"그리고 그들이 가까이 다가오자 그분은 그 도시를 보시고 울면서 '당신도, 특히 이 시대에, 당신의 평화에 속한 것들을 알았더라면! 그러나 지금은 그것들이 당신의 눈에서 숨겨져 있습니다." (누가복음 19:41,42 ).

"'예루살렘의 딸들아, 나를 위해 울지 말고 너희 자신과 너희 자녀를 위해 울라..... 그들이 푸른 나무에서 이런 일을하면 마른 나무에서 무엇을 할 것입니까?" ( 누가 복음 23:28,31).

예수님은 예루살렘을 위해 우셨습니다. 여인들은 그분을 위해 울었고, 그분은 그들에게 자신과 자녀들을 위해 울라고 말씀하셨습니다. 승리의 순간에 슬퍼하고, 황폐의 순간에 슬퍼합니다.

종려주일 이야기에는 아이러니가 있습니다. 그 기쁨 뒤에는 배신과 시련, 십자가 처형의 그림자가 드리워져 있기 때문입니다. 주님의 십자가 처형을 요구한 성난 군중은 5일 전 주님을 왕으로 영접한 군중과 같은 무리였을까요? 주님은 왜 반드시 일어날 일을 알면서도 승리의 길을 가셨을까요? 그분은 신성한 선에서 나온 신성한 진리이신 그분이 만물을 다스리실 것임을 선포하고, 그분의 위엄을 영원히 상징할 그림을 우리에게 보여 주시기 위해 그렇게 하셨습니다. 그리고 겟세마네와 갈보리 사건은 그 위엄의 본질, 즉 참으로 그분의 왕국이 이 세상에 속한 것이 아니라는 것을 알려주었습니다.

종려주일의 장면을 상상할 수 있을까요? 군중이 기뻐하며 소리치고 있을 때, 그들은 왕이 우는 것을 보았습니다. 잠깐이 아니라 지속적으로 울부짖는 소리가 들려 복음서 기자가 그 소리를 들었습니다. 왕의 슬픔을 바라보며 외치는 소리가 잦아들었을까요, 아니면 왕이 자신들이 살고 있는 도시에 파멸을 선포했을 때 궁금해했을까요? "너희 원수들이 너희 주위에 제방을 쌓고 너희를 둘러싸고 사방으로 막아서서 너희와 너희와 함께 있는 너희 자녀들을 땅에 떨어뜨릴 것이며, 너희가 너희의 방문 시기를 알지 못하여 돌 하나도 너희 안에 남기지 않을 것이다." 그러자 아마도 그분이 타시면서 환호성이 다시 시작되었고 이상한 말은 잊혀졌을 것입니다.

사람들은 평화가 왔다고 외쳤기 때문에 또 다른 아이러니가 있습니다. "주님의 이름으로 오시는 왕이시여! 하늘에는 평화, 땅에는 영광!" 그러나 예수님은 울면서 도시를 향해 말씀하셨습니다."특히이 시대에 당신조차도 당신의 평화를 만드는 것들을 알았더라면! 그러나 지금은 그것들이 너희 눈에서 숨겨져 있다."라고 말씀하셨습니다.

이 웅장한 파노라마는 우리 인간 내면의 세계에 대해 이야기합니다. 말씀의 영적 의미에서 예수님이 승리하시는 곳은 바로 우리 마음속입니다. 그분의 진리의 경이로움을 보고 만물을 다스리는 그분의 능력을 느낄 때 우리는 그분께 왕관을 씌웁니다. 종려주일의 모든 행사는 눈에 보이는 하느님이신 주님께서 우리 안에 있는 말씀을 통해 우리의 마음을 다스리신다는 사실을 인정하는 시간입니다. 큰 기쁨의 시간입니다. 종려주일의 수많은 군중처럼, 우리는 이 환상이 악한 모든 것을 쓸어버리고 주님께서 우리의 왕이자 하나님으로서 우리 안에서 쉽게 통치하실 것을 느낍니다.

그런 행복한 시간이 우리에게 오면 우리는 그 안에서 기뻐하고 환희로 우리의 주님과 왕을 맞이할 수 있습니다. "하늘에서는 평화, 가장 높은 곳에서는 영광!" 평화는 우리가 본 주님과의 연합을 통해옵니다(묵시록 설명 369:9, 11). 그러나 주님께서는 평화를 모르는 사람들에게서 전쟁이 일어날 것임을 친히 아십니다. 이것 역시 주님은 말씀에서 우리에게 경고하십니다. 주님 당시의 육적 예루살렘에서 통치자들은 거짓을 사용하여 진리를 파괴했고, 그들은 그리스도인들에게 많은 슬픔을 가져다주었습니다. 우리 마음속의 영적 예루살렘에는 평화를 파괴하는 거짓 가치관이 있습니다. 우리가 천국에 가기 전에는 주님을 향한 우리의 비전과 진리를 남용하는 자기 사랑 사이에 싸움이 벌어질 것입니다.

