โจเอล 1:13
Many thanks to Philip Pope for the permission to use his 2003 translation of the English King James Version Bible into Thai. Here's a link to the mission's website: www.thaipope.org
Explanation of Joel 1 - Revised
By J. E. Schreck
Joel Chapter 1, the Internal Sense.
(From Swedenborg's work, "The Inner Meaning of the Prophets and Psalms")
(Verse 1) The Word has been perverted by false worship,
(2) when instead the Word should have been obeyed by everyone in the Church,
(3) and communicated to everyone who holds false beliefs that arise from evil loves.
(4) Instead, the spiritual things of the Church have been destroyed by sensualism.
(5) Now, remorse should be awakened, because of this loss of faith,
(6) a faith which has been destroyed by the lust of worshipping false gods,
(7) depriving the Church of spiritual truth and good.
(8) The Church should return to the Lord
(9) with inward mourning and contrition
(10) over the loss of good and truth in the natural and spiritual man -
(11) especially people who seek the good of the Church and who desire its genuine doctrine: for the Church is about to perish.
(12) Spiritual truth, its good, its knowledge, and its delights, which constitute the Church, are perverted.
(13) Only by repentance can communion with the Lord be renewed.
(14) The Church can only remove the evil and falsity by acknowledging and worshipping the Lord,
(15) for the end of the Church is near, when it will be judged.
(16) Good works are not being done, nor are there any people who delight in spiritual things.
(17) Natural good has been subordinated to evil, and the truth and good of the Word are rejected.
(18) Wherefore there is no good in the Church,
(19) and our hearts must be turned again to the Lord: for the love of self has corrupted all things in the church.
(20) Although truth is desired, it has been misappropriated to ourselves.
Hosea 10
1
Israel is a luxuriant vine that puts forth his fruit. According to the abundance of his fruit he has multiplied his altars. As their land has prospered, they have adorned their sacred stones.
2
Their heart is divided. Now they will be found guilty. He will demolish their altars. He will destroy their sacred stones.
3
Surely now they will say, "We have no king; for we don't fear Yahweh; and the king, what can he do for us?"
4
They make promises, swearing falsely in making covenants. Therefore judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field.
5
The inhabitants of Samaria will be in terror for the calves of Beth Aven; for its people will mourn over it, Along with its priests who rejoiced over it, for its glory, because it has departed from it.
6
It also will be carried to Assyria for a present to a great king. Ephraim will receive shame, and Israel will be ashamed of his own counsel.
7
Samaria and her king float away, like a twig on the water.
8
The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed. The thorn and the thistle will come up on their altars. They will tell the mountains, "Cover us!" and the hills, "Fall on us!"
9
"Israel, you have sinned from the days of Gibeah. There they remained. The battle against the children of iniquity doesn't overtake them in Gibeah.
10
When it is my desire, I will chastise them; and the nations will be gathered against them, when they are bound to their two transgressions.
11
Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh; so I will put a yoke on her beautiful neck. I will set a rider on Ephraim. Judah will plow. Jacob will break his clods.
12
Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to kindness. Break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek Yahweh, until he comes and rains righteousness on you.
13
You have plowed wickedness. You have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies, for you trusted in your way, in the multitude of your mighty men.
14
Therefore a battle roar will arise among your people, and all your fortresses will be destroyed, as Shalman destroyed Beth Arbel in the day of battle. The mother was dashed in pieces with her children.
15
So Bethel will do to you because of your great wickedness. At daybreak the king of Israel will be destroyed.
