The Bible

 

Joil 2

Study

   

1 Trubite u trubu na Sionu, i vičite na svetoj gori mojoj, neka drhću svi stanovnici zemaljski, jer ide dan Gospodnji, jer je blizu.

2 Dan, kad je mrak i tama, Dan, kada je oblak i magla; kako se zora razastire povrh gora, tako ide narod velik i silan, kakvog nije bilo otkad je veka niti će ga posle kad biti od kolena do kolena.

3 Pred njim proždire oganj, a za njim pali plamen; zemlja je Pred njim kao vrt edemski, a za njim pustinja pusta, ništa neće uteći od njega.

4 Na očima su kao konji i trčaće kao konjici.

5 Skakaće povrh gora topoćući kao kola, praskajući kao plamen ognjeni koji sažiže strnjiku, kao silan narod spreman za boj.

6 Pred njim će se prepadati narodi, svako će lice pocrneti.

7 Oni će trčati kao junaci, kao vojnici skakaće na zid, i svaki će ići svojim putem, niti će odstupati sa svoje staze.

8 I jedan drugog neće tiskati, svaki će ići svojim putem, i na mačeve navirući neće se raniti.

9 Po gradu će hoditi, po zidovima će trčati, u kuće će se peti, ulaziće kroz prozore kao lupež.

10 Pred njima će se zemlja tresti, nebesa će se pokolebati, sunce će i mesec pomrknuti i zvezde će ustegnuti svetlost svoju.

11 A Gospod će pustiti glas svoj pred vojskom svojom, jer će logor Njegov biti vrlo velik, jer će biti silan onaj koji će izvršiti volju Njegovu; jer će dan Gospodnji biti velik i vrlo strašan, i ko će ga podneti?

12 Zato još govori Gospod: Obratite se k meni svim srcem svojim i posteći i plačući i tužeći.

13 I razderite srca svoja, a ne haljine svoje, i obratite se ka Gospodu Bogu svom, jer je milostiv i žalostiv, spor na gnev i obilan milosrđem i kaje se oda zla.

14 Ko zna, neće li se povratiti i raskajati se, i ostaviti iza toga blagoslov, dar i naliv za Gospoda Boga vašeg.

15 Trubite u trubu na Sionu, naredite post, proglasite svetkovinu.

16 Saberite narod, osveštajte sabor, skupite starce, saberite decu i koja sisaju; ženik neka iziđe iz svoje kleti i nevesta iz ložnice svoje.

17 Između trema i oltara neka plaču sveštenici, sluge Gospodnje, i neka kažu: Prosti, Gospode, narodu svom, i ne daj nasledstvo svoje pod sramotu, da njim ovladaju narodi; zašto da kažu u narodima: Gde im je Bog?

18 I Gospod će revnovati za zemlju svoju i požaliće narod svoj.

19 I Gospod će odgovoriti i reći će svom narodu: Evo, ja ću vam poslati žita i vina i ulja, i bićete ga siti, i neću vas više dati pod sramotu među narodima.

20 Jer ću udaljiti od vas severca, i odagnati ga u zemlju suvu i pustu, prednju četu njegovu u istočno more, a zadnju u more zapadno, i podignuće se smrad njegov i trulež će se njegov podignuti, pošto učini velike stvari.

21 Ne boj se, zemljo, raduj se i veseli se, jer će Gospod učiniti velike stvari.

22 Ne bojte se, zveri poljske; jer će se zeleneti pasišta u pustinji i drveta će nositi rod svoj, smokva će i loza vinova davati silu svoju.

23 I vi, sinovi sionski, radujte se i veselite se u Gospodu Bogu svom, jer će vam dati dažd na vreme, i spustiće vam dažd rani i pozni na vreme.

24 I gumna će se napuniti žita, a kace će se prelivati vinom i uljem.

25 I naknadiću vam godine koje izjede skakavac, hrušt i crv i gusenica, velika vojska moja, koju slah na vas.

26 I ješćete izobila, i bićete siti i hvalićete ime Gospoda Boga svog, koji učini s vama čudesa, i narod moj neće se posramiti doveka.

