Spiritual Meaning of Lie down

Spiritual Meaning of

Lie down

That in the Word to lie down signifies a state of tranquillity, may be seen from the following passages. In Moses:--

If ye walk in My statutes, and keep My commandments and do them, I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid and I will cause the evil wild beast to cease out of the land, neither shall the sword pass through your land (Lev. 26:3, 6)

where lying down is manifestly predicated of a state of peace and tranquillity; evil beasts denote the cupidities of evil (AC 45, 46, 908), which shall cease; the sword denotes, falsity fighting against truth (AC 2799), which shall not pass through; all which shows that peace and the tranquillity of peace are from good and truth, and that the destruction thereof is from evils and falsities.

[4] In Isaiah:--

The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid and the calf and the young lion together and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie do together (Isa. 11:6, 7)

where the Lord is treated of, and the state of peace in His kingdom; that they shall lie down together signifies that they cannot be infested by any evil and falsity. 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 out of the land, and will make them to lie down in confidence (Hosea 2:18)

where in like manner to lie down signifies a state of tranquillity on the removal of falsities and evils, which occasion unrest.

[5] In David:--

I will lay me down and sleep and I will awake for Jehovah sustaineth me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of the people that have set themselves against me round about (Ps. 3:5, 6)

where to lie down and sleep signifies a state of tranquillity and security. Again

In peace I will both lay me down and sleep; for Thou Jehovah alone makest me to dwell in confidence (Ps. 4:8).

And again:--

He will make me to lie down in green pastures He will lead me to the waters of rest; He will restore my soul (Ps. 23:2, 3).

From these passages it is evident that a state of peace and tranquillity is signified by lying down; and that by lying down in that place is signified the tranquillity of the state, for in the internal sense place signifies state (AC 3692).

from AC 3696

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Author: E. Swedenborg (1688-1772).

Design: I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002.