그래서 주님은 감람산에서 도시를 내려다보시며 우셨습니다. 그분의 울음은 자비의 표징이었는데, 그분은 우리를 해치고 우리의 평화에 반대하는 우리 안의 상태들을 슬퍼하셨기 때문입니다. (천국의 신비 5480; 묵시록 설명 365 [9]; 참조. 365:11, 340). 그러나 그분의 슬픔은 적극적인 힘이며 자비이며 그러한 상태를 없애기 위해 일합니다. 예수님은 예루살렘이 돌 하나도 남지 않고 완전히 파괴될 것이라고 약속하셨습니다. 자연적인 예루살렘이 폐허가 된 것은 사실이지만 이것이 그분의 뜻은 아닙니다. 그분은 다가올 전투에 대해 경고하실 때에도 우리에게 승리하실 것이며 악을 행하는 우리의 변명 인 예루살렘은 서 있지 않을 것이라고 약속하셨습니다. 그들은 그분의 말씀에 의해 멸망할 것입니다. (참조. 아르카나 코엘레스티아 6588 [5]; 묵시록 설명 365 [9]).

그분은 자비로 인해 우셨고, "그분의 부드러운 자비가 그분의 모든 행위에 덮여 있기 때문에" 우는 일이 끝날 것이라고 약속하셨습니다.

성 금요일에는 분명히 울어야 할 이유가 있었습니다. 이 장면을 상상해 보십시오: 여인들이 십자가를 따라가며 애통해하고 있었습니다. 예수님은 채찍질로 피를 흘리셨고 가시 면류관으로 상처를 입으셨을 것입니다. 예수님은 누군가의 죽음을 보는 것을 즐기는 사람들에게 둘러싸여 계셨습니다. 예수님을 원수라고 불렀던 사람들은 자신들이 이겼다고 만족해했습니다.

그의 추종자들은 황폐해졌습니다. 그들은 그분이 키우신 꿈이 이런 식으로 끝날 것이라고는 상상도 못했고, 그들이 사랑했던 지도자가 이렇게 끔찍한 대우를 받을 것이라고는 상상도 못했습니다. 그들은 그분의 고난을 확신하면서 그분께 연민을 느꼈습니다. 그들은 그분을 위해 울었습니다.

그러자 그분께서 애도하는 이들을 향하실 때 그분을 모욕하던 군중들이 잠잠해졌을 것입니다. 그분은 무한한 사랑으로 말씀하셨습니다. "'예루살렘의 딸들아, 나를 위해 울지 말고 너희 자신과 너희 자녀들을 위해 울어라'." 그분은 다가오는 고통에 대해 생각하지 않으시고 사랑하는 사람들을 위해 슬퍼하셨습니다. 그분은 승리하실 것입니다. 그들에게 고통이 다가올 것이었습니다. 이 문장보다 우리 하나님을 이 땅에 오시게 한 목표를 더 명확하게 알 수 있을까요? 그분은 악한 사람들과 악한 감정이 그분의 자녀들에게 불행을 가져 오기 때문에 오셨습니다. 그분은 그들에게 울음 후에 기쁨을 주시고, 위로와 희망을 주시고, 마침내 더 이상 죽음이나 슬픔이나 울음이 없어야한다는 확신을주기 위해 오셨습니다.

당시의 여성들은 실제로 육체적 슬픔에 직면했습니다. 기독교인들에 대한 박해, 신을 숭배한다는 이유로 죽임을 당하는 사람들, 아이들을 빼앗기고 자비를 모르는 자들의 자비를 받는 선량한 사람들을 생각하면 가슴이 아픕니다. 신앙 때문에 고난을 당할 자녀를 낳지 않는 것이 더 나았을 것이라는 주님의 말씀은 참으로 옳은 말씀이었을 것입니다. "참으로 그들이 '불임한 자, 잉태하지 않은 태, 수유하지 않은 유방에게 복이 있도다'라고 말할 날이 오고 있다."

그러나 주님이 이 땅에 내려오신 진짜 이유는 육체적 잔인함 속에 훨씬 더 큰 상처가 있기 때문입니다. 이 땅에는 다른 사람을 죽일 생각은 하지 않지만, 그보다 훨씬 더 소중한 것, 즉 주님을 따르는 능력을 빼앗는 것을 일상적으로 즐기는 사람들이 많이 있습니다.

그래서 주님께서 "나를 위하여 울지 말고 너희 자신과 너희 자녀를 위하여 울라"고 말씀하신 것입니다. 예루살렘의 딸들은 전 세계의 진실한 사람들과 함께 진리에 대한 온화한 사랑을 나타냅니다. 그들의 자녀들은 진리에 대한 사랑에서 나오는 자선과 믿음입니다. 이들은 특히 악이 교회에 침투했을 때 발생하는 악의 희생자들입니다. 이들은 내면의 울음을 유발하는 것들, 침묵하기 때문에 더욱 치명적인 영의 슬픔을 유발하는 것들입니다.

주님은 그들을 "예루살렘의 딸들"이라고 부르셨습니다. 진리에 대한 우리의 순진한 사랑은 이기적이라는 정당화와 함께 성장합니다. 사실 예루살렘의 딸들이 부패한 교회의 통치를 받았던 것처럼 자기 정당화에 의해 통치됩니다. 그 여성들이 유대 교회에서 벗어나려고 했을 때 그들은 핍박을 받았습니다. 진리에 대한 순수한 사랑으로 주님을 따르려고 할 때 우리는 영의 유혹을 받습니다. 지옥이 일어나서 이기적이고 악한 모든 즐거움으로 우리를 유혹하고, 우리는 참으로 스스로를 위해 울게 됩니다.

고통받는 것은 진리 자체가 아닙니다! 예수님은 "나를 위해 울지 말라"고 말씀하셨습니다. 진리는 모두 강력합니다. 유혹을 받는 것은 진리에 대한 우리의 사랑입니다. 고통받는 것은 우리의 자선과 믿음, 즉 그 사랑의 자녀들입니다.

