Arcana Coelestia #37
37. As for the statement that 'the lights will be for signs, and for set times, and for days, and for years', this contains more arcana than can be presented at this point, though no arcanum at all is visible in the sense of the letter. For now only this can be said: Change in spiritual and celestial things takes place both on general and on particular scales, and is comparable to changes that take place through the day and through the year. Changes through the day are from morning to midday, from then on to evening, and through the night to the morning. Changes in the year similar, from spring to summer, from then on to autumn, and through winter to spring. These bring changes in temperature and amount of daylight, and so in the fertility of the earth. Compared to such changes are the changes that take place in spiritual and celestial things. Life without changes and variations would lead to sameness, and so no life at all. Good and truth would not be recognized and identified, let alone perceived. In the Prophets such changes are called 'ordinances', as in Jeremiah,
[Thus] said Jehovah who gives the sun for light by day and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for light by night, These ordinances will not depart from before Me. Jeremiah 31:35-36.
And in the same prophet,
Thus said Jehovah, If I have not established My covenant of day and night, the ordinances of heaven and earth . . . Jeremiah 33:25.
But these things will in the Lord's Divine mercy be dealt with at Genesis 8:12.
Psalms 108
1
O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.
2
Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will Awake early.
3
I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.
4
For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.
5
Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth;
6
That thy beloved may be delivered: save with thy right hand, and answer me.
7
God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.
8
Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver;
9
Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe; over Philistia will I triumph.
10
Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?
11
Wilt not thou, O God, who hast cast us off? and wilt not thou, O God, go forth with our hosts?
12
Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.
13
Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.
