Explanation of Isaiah 44
By Rev. John H. Smithson
THE EXPLANATION of Isaiah Chapter 44
(Note: Rev. Smithson's translation of the Isaiah text is appended below the explanation.)
1. BUT hear now, O Jacob, My servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen:
VERSES 1-6. These words imply that GOD MESSIAH gives to the regenerate man spiritual and celestial gifts.
By "Jacob My servant, and Israel My chosen", are understood all the regenerate. "Fear you not, O My servant Jacob", etc., are words of exhortation that man may not despair in temptations, and that he may thus be supported, wherefore he is here called "Jeshurun", [see note, p 451.] and not Israel. "Waters upon the thirsty" are spiritual gifts and comforts; the "thirsty" and the "dry" are predicated of him who is in temptation; "your seed" is everything which is sown, as in a field, in the man who is about to be regenerated; the "blessing" is the increase, and the "offspring" are the things which are hence horn; hence the "grass" or the "new creature", as he is then called; the regenerate are compared to " trees by the water-brooks." Verse 5 treats of the quality of the new man, that is, when he has put on the new man, namely, that he shall be called by the name of "Jacob", who in the supreme sense is the MESSIAH, as shown above, and "written in the book of life"; he "writes with his own hand to be Jehovah's, and surnames himself by the name of Israel", because by the divine Mercy of GOD MESSIAH he has sustained temptations, (Swedenborg's Notes on Isaiah, p. 110.)
Verse 1. Israel, whom I have chosen. - That the Jews were chosen to form a representative or a typical church, and were not chosen, in the sense of salvation, above other nations, see above, Chapter 14:1, the Exposition.
2. Thus says Jehovah, your Maker, and your Former from the womb, who will help you: Fear you not, O My servant Jacob; and you, O Jeshurun, whom I have chosen:
Verses 2, 24. The Lord, in many parts of the Word, is called "Creator", "Maker", and "Former from the womb", and also "Redeemer", by reason that He creates man anew, reforms, regenerates, and redeems. It may be supposed that the Lord is so called because He creates man and forms him in the womb, but still it is a spiritual creation and formation which is there understood; for the Word is not only natural, but also spiritual. Apocalypse Explained 710.
The Lord is called "Maker and Former from the womb", because He regenerates man, and from being natural makes him spiritual. Because regeneration is effected by Truth and Good, therefore it is said that He will "pour out waters upon the thirsty", etc.; for by "waters" is meant Truth. Arcana Coelestia 8013.
As to the process of "regeneration", see Chapter 8:3, the Exposition.
3. For I will pour out waters upon the thirsty, and streams upon the dry ground: I will pour out My spirit upon your seed, and My blessing upon thine offspring.
4. And they shall spring up among the grass; as the willows beside the water-brooks.
Verse 3. To "pour out waters upon the thirsty", signifies to instruct those in Truths who are in the affection of Truth; to "pour out streams upon the dry ground", means to give intelligence to those who, by virtue of Good, are in the desire of Truth. The like is signified by "pouring out the spirit and the blessing"; for by the "Spirit of God" is understood the Divine Truth, and by "blessing" the multiplication and fructification thereof, thus intelligence. Who does not see that in this passage, and in those above quoted, "waters" and "rivers", "desert" and "wilderness", are not understood, but such things as appertain to the church? Apocalypse Explained 518. See also in this chapter, verse 27.
Verses 3, 4. By the "Spirit of Jehovah" is signified the Divine Truth, and by "blessing" the multiplication and fructification thereof; hence intelligence by scientific Truth is understood by "springing up among the grass. Apocalypse Explained 507.
As to "grass", see Chapter 35:7; and for the signification of "willows", both in a good and in a bad sense, see Chapter 15:7, the Exposition.
5. One shall say, I am Jehovah's; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob: and another shall write with his hand to be Jehovah's, and shall surname himself by the name of Israel.
Verse 5. These things are said concerning the Lord, and concerning His Divine Human.
By "Jacob" and by "Israel", where the Lord is treated of, is denoted His Human, and that it was also Jehovah, is understood by "One saying, I am Jehovah's", and by "writing with his hand to be Jehovah 's." In the supreme sense "Israel" and "Jacob" denote the Lord. Apocalypse Explained 222. See also
The reason why "writing" upon any one denotes to implant in the life, is, because to write is to commit anything to paper from the memory, thought, and mind, in order that it may endure or remain; wherefore, in the spiritual sense, it signifies that which is to remain in the life of man, being inscribed and implanted in him; thus the natural sense of this expression is turned into the spiritual sense, for it is natural to write upon paper or in a hook, but it is spiritual to inscribe on the life, which is done when it is imprinted in the faith and love, for love and faith make the spiritual life of man Inasmuch as to "write" signifies to implant in the life, therefore also it is said of Jehovah, or of the Lord, that "He writeth" and "has written in a book", whereby is understood what is inscribed by the Lord on the spirit of man, that is, in his heart and soul. or what is the same, in his love and faith, as in David:
"Let them be blotted out of the book of lives, and let them not be written with the just." (Psalm 69:28)
Again:
"There shall not enter any into the New Jerusalem, but those who are written in the Lamb's book of life." (Revelation 21:27)
In these and in other passages of similar import, it is not understood that they are written in a book, but that all things appertaining to faith and love are inscribed on the spirit of man. The same is also evident from Jeremiah:
"I will give My law in the midst of them, and will write it upon their heart." (Jeremiah 31:33)
To "give the law in the midst of them" denotes divine Truth in them; "in the midst" signifies within or inwardly in man; and to "write it upon the heart" is to impress it upon the love, for the "heart" signifies the love.