"참으로 그들이 '불임한 자, 해산하지 않은 태, 젖을 먹이지 않은 유방이 복이 있도다'라고 말할 날이 오고 있습니다." 우리는 때때로 진리가 없는 사람, 이상이 없는 사람이 행복한 사람인 것처럼 보이지 않나요? 사실 이것은 교회 밖에 있다가 새롭게 교회를 찾은 사람들이 삶의 거짓을 전투에 가져오는 사람들보다 더 쉬운 시간을 가질 것이라는 예언입니다.

종려주일에 예수님께서 우실 때 예루살렘이 멸망할 것이라고 말씀하셨습니다. 제가 말씀드렸듯이, 그분은 실제로 우리 안에 있는 악이 멸망할 것이라고 약속하셨습니다. 성 금요일에도 같은 확신을 주셨습니다: "그 때 그들은 '산들에게는 "우리에게 떨어지라!", 언덕들에게는 "우리를 덮어라!"라고 말하기 시작할 것입니다. 주님의 진리가 우리 안에서 승리할수록 천국이 더 가까워질 것이라는 약속이 담긴 이 말씀은 위로의 말씀입니다. 그렇게 되면 우리를 유혹하는 지옥은 천국의 임재를 견디지 못하고 스스로를 덮고 숨게 될 것입니다.

"그들이 푸른 나무에서 이런 일을 행하면 마른 나무에서는 어떻게 되겠느냐?" 청중들은 그분이 그들 가운데 계실 때 그분의 진리를 거부했다면, 그분의 임재와 기적에 대한 기억이 말라 버린 후에는 어떻게 할 것입니까? 내적인 의미에서 녹색 나무는 그것에 대한 사랑에서 여전히 살아있는 진리입니다. 우리가 말씀의 이상을 볼 때에도 우리는 유혹에 시달릴 것입니다. 그러나 그 나무가 마르면, 진리의 생명과 힘을 느낄 수 없게 되면 그 싸움은 훨씬 더 힘들어집니다.

종려주일에 주님께서 우시는 모습, 여인들에게 자신과 자녀들을 위해 울라고 슬프게 경고하시는 모습에서 주님은 우리가 믿는 것을 위해 싸울 수 있도록 준비시키고 계십니다. 주님은 어떻게 우리를 준비시키실까요? 주님은 우리에게 다가올 시련뿐만 아니라 그분의 능력을 드러내신 지금 승리의 확신을 확신시켜 주십니다. 참된 기독교 종교에는 그러한 경이로움과 영원한 행복에 대한 희망이 있습니다. 그러나 그 어떤 가치 있는 사랑도 도전에 직면하기 전에는 우리가 지킬 수 없습니다. 자비로우신 주님께서 우리의 고난에 눈물을 흘리시며 자비로 힘을 주시고, 꿈과 희망이 사라질까 두려워 눈물 흘리실 때 우리는 울어야 합니다. 시련을 통해 우리는 꿈에 대한 우리의 헌신을 표현하고 그분은 우리를 구원하십니다.

주님은 체포되기 24시간도 채 되지 않아 울음에 대해 다시 말씀하셨습니다. 최후의 만찬에서 주님은 "내가 진실로 너희에게 이르노니 너희는 울며 애통할 것이나 세상은 기뻐하리라"고 말씀하셨습니다. 그러나 주님은 거기서 멈추지 않으셨습니다. "너희는 슬퍼할 것이지만 너희 슬픔은 기쁨으로 바뀔 것이다. 여자가 해산할 때는 때가 되었기 때문에 슬픔을 느끼지만, 아이를 낳자마자 한 인간이 세상에 태어났다는 기쁨 때문에 더 이상 괴로움을 기억하지 못합니다. 그러므로 지금은 슬픔이 있지만 내가 너를 다시 만나면 네 마음이 기뻐할 것이며 아무도 네 기쁨을 빼앗지 못할 것이다."

예수님께서 십자가에 못 박히시고 다시 살아나셨을 때, 제자들은 이제 그분의 말씀이 성취되었다고 생각했을 것입니다. 이제 그들은 아무도 빼앗을 수 없는 기쁨을 찾았습니다. 박해자들의 손에 고난을 당하고 동료 그리스도인들 사이에서 기쁨을 발견했을 때에도 그들은 같은 생각을 했을 것입니다. 그리고 마침내 그들이 개인적인 전투를 치르고 그분의 능력으로 내면의 적을 이겼을 때, 그들은 그분의 진정한 의미를 알았습니다.

"예수님은 도시를 위해 우셨다." "너희 자신과 너희 자녀를 위해 울라." 진리에 대한 우리의 사랑은 위협을 받게 될 것이며, 참된 믿음과 참된 자선에 대한 우리의 희망도 함께 위협받게 될 것입니다. 그분께서 세상에 오셔서 승리의 길을 가시고 거절과 명백한 죽음의 잔을 마신 것은 우리의 슬픔을 기쁨으로 바꾸기 위한 것이었습니다. 그러므로 그분은 "세상에서는 너희가 환난을 당하리니 그러나 기뻐하라 내가 세상을 이기었노라"고 말씀하실 수 있었습니다. 아멘.