27 I poznaćete da sam ja usred Izrailja, i da sam ja Gospod Bog vaš, i da nema drugog, i narod moj neće se posramiti doveka.

28 I posle ću izliti duh svoj na svako telo, i proricaće sinovi vaši i kćeri vaše, starci će vaši sanjati sne, mladići će vaši viđati utvare.

29 I na sluge ću i na sluškinje u one dane izliti duh svoj;

30 I učiniću čudesa na nebu i na zemlji, krv i oganj i pušenje dima.

31 Sunce će se pretvoriti u tamu i mesec u krv pre nego dođe veliki i strašni dan Gospodnji.

32 I svaki koji prizove ime Gospodnje spašće se; jer će na gori Sionu i u Jerusalimu biti spasenje, kao što je rekao Gospod, i u ostatku koji pozove Gospod.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #8819

Study this Passage

  
/ 10837  
  

8819. 'And Mount Sinai was smoking, the whole of it' means the appearance of celestial good in the greatest obscurity. This is clear from the meaning of 'Mount Sinai' as celestial good, as immediately above in 8818; and from the meaning of 'smoking' as appearance in obscurity. Obscurity is used to mean the obscurity of faith such as those belonging to the spiritual Church possess when compared with those belonging to the celestial Church, 2708 (beginning), 2715, 2718, 2831, 2935, 2937, 3241, 3833, 6289. The greatest obscurity, meant by 'Mount Sinai was smoking, the whole of it' and by the statement just below that 'its smoke went up like the smoke of a furnace', means the obscurity that clouded the understanding of the Israelite nation, before whom the appearance took place. For Jehovah or the Lord appears to everyone according to their true nature, 8788, 8814, so that He appears as love and the light of truth to those governed by good, but as an enemy and avenger to those ruled by evil. His appearance as such to the Israelite people is also clear from other places in Moses,

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 author,

You came near and stood at the foot of 1 the mountain, and the mountain was burning with fire even to the heart of heaven; there was darkness and cloud and thick darkness. And Jehovah spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. Deuteronomy 4:11-12; 5:22.

And in the same author,

It happened, when you heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, and the mountain was burning with fire, that you came near to Me and 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.

[2] The reason why this should be so is that no person can help seeing God from such things as are present in himself. The person who is ruled by hatred, for example, sees Him from hatred; and one who is ruled by ruthlessness sees Him in ruthlessness. And on the other hand, the person who is governed by charity and mercy sees Him from these virtues and in them. It is like rays of light, which are converted into hideous colours when they fall on hideous forms, but into beautiful colours when they fall on beautiful forms. The meaning of 'smoke' as the obscurity of truth, and also as the thick darkness belonging to falsity, is clear in Isaiah 9:18-19; 34:9-10; Joel 2:30-31; Hosea 13:1, 3; Revelation 9:17-18; 18:2, 18; 19:3.

Footnotes:

1. literally, stood under

  
/ 10837  
  

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

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #2718

Study this Passage

  
/ 10837  
  

2718. 'A wife from the land of Egypt' means the affection for knowledge, which the member of the spiritual Church possesses. This is clear from the meaning of 'a wife' as affection or good, dealt with in 915, 2517, and from the meaning of 'Egypt' as knowledge, dealt with in 1164, 1165, 1186, 1462. In this verse the member of the spiritual Church is described so far as the nature of his good, that is, the essence of his life, is concerned - that the good residing with him is obscure, but that it is brightened with light from the Lord's Divine Human. From that brightening of it the affection for truth arises in the rational part of his mind, and the affection for knowledge in the natural part. The reason the affection for good such as resides within the celestial man cannot arise in the spiritual man, but instead the affection for truth, is that the good residing with him is implanted in the understanding part of his mind, and is obscure compared with the celestial man's good, as shown in 2715. From this good no other type of affection can be generated and derived within his rational than the affection for truth, and through this affection for truth the affection for knowledge within the natural. No other truth is meant in this case than that which the person believes to be the truth, even though it may not in itself be the truth. Nor is knowledge used to mean such knowledge as the learned possess but all factual knowledge with which a person can be taught from what he experiences or hears in everyday life, from doctrine, and from the Word. It is the affection for such truth and knowledge that exists within the member of the spiritual Church.