Again,
"They who recede from Me shall be written in the earth", etc. (Jeremiah 17:13, 14)
To be "written in the earth" is to be condemned on account of the state of life, inasmuch as by "earth" here is signified what is condemned. Hence it is evident what is meant by "the Lord's writing twice with His finger on the earth", when the Scribes and Pharisees brought to Him the woman taken in adultery, (John 8:2-11) namely, the same as in Jeremiah, - [utter condemnation of the sin of adultery; the opposite is to have "one's name written. in heaven", (Luke 10:12) which is salvation.] Apocalypse Explained 222.
6. Thus says Jehovah, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, Jehovah of Hosts: I am the First, and I am the Last; and beside Me there is no God.
Verse 6. That the Lord, as the "First", contains all things in connection by the "Last" or Ultimate, can be evident from the Word and from Man. The Word in last principles is its literal sense, and the Word in the first is the Lord; and the Word in its interiors is its internal sense, which is perceived in the heavens, and which takes those who are there look to "one end, who is the Lord. Man in last principles is the church upon earth, - Man in first principles is the Lord; Man in interior principles is Heaven; for the church and heaven are before the
Lord as one Man, which is therefore called the greatest or Grand Man. There is a continual connection between them, and according to this connection is the influx of all things from the Lord through the heavens to the church on earth. By the "heavens" are understood the angels who are there; and by the "church" the men, that is, the true men of the church; and by "Man" in first principles, or as the "First", is the Lord as to His Divine Human. That from the "First" by the "Last" all things are kept in connection, and stand together, is understood by the Lord's words in the Apocalypse:
"These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and is alive again." 2:8.
7. And who, as I, shall call and shall declare it, and set it in order for Me, from the time that I appointed the ancient people? the signs, and the things that shall come, let them declare unto them.
Verse 7. The signs. - See Chapter 41:23, note.
8. Fear you not, neither be you afraid: have I not told it unto you from the first, and have declared it? and you are My witnesses. Is there a God beside Me? yea, there is no Rock; I know not any.
Verse 8. Is there a God beside Me? yea, there is no Rock: I know not any. - By the "Rock" here also is understood the Lord as to Divine Truth. - Apocalypse Explained 411. See the Exposition of Isaiah Chapter 16:1.
9. The formers of a graven image are all of them vanity; and the things which they most desire shall not profit: and they are their own witnesses; they see not, they know not; so that they shall be ashamed.
Verses 9-20. By the whole of this description of the "graven image" is understood the formation of doctrine from self-derived intelligence, and all things, as to every particular of the description, signify the particular things of such formation. To what purpose else would such a prolix description of the formation alone of a "graven image " be given in the divine Word? That there is nothing but what is false, because from self derived intelligence, is understood by "'The formers of a graven image are all of them emptiness [or vanity]", and by " the things which they most desire being of no profit"; also by their having no knowledge and intelligence, and by not saying "Is there not a lie in my right hand?" The self-derived intelligence from which the false of doctrine is formed is described by "the fashioning of iron with the tongs", and by "working it in the coals with the strength of his arm"; to "fashion iron with the tongs", and to " work it in the coals", denoting to forge out falsities which favour the loves of man's proprium. The conjoining of falsities to falsities by fallacies, from which they appear as Truths, is described by "He stretches out the line; he marks it out with a rule; he makes it with tools; he marks it out with the compass; and he makes it according to the form of a man, according to the beauty of a man, that it may abide in the house."
By "the form of a man" is signified the appearance of Truth; by "the beauty of a man " the appearance of Intelligence thence derived; and by "abiding in the house" is understood the appearance of spiritual life thence derived. That there is thence no life of intelligence, or of the perception of Truth and of Good, is signified by "They know not, neither do they understand", also by "their eyes not seeing, and their hearts not understanding. "The particular exposition of everything contained in this description would be too prolix; it is sufficient that everyone may see that something more interior and more wise is signified than the formation only of a "graven image." Let it be known that such heavenly wisdom is contained in this description as is ineffable, in which wisdom are the angels when it is read by man, although man thinks of nothing else but of a graven image and its formation; for as many as are the expressions in the above passage, so many are the correspondences, and hence so many arcana of wisdom. Apocalypse Explained 587. See also Arcana Coelestia 10406.