(Referências: 누가 복음19:29-44, 23:24-38)

357. That "a bow" signifies doctrine combating, or doctrine by which one fights against evils and falsities, and that "arrows," "javelins," and "darts," signify the truths of doctrine which fight, can be seen from the following passages. In Zechariah:

I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the bow of war shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations. Return to the stronghold, ye bound ones of hope; and I will bend Judah for Me, and with a bow I will fill Ephraim, and I will stir up thy sons, O Zion, for Jehovah shall be seen over them, and His arrow shall go forth as lightning; and the Lord Jehovih shall blow with a trumpet, and He shall go in the storms of the south (Zechariah 9:10, 12-14).

This treats of the vastation of the Jewish Church and the establishment of a church among the Gentiles. The vastation of the Jewish Church is described by "I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the bow of war shall be cut off," which signifies that there would be no longer any truth in the doctrine nor any understanding of truth, and thus no combat or resistance against falsity, "chariot" signifying the doctrine of truth, "horse" the understanding of truth, "the bow of war" combat from doctrine against falsity; it is said "the bow of war" because doctrine combating is meant. "Ephraim" signifies the church in relation to the understanding of truth, and "Jerusalem" in relation to doctrine. The establishment of the church among the Gentiles is described by these words, "but he shall speak peace to the nations; return to the stronghold, ye bound ones of hope; and I will bend Judah for me, and with the bow I will fill Ephraim, and I will stir up thy sons, O Zion," which signifies that the church is to be established among those who are in the good of love to the Lord, and in truths therefrom, "peace" signifying that good, "Judah" those who are in that good, and "Ephraim" those who are in the understanding of truth from it; it is therefore said of Ephraim, "with the bow He will fill him," that is, with the doctrine of truth. Their illustration in truths is described by these words, "His arrow shall go forth as lightning; and the Lord Jehovih shall blow with the trumpet, and He shall go in the storms of the south;" the "arrow that shall go forth as lightning" signifies truth illustrated, thus truth from the good of love; "He shall blow with the trumpet" signifies the clear perception of good; and "the storms of the south" signify the clear understanding of truth, "the south" meaning the light of truth. This treats of the Lord, thus that these things are from the Lord.

[2] In Moses:

The son of a fruitful one is Joseph, the son of a fruitful one by the fountain; the daughters (she walketh upon the wall), they shall embitter him, and shall shoot; and the archers shall hate him; and he shall sit in the firmness of his bow, and the arms of his hands shall be strengthened by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob; thence is he the shepherd, the stone of Israel (Genesis 49:22-24).

"Joseph," in the highest sense, signifies the Lord in relation to the spiritual kingdom. There are two kingdoms of heaven: one called the celestial kingdom, and the other the spiritual kingdom; the celestial kingdom is described in the prophecy respecting Judah, and the spiritual kingdom in this respecting Joseph. Those who are in the Lord's celestial kingdom are in the good of love to Him, which is called celestial good; and those who are in the Lord's spiritual kingdom are in the good of love to the neighbor, and thence in truths; and it is because all truths proceed from the Lord through the spiritual kingdom that Joseph is called "the son of a fruitful one, the son of a fruitful one by the fountain," "a fruitful one" signifies spiritual good, which is the good of charity, "son" signifies truth from that good, and "a fountain" signifies the Word; combat against evils and falsities is described by "the daughters shall embitter him, and shoot, and the archers shall hate him," "daughters" signifying those who are in evils and who wish by falsities to destroy goods; those who assault by evils are signified by "they shall shoot," and those who assault by the falsities of evil by "the archers" who shall hate him. The Lord's victory over them is described by these words, "and he shall sit in the firmness of his bow, and the arms of his hands shall be strengthened by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob; thence is he the shepherd, the stone of Israel;" "to sit in the firmness of the bow" signifies to be in the doctrine of genuine truth, and "the arms of his hands shall be strengthened by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob" signifies the power they have from the Lord, "the arms of the hands" meaning power, and "the Mighty One of Jacob" the Lord, who is also called "the shepherd, the stone of Israel," from the doctrine of charity and thence of faith which is from Him. (That "Joseph" in the highest sense signifies the Lord in relation to the Divine spiritual, and in the internal sense His spiritual kingdom, see Arcana Coelestia 3969, 3971, 4669, 6417; and what else he signifies, n. 4286, 4592, 4963, 5086, 5087, 5106, 5249, 5307, 5869, 5877, 6224, 6526)

[3] In the second book of Samuel:

David lamented over Saul and over Jonathan his son, and wrote, To teach the sons of Judah the bow (2 Samuel 1:17-18).

That lamentation treats of the combat of truth from good against the falsity from evil; for "Saul" as a king here signifies truth from good, for such truth is meant by "king" in the Word (See above, n. 31); and "Jonathan," as the son of a king, signifies the truth of doctrine; therefore he wrote the lamentation, "To teach the sons of Judah the bow," which signifies to teach them the doctrine of truth that is from good. The combat of that truth against falsities and evils is described in that lamentation by these words:

Without the blood of the slain, without the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan returned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty (2 Samuel 1:22).

"The blood of the slain" signifies the falsities conquered and dispersed; "the fat of the mighty" signifies evils conquered and dispersed. That these are conquered and dispersed by the doctrine of truth that is from good is signified by "the bow of Jonathan returned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty," "the bow of Jonathan" meaning doctrine, and "the sword of Saul" truth from good.

[4] In David:

God teacheth my hands war and placeth a bow of brass in mine arms (Psalms 18:34).

"War" here signifies war in a spiritual sense, which is war against evils and falsities; this is the war that God teaches; and "the bow of brass" signifies the doctrine of charity; God places this in the arms, that is, makes it to prevail.

