3999. Because thou comest upon my reward before thee. That this signifies what is His own, is evident from the signification of “reward,” when predicated of the Lord, as being what is His own; that is, acquired by His own power (concerning which above, n. 3975, 3977, 3982, 3996).

3977. For thou knowest my service wherewith I have served thee. That this signifies labor and study by His own power, may be seen from what has been said and adduced just above (n. 3975); thus without further explication. What these things involve further, is manifest from what has been said above (n. 3974), and also from what follows.