[2] So that it may be known what is meant by the affection for truth existing with someone and what by the affection for good, let a brief statement be made regarding them. Those with the affection for truth think about, question, and discuss whether a thing is true, whether it is so. And when they are convinced it is true, or is so, they think about, question, and discuss what it is. Thus they remain rooted on the doorstep and cannot be admitted into wisdom until they no longer have any doubts. Those however with whom the affection for good exists know and perceive that the thing is so from the good itself governing them. Thus they do not remain on the doorstep but are in a room inside, having been admitted into wisdom.

[3] Take as an example the consideration that it is a celestial gift to think and to act from an affection for good, or from good. Those with whom the affection for truth exists discuss whether this is so, whether such a gift can exist, and what it may be. And so long as they are turning over doubts about it they are unable to be admitted. But those with the affection for good do not discuss or turn doubts over but assert that the thing is true and are for that reason admitted. For those with whom the affection for good exists, that is, those who are celestial, start off where those with the affection for truth, that is, those who are spiritual, come to a halt, so that the furthest point reached by the latter is the starting point for the former. That being so, those who are celestial are given to know, recognize, and perceive that affections for good are countless - as numerous as the communities in heaven - and that they are all joined together by the Lord into a heavenly form so as to constitute one human being so to speak. They are also given to define by perception the genus and species to which each affection belongs.

[4] Or take this example: All delight, blessedness, and happiness belong wholly to love, but the nature of the love determines that of the delight, blessedness, and happiness. The spiritual man fixes his mind on the question whether this is true and whether delight, blessedness, and happiness may not spring from some other source, such as from mixing with others, talking to others, meditation, or learning, and also whether they reside in possessions, position, reputation, and the glory resulting from these. As long as he is asking such questions he does not confirm himself in the truth that none of these accomplishes anything, only the affection born of love which is present within them and making them what they are. The celestial man however does not remain rooted in such preliminary questionings but immediately asserts that the thing is true. Consequently he is interested in the end in view and the realization of this, that is, he is governed by the very affections born of love which are countless, and in each one of which there are things beyond description, involving variations of delight, blessedness, and happiness that have no end.

[5] Take as a further example the consideration that the neighbour is to be loved for the good that resides with him. Those with whom the affection for truth exists think, question, and discuss whether this is true, that is, whether it is so. They ask what the neighbour is, what good is; but they go no further than this, and therefore they shut the door to wisdom against themselves. Those however with the affection for good assert that the thing is so and do not consequently shut the door against themselves but enter in and so come to know, recognize, and perceive from good who is pre-eminently the neighbour, also in what degree he is the neighbour, and that everyone in differing ways is the neighbour. Thus they perceive things beyond description, over and above what is known to those with the affection solely for truth.

[6] Take as yet another example the truth that a person who loves the neighbour for the good within him loves the Lord. Those with the affection for truth question whether this is so. And if they are told that anyone who loves the neighbour for the good within him loves the good, and that - since all good comes from the Lord and the Lord is present in good - when anyone loves good he also loves the Lord from whom that good comes and in which He is present, they then question whether that too is so. They also ask what loving good is, as well as what good is, and whether the Lord is present more so in good than in truth. As long as they remain rooted in such questionings they cannot get even a distant view of wisdom. But those with the affection for good know from perception that the thing is so and immediately behold the whole field of wisdom leading right on to the Lord.

[7] From these examples it may become clear why in comparison with those who have the affection for good, that is, with those who are celestial, obscurity exists with those who have the affection for truth, that is, with those who are spiritual Nevertheless the latter are able to pass from obscurity into light, provided that they are willing to adopt the affirmative attitude that all good belongs to love to the Lord and charity towards the neighbour; also that love and charity constitute spiritual conjunction, and that these are the source of all blessedness and happiness, thus that heavenly life consists in the good belonging to love received from the Lord, but not in the truth of faith separated from it.

  
/ 10837  
  

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