10. Who has formed a god, and cast a graven image that is profitable for nothing?
11. Behold, all his associates shall be ashamed; and the workmen themselves are of men: they shall assemble all of them; they shall stand; they shall fear, and be ashamed together.
12. He fashions iron with the tongs; he works it in the coals, find forms it with sharp hammers; and he works it with the strength of his arm: yea, he is hungry, and has no strength; he drinks no waters, and he is faint.
13. He fashions wood, he stretches out the line; he marks it out with a rule; he makes it with tools; he marks it out with the compass; and he makes it according to the form of a man, according to the beauty of a man, that it may abide in the house.
Verses 10, 12. In this passage is described the formation of doctrine from the proprium, both in the intellect and love.
By "forming a god" is understood doctrine from the intellect, which is of the proprium; and by "casting a graven image", doctrine from the love, which is of the proprium, By" fashioning iron with the tongs, and working it in the coals", is signified the false, which he calls Truth, and the evil, which he calls Good; "iron" denoting the false, and a "fire of coals" the evil of the love of the proprium.
By "He forms it with sharp [or pointed] hammers" is signified by ingenious reasonings, grounded in falsities, which appear to cohere; by "the strength of his arm with which he so works it" is signified from the proprium; by "hungering" is understood the deprivation of Good, and by "not drinking" the deprivation of Truth; and by "his strength failing" and by being "wearied" is meant until nothing of Good and of Truth remains. Who forms any other idea, if he sees the Word merely from the sense of the letter, but that the formation of a "graven image" is here described? Nevertheless, he may see that such description of the formation of a "graven image " does not involve anything spiritual, also that it is superfluous to say that "he hungers until he has no strength, nor drinks until he is faint"; whereas not only in this, but in all passages of a similar nature in the Word, the formation of a religion and doctrine of what is false is described by "idols", "sculptured and molten images", which, that they signify the falsities of religion and of doctrine, originating in the intellect and love which are grounded in the proprium, may be seen in the Arcana Coelestia; Arcana Coelestia 8869, 8932, 8941. Apocalypse Explained 386.
Verses 12, 13. He fashions iron, etc.; - he fashions Wood, etc. - [The process of forming idols out of "iron" and out of "wood" is here minutely described. An "idol" fashioned or framed out of iron, signifies falsities, or false doctrines respecting Truth in the literal sense of the Word, to which Truth "iron" corresponds, (Apocalypse Explained 70, 131, 411, 1147)
Such false doctrines as are signified by "idols made of iron" are framed when the appearances of the literal sense of the Word are taken for genuine Truths, as that God is angry, that from vengeance He punishes, that He casts into hell, that He leads into temptation, that He does evil, etc. They who frame their doctrines out of the mere appearances of Truth in the letter of the Word, and not from the literal sense rightly understood, make idols out of iron; and the process of their formation here depicted corresponds to the cupidities and the ingenious reasonings of the merely natural mind, by which such doctrines are forged, as a smith forges iron into various forms. To "fashion wood" into an idol, signifies to frame false doctrines as to good works, to which "wood" in one sense corresponds. (Apocalypse Revealed 459) "Idols of wood", or false doctrines relating to good works, are of various kinds, originating chiefly in the false doctrine of "Salvation of Faith only." Such "idols of wood", or such falsities, endeavour to prove, amongst other false principles, that good works do not contribute to salvation, that they are necessarily meritorious, that they derogate from Christ's merits, and that they are merely moral acts, necessary for man's life in the world, but not to be considered as conducive to his eternal life in heaven. The fallacious and ingenious reasonings" by which such doctrines are framed and maintained, are denoted by the process by which the workman makes the idol, "stretching out his line, marking it out with his rule, applying his compass", etc., - so as to make such doctrines into "the form of a man", or into the appearance of Truth itself. As to the signification of "idols" of gold, of silver, of brass, of stone, and of wood, see above, Chapter 2:20, the Exposition.]
14. He hews down cedars for himself, and he takes the box and the oak; and he chooses for himself from among the trees of the forest: he plants the ash, and the rain doth nourish it.
15. That it may be to a man for fuel: and he takes thereof, and warms himself; yea, he kindles it, and baketh bread: he also forms a god, and worships it; he makes it a graven image, and bows down thereto.
Verse 14. As to the meaning of "cedars" and "oaks", both in a good and in a bad sense, see above, Chapter 2:12-17, the Exposition.
16. A part thereof he burns in the fire; and on a part thereof [he prepareth] flesh, and eats: he roasts roast, that he may be satisfied; he also warms himself, and says, Ah! I am warm; I have seen the fire.
