Apocalypse Revealed #209
209. 'Wretched and poor.' This symbolically means that they have no truths or goods.
Wretched and poor people mean, in the spiritual sense of the Word, people who lack concepts of truth and good, for they are spiritually wretched and poor. They are also meant by the people in the following passages:
I am wretched and poor, O Lord; be mindful of me. (Psalms 40:18) [NCBSP: Psalms 40:17], cf. Psalms 70:5)
Incline Your ear, O Jehovah, and answer me, for I am wretched and poor. (Psalms 86:1)
The impious bare the sword and bend their bow, to cast down the wretched and poor... (Psalms 37:14)
(The impious man) persecuted the wretched and poor man, even to slay the downcast in heart. (Psalms 109:16)
(God) will judge the wretched of the people; He will save the children of the poor... He will deliver the poor man when he cries, and the wretched man... (Psalms 72:4, 12-13)
Jehovah... delivers the wretched man from one who is too strong for him, and the poor man... from those who plunder him. (Psalms 35:10)
(The impious man) devises wicked plans to destroy the wretched with lying words, even when the poor man speaks justly. (Isaiah 37:7)
The wretched shall have their joy in Jehovah, and the poor of mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 29:19)
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3)
See also elsewhere, as Isaiah 10:2; Jeremiah 22:16; Ezekiel 16:49; 18:12; 22:29; Amos 8:4; Psalms 9:18; 69:32-33; 74:21; 109:22; 140:12; Deuteronomy 15:11; 24:14; Luke 14:13, 21, 23.
The wretched and poor mean chiefly people who lack concepts of truth and goodness and yet desire them, since the rich mean people who possess concepts of truth and goodness (no. 206).
Psalms 35
1
Contend, Yahweh, with those who contend with me. Fight against those who fight against me.
2
Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help.
3
Brandish the spear and block those who pursue me. Tell my soul, "I am your salvation."
4
Let those who seek after my soul be disappointed and brought to dishonor. Let those who plot my ruin be turned back and confounded.
5
Let them be as chaff before the wind, Yahweh's angel driving them on.
6
Let their way be dark and slippery, Yahweh's angel pursuing them.
7
For without cause they have hidden their net in a pit for me. without cause they have dug a pit for my soul.
8
Let destruction come on him unawares. Let his net that he has hidden catch himself. Let him fall into that destruction.
9
My soul shall be joyful in Yahweh. It shall rejoice in his salvation.
10
All my bones shall say, "Yahweh, who is like you, who delivers the poor from him who is too strong for him; yes, the poor and the needy from him who robs him?"
11
Unrighteous witnesses rise up. They ask me about things that I don't know about.
12
They reward me evil for good, to the bereaving of my soul.
13
But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth. I afflicted my soul with fasting. My prayer returned into my own bosom.
14
I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother. I bowed down mourning, as one who mourns his mother.
15
But in my adversity, they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together. The attackers gathered themselves together against me, and I didn't know it. They tore at me, and didn't cease.
16
Like the profane mockers in feasts, they gnashed their teeth at me.
17
Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my soul from their destruction, my precious life from the lions.
18
I will give you thanks in the great assembly. I will praise you among many people.
19
Don't let those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; neither let those who hate me without a cause wink their eyes.
20
For they don't speak peace, but they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.
21
Yes, they opened their mouth wide against me. They said, "Aha! Aha! Our eye has seen it!"
22
You have seen it, Yahweh. Don't keep silent. Lord, don't be far from me.
23
Wake up! Rise up to defend me, my God! My Lord, contend for me!
24
Vindicate me, Yahweh my God, according to your righteousness. Don't let them gloat over me.
25
Don't let them say in their heart, "Aha! That's the way we want it!" Don't let them say, "We have swallowed him up!"
26
Let them be disappointed and confounded together who rejoice at my calamity. Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me.
27
Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause. Yes, let them say continually, "Yahweh be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant!"
28
My tongue shall talk about your righteousness and about your praise all day long. For the Chief Musician. By David, the servant of Yahweh.
