“All authority is given to Me in heaven and on earth... And behold, I am with you always, even to the consummation of the age.” - Matthew 28:18, 20
Kempton New Church
 

Week 2
Day 3

    Listen:

Psalms about the Lord’s Advent

Jehovah establishes His Kingdom on Mt. Zion

Psalm 48

1

A song; a psalm for the sons of Korah.

Great is Jehovah, and to be praised exceedingly,

In the city of our God, the mountain of His holiness.

2

Beautiful in situation, the joy of all the earth is Mount Zion,

On the flanks of the north, the city of the great King.

3

God is known in her palaces

For a High Tower.

4

For behold, the kings have congregated,

They have crossed over as one.

5

They saw; so they were amazed;

They were troubled; they rushed away.

6

Quivering seized them there;

Travailing, as of her who gives birth.

7

By the east wind

Thou dost break the ships of Tarshish.

8

As we have heard, so have we seen,

In the city of Jehovah of Armies,

In the city of our God;

God will establish her even to eternity. Selah.

9

We have considered, O God, Thy mercy,

In the midst of Thy temple.

10

As Thy name, O God, so is Thy praise over the ends of the earth;

Justice fills Thy right hand.

11

Let Mount Zion be glad, let the daughters of Judah rejoice,

Because of Thy judgments.

12

Go around Zion, and circle her;

Number her towers.

13

Set your heart to her rampart, mark well her palaces,

So that you may recount it to a later generation.

14

For this God is our God to eternity and forever.

He will direct us even until death.

versestopicSummary of the Spiritual Sense
title,
1-3, 8
12The spiritual kingdom of the Lord, how admirable!
4-712It will dissipate all falsities.
9-101,10This is the Divine Human.
11-1310,12From this are all things of heaven and of the church,
1416because the Lord reigns there.

The east wind

AC 7679. ...The signification of “an east wind” is a means of destruction. That an “east wind” has this signification is because it was dry and tempestuous, and consequently dried up the productions of that land, and by its force broke in pieces trees, and ships on the sea. Because of this, by it as a means is described the effect of Divine power.

Moreover, by the “east” is signified the good of love and of charity, because in the supreme sense the Lord is signified.... And in its origin, being Divine, the good of love and of charity is most gentle, consequently it is so in its advance into heaven. But when it sinks down to the hells, it becomes harsh and severe, because it is turned into this by those who are there. Therefore the influx and presence of this Divine good there not only torments, but also devastates them. From all this also it is that by a “wind from the east” or an “east wind” is signified a means of destruction. (See also AC 842.)

A new church together with a new heaven

AE 453:10. “Mount Zion” which “shall be glad,” signifies the celestial church, in which are those who are in love to the Lord. “The daughters of Judah” who shall “exult,” signify the affections of good and truth which those have who are of that church; “because of Thy judgments” signifies because of Divine truths which they have from the Lord. “Go around Zion and circle her” signifies to embrace the things belonging to that church from love. “To number her towers” signifies to give thought to the higher or interior truths of that church, “to number” meaning to see and give thought to their quality, and “towers” meaning the higher or interior truths. “Set your heart to the bulwarks” signifies to love the exterior truths that defend that church against falsities. “Mark well her palaces” signifies to perceive the goods of truth, for “houses” mean goods, and “palaces” the more noble goods of truth. “That you may tell the generation following” signifies their permanence to eternity.

Questions and Comments
  1. Picture living in a beautiful, clean city, with noble palaces and homes, where it is safe and inspiring to raise a family and to work. This is what the Lord’s church is meant to be like spiritually, and what heaven is like.
  2. Verse 10 is the one in this psalm specifically about the Lord’s advent. Because of His coming, His name can be known to the ends of the earth, and we can see that “justice fills His right hand.” Everything He does is to provide for order so that we can be free to choose heaven.
  3. Can you picture how a very gentle sphere of the Lord’s love and of love toward the neighbor could cause great upheaval in the hells? Why would that be so?
  4. What are some truths of the New Church that you “mark well” and “set your heart to”?
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