Verses 16, 19. In the Word what is "roasted" is distinguished from what is "boiled." By what is "roasted" is signified Good, because by fire; and by what is "boiled" is understood Truth, because by water. From this it is evident what is understood in the spiritual sense by "the broiled or roasted fish"; (Luke 24:42, 43) and what by "the fish on the fire of coals", when the Lord , appeared to His disciples, concerning which we read in John :
"As soon as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and "bread; Jesus then cometh, and takes bread, and giveth to them, and fish likewise." (John 21, 13)
By the "fish "is signified, the Truth of the natural principle; (see Arcana Coelestia 991) but by the "fire of coals", Good;thus by the "fish laid thereon" is signified. the Truth of spiritual Good in the natural principle. He who does not believe that there is an internal sense in the Word, cannot believe otherwise than that when the Lord appeared to the disciples there was no arcanum involved in the circumstance, but that a fish was on the fire of coals, and that the Lord gave it to the disciples to eat. Because by what is "roasted by fire" is signified the Good which is of celestial and spiritual love, therefore, in the opposite sense, by what is "roasted by fire" is signified the evil which is of the love of self and of the world, as in Isaiah:
"A part thereof he burns in the fire; and on a part thereof [he prepares] flesh, and eats; he roasts roast, that he may be satisfied", etc. (Isaiah 44:16, 19)
The subject here treated of is concerning the worshippers of a graven image. By a "graven image" is understood the false of evil, which is thus described; to "roast roast", and to "roast flesh", is to operate or to work out evil from filthy love.That " fire", in the opposite sense, is the evil of self-love and of worldly love, or of the cupidities which arise from those loves, may be seen, Arcana Coelestia 1297, 1861. Arcana Coelestia 7852.
Verse 16. He warms himself, and says, Ah! I am warm; I have seen the fire. - [To "warm one's self by a fire of coals", (John 18:18) as Peter and the servants of the Sanhedrin did, when Jesus was about to be crucified, signifies to warm one's self by the excited fires of self-love. "Ah! I have seen the fire", implies gladness at the ascendancy of selfish purposes either of dominion or of gain, when false doctrines, denoted by these "idols", so prevail as to secure these objects and ends of selfish and worldly love.]
17. And the residue thereof he makes a god, [even] his graven image: he bows down to it, and worships it; and he prays unto it, and says, Deliver me; for you art my god!
18. They know not, neither do they understand: for He has besmeared their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand:
19. Neither doth he lay it to his heart; neither has he knowledge nor understanding to say, Part of it I have burned in the fire; I have also baked bread on the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and I have eaten: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I bow myself down to the stock of a tree?
Verses 17, 18. These words denote that in "idols" [or false doctrinesJ there are no Truths and Goods; for all things which proceed from self-intelligence, are inwardly not Truths and Goods, but falsities and evils, for they proceed from man's proprium, which is radically evil. Arcana Coelestia 8869.
20. He feeds on ashes: a deluded heart has caused him to err; so that he cannot deliver his own soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?
21. Remember these things, O Jacob and Israel; for you art My servant: I have formed you; you art a servant unto Me: O Israel, you shalt not be forgotten by Me.
Verse 20. "Ashes" signify the falsities derived from the evil of lusts. The reason why "ashes" signify the falsities of lusts, is, because ashes are from combustibles, and what is combustible, as also "fire" itself in the Word, in the good sense, signifies the Good of heavenly affections; but, in the opposite sense, the evil of infernal lusts. Arcana Coelestia 7519.
[Hence it appears that when the maker of idols is said to "feed upon ashes", all those who frame false doctrines, and who believe in them, will eventually, if these "idols" are not rejected, have their minds imbued and fed with mere falsities from evil.]
A deluded heart has caused him to err, so that he cannot deliver his own soul. - "Heart" signifies the life of love, and "soul" the life of faith; to "go astray" from these things is to incline to what is evil and false. Arcana Coelestia 9050.
He cannot deliver his own soul, nor say, is there not a lie in my right hand?
And in David:
"You have exalted the right hand of his enemies." (Psalm 89:42)
Again,
"Whose mouth speaks vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of a lie." (Psalm 144:8, 11)
The reason why by the "right hand", when predicated of the evil, signifies the false, and thence ratiocination and combat against Truth, is, because the quarters with those who are in evil, are opposite to the quarters which are with those who are in Good, so that to the right of the former Truths are in dense darkness, but falsities, as it were, in the greatest light. That the quarters in the spiritual world with those who are in evil, are opposite to the quarters which are with those who are in Good, may be seen in the work concerning Heaven and Hell 151, 152; and the reason thereof, n. 122, 123. Apocalypse Explained 298.
22. I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and, as a cloud, your sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed you.
Verse 22. "Transgressions" and also "sins" are here mentioned, on account of the marriage of Goodness and Truth in every minute particular of the Word; for "transgression" [praevaricatio]; signifies evil against Truth, which is a less evil, and "sin" is evil, against Good, which is a greater evil. Hence it is that both are mentioned, as in Isaiah 44:22; and in Ezekiel 18:24; 21:29; and in David:
"Blessed is the man whose transgression is forgiven, and whose sin is covered." (Psalm 32:1) Arcana Coelestia 6563.