[5] In Isaiah:

Who hath stirred up one from the sunrise, whom He hath called in righteousness to follow Him, hath given the nations before him, and made him to have dominion over kings, hath given them as the dust to his sword, and as stubble driven by his bow? (Isaiah 41:2).

This is said of the Lord and of His dominion over evils and falsities; the "nations that He gave before him," signify evils; and the "kings over whom He made him to have dominion," signify falsities; that He disperses evils and falsities as if they were nothing, by His Divine truth and by the doctrine therefrom, is signified by "He gave them as dust to his sword, and as stubble driven by his bow," "his sword" meaning the Divine truth, and "his bow," doctrine. That evils and falsities are dispersed as if they were nothing, is signified by "as dust," and "as driven stubble." It is said that evils and falsities are thus dispersed, but it is meant that those who are in evils and in falsities therefrom are thus dispersed in the other life.

[6] In Zechariah:

Jehovah [of Hosts] shall visit His flock, the house of Judah, and shall set them as the horse of His majesty in war. Out of him shall be the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the bow of war (Zechariah 10:3-4).

This may be seen explained in the preceding article which treats of the signification of "the horse;" "the bow of war" signifying truth combating from doctrine.

[7] In Habakkuk:

Was Jehovah displeased with the rivers? was Thine anger against the rivers? was Thy fury against the sea, that Thou dost ride upon Thine horses, Thy chariots are salvation? With bareness shall Thy bow be made bare (Habakkuk 3:8, 9).

This, too, was explained in the preceding article; "Thy bow shall be made bare" signifying that the doctrine of truth shall be laid open.

[8] In Isaiah:

Before the swords shall they flee away, before the drawn sword, and before the bended bow; and for the grievousness of the war all the glory of Kedar shall be consumed, and the remnant of the number of the bow of the mighty of the sons of Kedar shall be few (Isaiah 21:15-17).

This treats in the spiritual sense of the knowledges of good as about to perish, and that few will remain; "Kedar," that is, Arabia, signifies those who are in the knowledges of good, and in an abstract sense such knowledges themselves. That the knowledges of truth are to perish through falsities and the doctrine of falsity, is signified by, "Before the swords shall they flee away, before the drawn sword, and before the bended bow," "sword" meaning falsity combating and destroying, and "bow," the doctrine of falsity. That the knowledges of good are to perish is signified by these words, "for the grievousness of the war all the glory of Kedar shall be consumed," "the grievousness of war" meaning assault, and "all the glory of Kedar shall be consumed" meaning vastation. And that few knowledges are to remain is described by "the remnant of the number of the bow of the mighty of the sons of Kedar shall be few," "the bow of the mighty" meaning the doctrine of truth from the knowledges that prevail against falsities.

[9] In the same:

He hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; He hath made me a polished arrow; in His quiver hath He hid me (Isaiah 49:2).

This also treats of the Lord; and "sharp sword" signifies the truth dispersing falsity; "the polished arrow" truth dispersing evil; and "quiver" the Word: this makes clear what is signified by "He hath made my mouth like a sharp sword," and "He hath made me a polished arrow, and in His quiver hath He hid me," namely, that in the Lord and from Him is the Divine truth, by means of which falsities and evils are dispersed, and that in Him and from Him is the Word, where and whence these truths are.

[10] In David:

Lo, sons are an heritage of Jehovah; the fruit of the belly is His reward. As arrows in the hands of a mighty one, so are the sons of youth. Happy is the man that hath filled his quiver with them; they shall not be ashamed when they speak with the enemies in the gate (Psalms 127:3-5).

"Sons that are an heritage of Jehovah," signify truths by which there is intelligence; the "fruit of the belly that is His reward," signifies the goods, by which there is happiness; "the sons of youth that are as arrows in the hand of a mighty one," signify the truths of the good of innocence; because nothing evil or false can resist these truths, it is said that they are "as arrows in the hand of a mighty one." The good of innocence is the good of love to the Lord; because these truths have such power it is said, "Happy is the man that hath filled his quiver with them," "quiver" here having a like signification as "bow," namely, the doctrine from the Word; "they shall not be ashamed when they speak with the enemies in the gate" signifies that there shall be no fear because of evils from the hells, "enemies" meaning evils, and "gate" hell (See in the work on Heaven and Hell, n. 428-429, 583-585).

[11] In the same:

The sons of Ephraim, who were armed, shooters of the bow, turned about in the day of battle. They kept not the covenant of God (Psalms 78:9-10).

"Ephraim" here, as above, signifies the understanding of truth, and his "sons" the truths themselves; therefore they are also called "shooters of the bow," that is, fighters against evils and falsities. That they did not resist these because they were not conjoined to the Lord, is here signified by "they turned about in the day of battle, because they did not keep the covenant of God," "covenant" meaning conjunction, and "not keeping it" meaning not to live according to the truths and goods that conjoin.

[12] From the passages cited it can be seen that a "bow" signifies the doctrine of truth combating against falsities and evils and dispersing them. That this is the signification of "bow" can be seen further from its contrary sense, in which "bow" signifies the doctrine of falsity fighting against truths and goods and destroying them; and "darts" and "arrows" its falsities themselves. In this sense "bow" is mentioned in the following passages. In David:

Lo, the wicked bend the bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may shoot in darkness at the upright in heart (Psalms 11:2).

