving kindness is from everlasting to everlasting with those who fear him, his righteousness to children's children;
18
to those who keep his covenant, to those who remember to obey his precepts.
19
Yahweh has established his throne in the heavens. His kingdom rules over all.
20
Praise Yahweh, you angels of his, who are mighty in strength, who fulfill his word, obeying the voice of his word.
21
Praise Yahweh, all you armies of his, you servants of his, who do his pleasure.
22
Praise Yahweh, all you works of his, in all places of his dominion. Praise Yahweh, my soul!