23. Sing, O you heavens, for Jehovah has done it; shout, O you lower parts of the earth: burst forth into singing, O you mountains; you forest, and every tree therein! for Jehovah has redeemed Jacob, and has glorified Himself in Israel.
24. Thus says Jehovah, your Redeemer, and your Former from the womb: I am Jehovah, who makes all things; who stretches out the heavens alone; who spreads forth the earth by Myself;
Verse 23. The subject treated of in this passage is concerning the Lord, His advent, and salvation by Him; and because these things were about to come, therefore mention is made of a "new song." The joy thence arising is described not only by singing, playing, making a loud noise, jubilating, clapping, but also by various musical instruments, whose sounds are in agreement therewith; it is likewise said that "the rivers, the sea, the field, the forest, the trees therein, Lebanon, the wilderness, the mountains", etc., should rejoice, exult, jubilate, sing, clap the hands, and, cry aloud together. The reason why similar things are predicated of those objects is, because they signify such things as appertain to the church, and consequently such as appertain to the man of the church; the "rivers" things appertaining to intelligence, the "sea" things appertaining to science, which are in agreement with Truths and Goods, the "field" the Good of the church, "forests" the Truths of the natural man, the "trees" knowledges, "Lebanon" Truth and Good spiritual, the "wilderness " the desire of Truth that Good may be thence attained, and the "mountains" the Goods of love. All these things are said to "sing", to "make a loud noise", to "jubilate", to "cry aloud", and "clap the hands", when they are derived from heaven, for then heavenly joy is in them, and thereby in man; for man is not in heavenly joy unless the Truths and Goods which are with him, are derived from heaven, - the joy of the heart, which is truly joy, being from thence, and consequently the joy of the man with whom these things are.
From these considerations it may appear why the like is predicated concerning them as concerning man, namely, because joy is in them, and thereby in man. Such joy is in every spiritual and celestial Good, and thence in those with whom those Goods are; for heaven flows in with its joy, that is, the Lord through heaven, into the Goods, and thence into the Truths, which are from Him with man, and thereby into the man, and not into the man deprived of them, or empty. Those Goods, and the Truths thence derived, are what exult, jubilate, make a loud noise, sing, play, and thus rejoice, by virtue of influx out of heaven, and thence cause the same in the heart of man. Inasmuch as there are various affections of Good and of Truth, and as each expresses itself by a sound agreeable to its quality, therefore in the Word various kinds of "instruments" are mentioned, especially in David, by which similar affections are signified. He who knows the internal sense of the Word, and, at the same time, the sounds of the "instruments" which are there named, may know what particular affection as there signified and described. The angels know this from the mention of them alone, and, at the same time, from the thing described in the expressions made use of when man reads the Word. Apocalypse Explained 326.
Verses 23, 24. Sing, O you heavens, etc. - "Sing, O you heavens; shout, O you lower parts, of the earth: burst forth into singing, O you mountains; you forest, and every tree therein!" signify all things of heaven and of the church, as well internal as external, all which have reference to Good and to Truth. Things internal are signified by the "heavens", things external by the "lower parts of the earth"; the "mountains" denote the Goods of love, the "forest" natural Truth and the "trees" therein the knowledges of Truth. By reason of such significations. It is said "For Jehovah has redeemed Jacob, and has glorified Himself in Israel"; by "Jacob", in the Word, is signified the external church, and by "Israel" the internal. To "stretch out the heavens" and to "spread forth the earth", signifies the church on all sides, which is expanded and extended by the multiplication of Truth and by the fructification of Good with those who are of the church. Apocalypse Explained 304.
Verses 24, 26. Jehovah, your Redeemer, and your Former from the womb, etc. - These words also treat concerning the advent of the Lord, who is "Jehovah your Redeemer, and your Former from the womb." He is called "Redeemer" by virtue of His liberating from hell, and "Former from the womb" by virtue of His regenerating man. The prediction by the prophets concerning Him, and concerning the salvation of men, is understood by "establishing the word of His servant, and performing the counsel of His messengers." That they who are of His church shall be saved, and instructed in the Truths of celestial doctrine, is understood by His "saying to Jerusalem, You shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, You shall he built"; "Jerusalem" denoting the church, and the "cities of Judah" the Truths of celestial doctrine. That the falsities which destroy the church shall be shaken off, is understood by "I will raise up the waste places thereof." That Jerusalem and Judah are not here literally meant, is evident, inasmuch as the Lord said that "Jerusalem should be destroyed", which came to pass accordingly. Apocalypse Explained 433.
25. Who frustrates the tokens of the liars, and makes the diviners mad; who rejects wise men backward, and makes their knowledge foolish;
26. Who establishes the word of His servant, and performs the counsel of His messengers: who says to Jerusalem, You shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, You shall be built; and her waste places I will raise up;
Verses 25, 26. These words treat of the rejection of a church whose doctrine is from man's self-intelligence; and they also treat of the establishment of a New Church, whose doctrine is from the Lord. The doctrine from man's self-intelligence is understood by "frustrating the tokens of the liars, by rejecting wise men backward, and by making their knowledge foolish." The doctrine which is from the Lord is understood by "saying to Jerusalem, You shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, You shall be built." Apocalypse Explained 223.