"The wicked bend the bow" signifies that they frame doctrine; "they make ready the arrow upon the string" signifies that they apply into it falsities that appear as truths; "to shoot in darkness at the upright in heart" signifies to deceive those who are in truths from good; "bow" here meaning the doctrine of falsity, "arrow" the falsity itself; "to shoot" meaning to deceive, and "darkness" appearances; for such as these reason from appearances in the world and from fallacies, also by the application of the sense of the letter of the Word.

[13] In the same:

The wicked unsheathe the sword, and bend their bow, to cast down the miserable and needy. Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken (Psalms 37:14-15).

"Sword" signifies falsity fighting against truth, and "bow" signifies the doctrine of falsity; "to cast down the miserable and the needy" signifies to pervert those who are in ignorance of truth and good; "their sword shall enter into their own heart" signifies that they shall perish by their own falsity; and "their bows shall be broken" signifies that their doctrine of falsity shall be dispersed, which also takes place after their departure from the world; then falsities destroy them, and so far as they have applied truths to falsities their doctrine is dispersed.

[14] In the same:

Who sharpen their tongue like a sword, and aim their arrow with a bitter word, that they may shoot in secret places at the perfect ¹ (Psalms 64:3-4).

Because "sword" signifies falsity fighting against truth, it is said, "who sharpen their tongue like a sword;" and because "arrow" signifies the falsity of doctrine, it is said, "they aim their arrow with a bitter word" "to shoot in secret places at the perfect" signifies the like as "to shoot in darkness at the upright in heart," just before, namely, to deceive those who are in truths from good.

[15] In Jeremiah:

They are all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous ones, who bend their tongue; their bow is a lie, neither in the truth have they prevailed in the land; for they go forth from evil to evil, neither have they known Me (Jeremiah 9:2-3).

"Adulterers, an assembly of treacherous ones," mean those who falsify the knowledges of truth and good, "adulterers" meaning those who falsify the knowledges of truth, and "treacherous ones" those who falsify the knowledges of good; of these it is said that "they bend the tongue," and that "their bow is a lie," "bow" meaning the doctrine from which principles of falsity are derived, and "lie" meaning the falsity; it is therefore also said, "neither in the truth have they prevailed in the land," that is, in the church where genuine truths are; that those who are in a life of evil and do not acknowledge the Lord are such is signified by, "for they go forth from evil to evil, neither have they known Me."

[16] In Jeremiah:

Behold, I cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the land of the north; his arrows as of a mighty one, none shall return vain. Set yourselves in array against Babylon round about, all ye that bend the bow, shoot against her, spare not the arrows; make the shooters heard against Babylon, all that bend the bow encamp against her round about; let there be no escape for her (Jeremiah 50:9, 14, 29, 42; 51:3).

This describes the total devastation of truth with those who are meant by Babylon, who are those that arrogate to themselves Divine power, and who acknowledge the Lord, indeed, but take away from Him all power to save, and who thus profane Divine truths; and as the Lord as far as possible provides that genuine truths be not profaned, these truths are wholly taken away from them, and they are imbued instead with mere falsities. "An assembly of great nations from the land of the north" signifies direful evils rising up out of hell," "great nations" meaning direful evils and "land of the north" the hell where there is nothing but falsity; "his arrows as of a mighty one, none shall return vain" signifies that thence they shall be imbued with mere falsities thence; "set themselves in array against Babylon round about, all ye that bend the bow, shoot against her, spare not the arrows" signifies devastation in relation to all doctrinals; the total devastation of truth with such is signified by "all that bend the bow encamp against her round about; let there be no escape for her."

[17] In Isaiah:

I stir up against them the Medes, who will not esteem silver, and in gold they will not delight; whose bows will dash in pieces the young men, and they will have no compassion on the fruit of the womb; so shall Babylon be, as the overturning of God, Sodom and Gomorrah (Isaiah 13:17-19).

This also is said of Babylon, and the devastation of all things of the church with those who are meant by Babylon (of which just above). "The Medes" signify those who make nothing of the truths and goods of heaven and the church; therefore it is said of them, "who will not esteem silver, and in gold they will not delight," "silver" signifying truth, and "gold" good, both of the church; "their bows will dash in pieces the young men, and they will have no compassion on the fruit of the womb" signifies the doctrinals that destroy all truth and all good thence, "young men" signifying truths, and "the fruit of the womb" goods; and because all evil with such is from the love of self, and all falsity is from that evil, and because that evil and that falsity thence are condemned to hell, therefore it is said, "so shall Babylon be, as the overturning of God, Sodom and Gomorrah," "the overturning of God" signifying damnation to hell, and "Sodom and Gomorrah" signifying the evils from the love of self and the falsities therefrom. (That this is the signification of "Sodom and Gomorrah," see Arcana Coelestia 2220, 2246, 2322)

[18] In the same:

In that day every place in which there were a thousand vines for a thousand of silver shall be a place of briers and brambles. With arrow and with bow shall one come thither, because the whole land shall be a place of briers and brambles (Isaiah 7:23-24).

The church vastated in relation to every truth and good is thus described; what the church had been before, namely, that genuine truth, which are truths from good, had been there in abundance is described by "in which there were a thousand vines for a thousand of silver," "a thousand vines" meaning truths from good in abundance, "a thousand of silver" meaning that these are most highly esteemed because they are genuine, "silver" meaning truth, and a "thousand" many, thus in abundance. But what the church became when vastated in respect to every truth and good is described by these words, "With arrow and with bow shall one come thither, because the whole land shall be a place of briers and brambles," "arrow" meaning falsity destroying truth, and "bow" the doctrine of falsity, "a place of briers" signifying falsity from evil, and "a place of brambles" evil from falsity; "land" means the church.

