The Bible

 

Genesis 1:6

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6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.

Commentary

 

Sea

  

Water generally represents “natural truth,” or true concepts about day-to-day matters and physical things. Since all water ultimately flows into the seas, then, it follows that a sea represents a huge agglomeration of such natural truths -- usually all of the natural truth a person has, or all the natural truth a church has. Water in the sea mixes freely, and is easily stirred up by winds and currents. This is also true of the concepts we hold about natural things -- they are not all related to each other, and when relationships do exist they usually can change without damaging the concepts themselves. Many of the concepts are easily disputed, and arguments can arise like waves on the ocean -- generally with little effect other than a mixing of waters. But the sea also offers great bounty. We draw fish from it (spiritual food), float ships (doctrinal systems) on it, bathe in it (using true concepts to purify ourselves), and the water that evaporates from it and falls as rain (purer forms of truth that can attach to desires for good) makes life possible.

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #1793

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1793. That 'the Lord Jehovih' is the Internal Man in relationship to the Interior Man is clear from what has been stated about the Lord's Internal Man, namely that it was Jehovah Himself, from whom He was conceived, whose only Son He was, and to whom the Lord's Human became united after the maternal human, that is, the human derived from the mother, had been purified by means of the conflicts brought about by temptations. In the Word 'Lord Jehovih' occurs quite often; indeed for as many times as Jehovah is called the Lord He is not named 'Lord Jehovah' but 'Lord Jehovih'; and especially so when temptations are the subject, as in Isaiah,

[2] Behold, the Lord Jehovih is coming with might, and His arm will exercise dominion for Him; behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him. He will pasture His flock like a shepherd, He will gather the lambs into His arm, and will carry them in His bosom, and will lead those that give suck. Isaiah 40:10-11.

Here 'the Lord Jehovih is coming with might' has reference to victory in the conflicts brought about by temptations. 'His arm will give Him dominion' stands for His winning it by His own power. What the 'reward' is that is referred to in the previous verse is stated here, namely that it is the salvation of the whole human race, that is, 'He pastures His flock like a shepherd, gathers the lambs in His arm, carries them in His bosom, and leads those giving suck', all of which things belong to inmost or Divine love.

[3] In the same prophet,

The Lord Jehovih opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I turned not backwards. I gave my body to the smiters, and my cheeks to those who pluck them. I hid not my face 1 from insults and spitting; and the Lord Jehovih will help me. Behold, the Lord Jehovih will help me. Isaiah 50:5-7, 9.

This plainly refers to temptations. And there are other examples besides these.

Footnotes:

1. literally, faces

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