Verses 26, 27. Jehovah says to Jerusalem, You shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, You shall be built, etc. - The restoration of the church and of doctrine is signified by being "inhabited" and by being "built." The dissipation of the evils and falsities which are from the hells, and protection from them, is signified by "drying up the deep", and by "making dry the rivers." Apocalypse Explained 538.
27. Who says to the deep, Be you dry; and I will dry up your rivers;
Verse 27. These words signify the dissipation of evils and falsities; for where "waters" signify Truths, "drying up" signifies a state of no Truth, or without Truth, as at verse 3 of this chapter:
"I will pour out waters upon the thirsty, and streams upon the dry ground"; "waters" and "streams" signify Truth, and "dry ground" where there is no Truth. Arcana Coelestia 8185. See also Chapter 11:15, 10, the Exposition.
28. Who says to Cyrus, My shepherd! and he shall perform all My pleasure: who to Jerusalem, You shalt be built; and to the temple, Your foundation shall be laid.
Verse 28. That "Cyrus" is a representative or type of Jehovah in His Divine Human, or of the Lord Jesus Christ, see Chapter 45:1, the Exposition.
To the temple, Your foundation shall be laid. - As to the "Temple", and its important signification, see Chapter 6:1, the Exposition.
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Isaiah Chapter 44
1. BUT hear now, O Jacob, My servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen:
2. Thus says Jehovah, your Maker, and your Former from the womb, who will help you: Fear you not, O My servant Jacob; and you, O Jeshurun, whom I have chosen:
3. For I will pour out waters upon the thirsty, and streams upon the dry ground: I will pour out My spirit upon your seed, and My blessing upon thine offspring.
4. And they shall spring up among the grass; as the willows beside the water-brooks.
5. One shall say, I am Jehovah's; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob: and another shall write with his hand to be Jehovah's, and shall surname himself by the name of Israel.
6. Thus says Jehovah, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, Jehovah of Hosts: I am the First, and I am the Last; and beside Me there is no God.
7. And who, as I, shall call and shall declare it, and set it in order for Me, from the time that I appointed the ancient people? the signs, and the things that shall come, let them declare unto them.
8. Fear you not, neither be you afraid: have I not told it unto you from the first, and have declared it? and you are My witnesses. Is there a God beside Me? yea, there is no Rock; I know not any.
9. The formers of a graven image are all of them vanity; and the things which they most desire shall not profit: and they are their own witnesses; they see not, they know not; so that they shall be ashamed.
10. Who has formed a god, and cast a graven image that is profitable for nothing?
11. Behold, all his associates shall be ashamed; and the workmen themselves are of men: they shall assemble all of them; they shall stand; they shall fear, and be ashamed together.
12. He fashions iron with the tongs; he works it in the coals, find forms it with sharp hammers; and he works it with the strength of his arm: yea, he is hungry, and has no strength; he drinks no waters, and he is faint.
13. He fashions wood, he stretches out the line; he marks it out with a rule; he makes it with tools; he marks it out with the compass; and he makes it according to the form of a man, according to the beauty of a man, that it may abide in the house.
14. He hews down cedars for himself, and he takes the box and the oak; and he chooses for himself from among the trees of the forest: he plants the ash, and the rain doth nourish it.
15. That it may be to a man for fuel: and he takes thereof, and warms himself; yea, he kindles it, and baketh bread: he also forms a god, and worships it; he makes it a graven image, and bows down thereto.
16. A part thereof he burns in the fire; and on a part thereof [he prepareth] flesh, and eats: he roasts roast, that he may be satisfied; he also warms himself, and says, Ah! I am warm; I have seen the fire.
17. And the residue thereof he makes a god, [even] his graven image: he bows down to it, and worships it; and he prays unto it, and says, Deliver me; for you art my god!
18. They know not, neither do they understand: for He has besmeared their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand:
19. Neither doth he lay it to his heart; neither has he knowledge nor understanding to say, Part of it I have burned in the fire; I have also baked bread on the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and I have eaten: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I bow myself down to the stock of a tree?
20. He feeds on ashes: a deluded heart has caused him to err; so that he cannot deliver his own soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?
21. Remember these things, O Jacob and Israel; for you art My servant: I have formed you; you art a servant unto Me: O Israel, you shalt not be forgotten by Me.
22. I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and, as a cloud, your sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed you.
23. Sing, O you heavens, for Jehovah has done it; shout, O you lower parts of the earth: burst forth into singing, O you mountains; you forest, and every tree therein! for Jehovah has redeemed Jacob, and has glorified Himself in Israel.