[19] In Jeremiah:

Behold, a people cometh from the land of the north, and a great nation shall be stirred up from the sides of the earth. They lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no compassion; their voice resoundeth like the sea; and they ride upon horses arrayed as a man for war, against thee, O daughter of Zion (Jeremiah 6:22-23).

This, too, describes the devastation of the church by the falsities of evil; what "a people from the land of the north" signifies, and "a great nation from the sides of the earth," also what "their voice resoundeth like the sea," and "they ride upon horses" signify, was explained in the preceding article; "they lay hold on bow and spear" signifies [that they fight from false doctrine, "bow" signifying] the falsity of doctrine destroying truth, and "spear" the falsity of evil destroying good; "daughter of Zion" meaning the church.

[20] In the same:

The whole land is a waste; for the voice of the horseman and of the shooters of the bow the whole city fleeth; they have entered into the clouds, they have ascended into the rocks, the whole city is forsaken, no man dwelling therein (Jeremiah 4:27, 29).

This, too, can be seen explained in the preceding article. "The voice of the horseman and of the shooters of the bow" signifies the reasonings from falsities, and assaults upon truth; "the shooters of the bow," that is, those who hold the bow, are those who assault truths from the falsities of doctrine; therefore it is said "the whole city fleeth," and "the whole city is forsaken," "city" signifying the doctrine of the church.

[21] In Isaiah:

Jehovah hath lifted up an ensign to the nations from far, and behold the swift one shall come in haste, his arrows are sharp, and all his bows bent; the hoofs of his horses are reckoned as rock, and his wheels as a storm (Isaiah 5:26, 28).

"His arrows are sharp," and "his bows bent," signify the falsities of doctrine prepared to destroy truths. What is signified by "the nations from far" and by "the hoofs of the horses that are reckoned as rock," and by "the wheels that are like a storm," may be seen in the article just above n. 355, where they are explained.

[22] In Amos:

He that holdeth the bow shall not stand, nor shall the swift of foot deliver himself, nor shall he that rideth upon the horse cause his soul to escape, but he that is stout in his heart among the mighty shall flee naked in that day (Amos 2:15-16).

This describes self-intelligence, and thus confidence from an ability to reason from falsities against truths; "he that holdeth the bow shall not stand, nor shall the swift of foot cause himself to escape," signifies that one who knows how to reason readily and skillfully from doctrine and from the memory that belongs to the natural man, cannot provide for his salvation, nor stand in the day of judgment; the like is signified by "he that rideth upon the horse shall not cause his soul to escape;" "he that is stout in his heart shall flee [naked] in that day" signifies that he who trusts in himself because of an ability to reason from falsities shall then be deprived of all truth; "the stout in heart" meaning him who trusts in himself on that account, and "naked" signifying deprived of all truth.

[23] In David:

God is a righteous judge, a God that is indignant all the day; if he turn not back He will whet His sword, He will bend His bow and make it ready, and hath prepared for him the instruments of death, He maketh His arrows burning (Psalms 7:11-13).

It is here attributed to God that He is indignant with the wicked, that He whets His sword, that He bends and makes ready His bow, prepares instruments of death, and makes His arrows burning; but in the spiritual sense it is meant that man does this in respect to himself. These things are attributed to God in the sense of the letter, because that sense is natural, and is for the natural man who believes that for these reasons God is to be feared; and with him fear works as love works afterwards, when he becomes spiritual. This makes clear what these words signify, namely, that it is the evil man who is indignant with God, that he whets the sword against himself, and bends the bow and makes it ready, he prepares the instruments of death, and makes his arrows burning. "He whetteth the sword" signifies that he acquires for himself falsity, by which he combats against truths; "he bendeth the bow and maketh it ready" signifies that from falsities he frames for himself doctrine opposed to truths; and "he prepares the instruments of death, and maketh his arrows burning" signifies that from infernal love he frames for himself principles of falsity by which he destroys good and its truth.

[24] In Lamentations:

The Lord hath bent His bow like an enemy; He hath stood with His right hand as an adversary; He hath slain all things desirable to the eyes (Lamentations 2:4).

Here, too, like things are attributed to the Lord, for a like reason as above; "He bends His bow like an enemy, and stands with His right hand as an adversary" signifies that the evil man does this in respect to himself, namely, he defends evil against good, and falsity against the truths of good from doctrine that he has framed for himself out of self-intelligence and confirmed by the sense of the letter of the Word; for in Lamentations the vastation of all good and all truth with the Jewish nation, from their applying the sense of the letter of the Word in favor of their own loves is treated of; "bow" here meaning the doctrine of falsity therefrom, "enemy" evil, and "adversary" falsity. That in consequence all the understanding of truth and good would perish is signified by "the Lord hath slain all things desirable to the eyes," "things desirable to the eyes" meaning all things that are of intelligence and wisdom.

[25] In Moses:

A fire hath been kindled in Mine anger, and it shall devour the earth and its produce, and shall set in flames the foundations of the mountains. I will empty out evils upon them; I will consume Mine arrows upon them (Deuteronomy 32:22-23).