24. Thus says Jehovah, your Redeemer, and your Former from the womb: I am Jehovah, who makes all things; who stretches out the heavens alone; who spreads forth the earth by Myself;
25. Who frustrates the tokens of the liars, and makes the diviners mad; who rejects wise men backward, and makes their knowledge foolish;
26. Who establishes the word of His servant, and performs the counsel of His messengers: who says to Jerusalem, You shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, You shall be built; and her waste places I will raise up;
27. Who says to the deep, Be you dry; and I will dry up your rivers;
28. Who says to Cyrus, My shepherd! and he shall perform all My pleasure: who to Jerusalem, You shalt be built; and to the temple, Your foundation shall be laid.
Arcana Coelestia #1861
1861. 'And behold, a smoking furnace' means grossest falsity, and 'a flaming torch' the heat of evil desires. This is clear from the meaning of 'a smoking furnace' as gross falsity, and from the meaning of 'a flaming torch' as the heat of evil desires. The expression 'a smoking furnace' is used because anyone, especially a member of the Church, who has some knowledge of the truth, and yet does not acknowledge it but at heart denies it, and leads a life pursuing things that are contrary to the truth, is seen as nothing other than a smoking furnace, he himself as 'the furnace', and the falsity arising from his hatred as 'the smoke'. Evil desires out of which falsities arise are seen as nothing other than torches of fire from such a furnace, as is also clear from the representatives in the next life which have been described from experience in 814, 1528. It is desires belonging to hatred, revenge, cruelty, and adultery - especially when mingled with deceit - that are seen as such and become such things.
[2] That in the Word such are meant by a furnace, smoke, and fire, becomes clear from the following places: In Isaiah,
Everyone is a hypocrite and wicked, and every mouth speaks folly. For wickedness burns like a fire, it consumes brier and thorn, and kindles the entangled boughs of the wood, and they surge up in an uprising of smoke. Through the wrath of Jehovah Zebaoth the earth has been darkened, and the people has become as fuel for the fire; a man will not spare his brother. Isaiah 9:17-19.
Here 'fire' stands for hatred, 'the rising up of smoke from it' for falsities of that kind. Hatred is described by the statement that 'a man will not spare his brother'. Such people, when looked at by angels, appear exactly like the things described here.
[3] In Joel,
I will give portents in the heavens and on earth, blood and fire, and columns of smote. The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of Jehovah comes. Joel 2:30-31.
Here 'fire' stands for hatred, 'columns of smoke 'for falsities, 'sun' for charity, and 'moon' for faith.
[4] In Isaiah,
The land will become burning pitch. Night and day it will not be quenched; its smoke will go up eternally. Isaiah 34:9-10.
'Burning pitch' stands for dreadful evil desires, 'smoke' for falsities.
[5] In Malachi,
Behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, and all the arrogant and every evil-doer will be stubble; and the day that is coming will burn them up; it will leave them neither root nor branch. Malachi 4:1.
'A burning furnace' stands for the same things as before. 'A root' stands for charity, 'a branch' for truth, which will not be left.
[6] In Hosea,
Ephraim has become guilty through Baal. It will be like chaff that is driven by the whirlwind from the threshing-floor, and like smoke from a chimney. Hosea 13:1, 3.
'Ephraim' stands for one with understanding who has become such.
[7] In Isaiah,
The strong will be as tow, and his work as a spark, and both of them will burn together, with none to quench them. Isaiah 1:31.
This stands for the fact that people governed by self-love - or what amounts to the same, by hatred against the neighbour - will be burnt up by their own evil desires. In John,
Babylon has become the dwelling-place of demons. Those cried out who saw the smoke of her burning. The smoke goes up for ever and ever. Revelation 18:2, 18; 19:3.
[8] In the same book,
He opened the pit of the abyss, from which there went up smoke out of the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace. And the sun was darkened, and the air, with the smoke of the pit. Revelation 9:2.
In the same book,
Out of the mouths of the horses there went forth fire, and smoke, and brimstone. By these a third part of mankind was killed - by the fire and by the smoke and by the brimstone which went forth out of their mouths. Revelation 9:17-18.
In the same book,
He who worships the beast will drink 1 from the wine of God's anger, poured unmixed as it is in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone. Revelation 14:9-10.
In the same book,
The fourth angel poured out his bowl into the sun, and it was allowed to scorch men with fire; therefore men were burned by the fierce heat, and they blasphemed the name of God. Revelation 16:8-9.
And it is in like manner said that
They were thrown into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. Revelation 19:20; 20:14-15; 21:8.
[9] In all of these places 'fire' stands for the evil desires, 'smoke' for the falsities, which will reign in the last times. These thing as they actually exist in the next life were seen by John following the opening of his interior sight. Similar things are also seen by spirits, and by souls after death. These references show what hell-fire is, that it is nothing other than hatred, revenge, and cruelty, or what amounts to the same, self-love, which passes into such a visible form. As long as a person is in his bodily life, no matter how different his outward appearance might seem to be, he cannot be seen by the angels, when they look at him closely, in any other way than this; that is, his hatred is not seen by them except as 'flaming torches' nor the falsities coming from it except as 'smoking furnaces'.
[10] Of this fire the Lord speaks in Matthew as follows,
Every tree not bearing good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. Matthew 3:10; Luke 3:9.
'Good fruit' is used to mean charity, and anyone who deprives himself of this 'cuts himself down and casts himself into such a fire'. In the same gospel,
The Son of Man will send His angels, who will gather out of His kingdom all offences, and those who work iniquity, and will send them into the furnace of fire. Matthew 13:41-42, 50.
Here the meaning is similar. In the same gospel,
The king will say 2 to those on his left hand, Depart from me, O cursed ones, into eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Matthew 25:41.
Here the meaning is similar.
[11] Where it is said that they were to be sent into eternal fire, the Gehenna of fire, and that their worm does not die, and their fire is not quenched in Matthew 18:8-9; Mark 9:43-49, the meaning is similar. In Luke,
Send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame. Luke 16:24.
Here the meaning is similar.
[12] People who have no knowledge of the arcana of the Lord's kingdom imagine that the Lord sends the wicked down into hell, that is, into the kind of fire which, as has been stated, is the manifestation of hatred. But the truth of the matter is altogether different, for it is the person himself, or the devil-spirit himself, who casts himself down. Yet because it appears as though the Lord casts down, it has been spoken of in the Word in that way - according to the appearance, indeed according to the illusions of the senses. This was especially necessary with the Jews, who were totally unwilling to accept anything if it did not coincide with their own sensory perceptions, no matter what illusions these might entail. This is why the sense of the letter, especially the prophetical sections, is full of such ideas, as in Jeremiah,
[13] Thus said Jehovah, Execute judgement in the morning, and deliver him who has been robbed from the hand of the oppressor, lest My wrath go forth like fire and burn with none to quench it because of the wickedness of their works. Jeremiah 21:12.
'Executing judgement' is declaring the truth. 'Delivering him who has been robbed from the hand of the oppressor' is doing a good work of charity. 'Fire' stands for the hellish punishment of those who do not do these things, that is, who pass their time clinging to falsity that is the product of hatred. In the sense of the letter such fire and anger are attributed to Jehovah, but in the internal sense it is quite the reverse.
[14] Similarly in Joel,
The day of Jehovah, fire devours before him, and behind him a flame burns. Joel 2:1, 3.
In David,
Smoke went up out of His nose, and fire out of His mouth devoured; glowing coals flamed forth from Him; and there was thick darkness under His feet. Psalms 18:8-9.
In Moses,
A fire has flared up in My anger, and will burn right down to the lowest hell, and will devour the land and its increase, and will set on fire the foundations of the mountains. Deuteronomy 32:22.
Here 'a fire' stands for the hatred, 'smoke' for the falsities, that reside with a person, which are attributed to Jehovah or the Lord for the reasons that have been stated. To the hells also it seems that Jehovah or the Lord does the things described, but quite the reverse is the case. It is they who do them because they dwell in the fires of hatred. From this it is evident how easily a person can sink into delusions if the internal sense of the Word is not known.
[15] It was similar with the smoke and fire which the people saw coming from Mount Sinai when the Law was given; for Jehovah or the Lord is seen by everyone according to his character and disposition. By celestial angels He is seen as the sun, by spiritual angels as the moon, by all who are good as light of varying delightfulness and loveliness; but by the evil as smoke and as devouring fire. And because the Jews had no charity at all when the Law was given, but self-love and love of the world reigned among them, and so nothing but evils and falsities, He was therefore seen by them as smoke and fire, while in the same instant He was seen by angels as the sun and heavenly light.
[16] The fact that He was seen thus by the Jews, because their character was such, is clear in Moses,
The glory of Jehovah dwelt over Mount Sinai. And the appearance of the glory of Jehovah was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain, before the eyes of the children of Israel. Exodus 24:16-17.
In the same book,
Mount Sinai was smoking, the whole of it, because Jehovah came down upon it in fire and its smoke went up like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. Exodus 19:18.
And elsewhere in the same author,
You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain while the mountain was burning with fire even to the heart of heaven, with darkness and cloud and thick darkness. And Jehovah spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. Deuteronomy 4:11-12; 5:22.
Also in the same,
When you heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, and the mountain was burning with fire, you came near to Me and you said, Why should we die? For this great fire will devour us; if we hear the voice of Jehovah our God any more we shall die. Deuteronomy 5:23-25.
[17] The same would be the case if anyone else who spends his time hating and performing filthy deeds that are the product of hatred were to see the Lord. He would inevitably see Him from his own hatred and the filthy deeds that are the product of it. These things being the recipients of the rays of good and truth from Him, they would convert those rays into that type of fire, smoke, and thick darkness. The same places that have been quoted also show what' a smoking furnace' is, and what 'a burning torch' is, namely the grossest falsity and the filthiest evil which took possession of the Church in its last times.
Footnotes:
1. Reading bibet (he will drink) for bibat (let him drink)
2. Reading dices (will say) for dicit (says)