This is in the song of Moses, which treats of the Israelitish and Jewish nation, and describes what they were in their hearts, namely, that there was nothing of the church with them because there was with them mere falsity from evil; "the earth and its produce, that is to be devoured" signifies the church, and all the truth and good therefrom, "the earth" signifying the church, and "produce" all the truth and good thereof. "The foundations of the mountains, that are to be set in flames" signify truths upon which the goods of love are based, especially the truths of the sense of the letter of the Word, since these are the foundations; the "evils that are to be emptied out upon them," and the "arrows that are to be consumed upon them" signify that they shall be imbued with all evils and falsities. (What that nation was from the beginning, and also what it is at this day, may be seen in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 248.)

[26] In the first book of Samuel:

The bows of the mighty are broken, but they who had stumbled have girded valor about them (1 Samuel 2:4).

This is the prophecy of Hannah, the mother of Samuel, which treats of the taking away of truth with those who are of the church, because they are in no spiritual affection of truth; also of the reception and illumination of those who are outside of the church, because they are in the spiritual affection of truth. That the doctrines of falsities that are held by those who are of the church are of no account is signified by "the bows of the mighty are broken;" and the reception and illustration of those who are outside of the church are signified by "they who had stumbled have girded valor about them;" those are said to "stumble," who are pressed by the falsities of ignorance, and "valor" is predicated of power and abundance of truth from good.

[27] In Jeremiah:

Behold, I break the bow of Elam, the beginning of his might (Jeremiah 49:35).

"Elam" means the knowledge [scientia] belonging to the natural man, and consequent confidence; his "bow" signifies the knowledge [scientia] from which as from doctrine he fights; and "the beginning of his might" signifies confidence; for knowledge [scientia] is of no avail if it does not serve the rational and the spiritual man. That "Elam" means knowledge belonging to the natural man can be seen from these passages in the Word in which "Elam" is mentioned (as Genesis 10:22; Isaiah 21:2; Jeremiah 25:24-26; 49:34-39; Ezekiel 32:24, 25).

[28] In David:

Jehovah maketh wars to cease even to the end of the earth; He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear asunder; He burneth up the chariots with fire (Psalms 46:9).

Because "wars" signify spiritual combats, which are here those of falsity against the truth and against the good of the church, it is clear what is signified by "Jehovah will make wars to cease even to the end of the earth," namely, that from firsts to the ultimates of the truth of the church all combat and disagreement shall cease, "the end of the earth" signifying the ultimates of the church. That there shall be no combat of doctrine against doctrine is signified by "He shall break the bow;" that there shall be no combat from any falsity of evil is signified by "He shall cut the spear asunder;" and that everything of the doctrine of falsity shall be destroyed by "He shall burn up the chariots with fire."

[29] In the same:

In Salem is the tabernacle of Jehovah, and His abode in Zion. There brake He the strings of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and war (Psalms 76:2-3).

This treats likewise of the cessation of all combat and all disagreement in the Lord's kingdom; "Salem" where Jehovah's tabernacle is, and "Zion" where His abode is, signify His spiritual kingdom and His celestial kingdom; "Salem" the spiritual kingdom where genuine truth is, and "Zion" the celestial kingdom where genuine good is and "He shall break the strings of the bow, the shield, the sword, and war" signifies the dissipation of all the combat of the falsities of doctrine against good and truth; "the strings of a bow" meaning the principal things of doctrine.

[30] In Hosea:

In that day will I make a covenant for them with the wild beast of the field and with the fowl of the heavens, and with the creeping thing of the earth; and I will break the bow and the sword and war from the earth, and I will make them to lie down securely (Hosea 2:18).

This treats of the Lord's coming and His conjunction at that time with all who are in truths from good; "the covenant with the wild beast of the field, with the fowl of the heavens, and with the creeping things of the earth" signifies the conjunction with their affection of good, with the affection of truth, and with the affection of the knowledges of the truth and good of the church that they have; for "the wild beast of the field" signifies the affection of good, "the fowl of the heavens" the affection of truth, and "the creeping thing of the earth" the affection of the knowledges of truth and good. Everyone sees that no wild beast, or fowl, or creeping thing of the earth is here meant; for with these how could there be any covenant? "I will break the bow and the sword and war from the earth" signifies that because of conjunction with the Lord no combat of falsity against truth shall exist, "bow" here meaning doctrine, "sword" falsity, and "war" combat.

[31] In Ezekiel:

This is the day whereof I have spoken; then the inhabitants of the cities of Israel shall go forth, and they shall set on fire and burn the arms, both the shield and the buckler, with the bow and the arrows, and the hand staff and the spear, and they shall kindle a fire with them seven years (Ezekiel 39:8-9).

This treats of "Gog," which means those who are in external worship and in no internal worship; because such are in opposition to the spiritual affection of truth, which is to love truths because they are truths, they are in falsities in respect to doctrine, and in evils in respect to life; for no one can be reformed, that is, be withdrawn from falsities and evils except by means of truths; for this reason it is said that "the inhabitants of the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall burn the arms, and the shield and the buckler, with the bow and the arrows, and the hand staff and the spear;" "the inhabitants of the cities of Israel" mean those who are in the affection of truth from good, that is, in the spiritual affection of truth, and thence in the doctrine of genuine truth; "to burn up the arms" signifies to extirpate falsities of every kind; the "shield" falsity destroying good; "the buckler" falsity destroying truth; "the bow with the arrows" doctrine with its falsities the "hand staff" and the "spear" signify one's own power and confidence, such as pertain to those who place the all of the church, and thence of salvation, in external worship; "they shall kindle a fire with them seven years" signifies that these falsities and evils shall be completely destroyed, "seven years" signifying all things, fullness, and completely (See above, n. 257, 300).

Notas de rodapé: