1. Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness;
Thou hast set me at large when I was in distress:
Have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

 1-3. Respecting the Lord, when in great temptations.
P. P.

 2. O ye sons of men, how long shall my glory be turned
into dishonor?
How long will ye love vanity, and seek after falsehood ?
[Selah

3. But know that Jehovah hath set apart for himself him
that is godly:
Jehovah will hear when I call unto him.

 2. We may often read in the Word that the Lord answers
those who call and cry. R. 376.

That truth is signified by breadth may be evident by
these passages Psalm xxxi. 8; cxviii. 5; xviii. 19: Hosea
iv. 16, etc. R. 861.

The expression "to answer" frequently occurs in the
Word and when predicated of the Lord signifies influx,
inspiration, perception and information, likewise mercy
and aid. See Isaiah xlix. 8. E. 471.

 4. Stand in awe, and sin not:
Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be
still. [Selah

 4. That a bed signifies doctrine is from correspondence,
for as the body reclines in its bed, so does the mind in its
doctrine. But by a bed is signified the doctrine which
any one procures to himself either from the Word or from
his own intelligence, for in it his mind rests, and as if it
were sleeps. R. 137.

They should fear Him, for He has protection from the
Father. P. P.

 5. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,
And put your trust in Jehovah.

 5-9. Exhortation to repent. P. P.

 6. Many there are that say, Who will show us any good ?
Jehovah, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon
us.

7. Thou hast put gladness in my heart,
More than they have when their grain and their new
wine are increased.

 7. Among the ancients the face signified the internals, for
the reason that internals shine forth through the face.
When charity shone from the face the countenance was
said to be lifted up, and when the opposite the countenance
was said to fall. Therefore it is predicated of the Lord
that He lifts up His countenance upon man — as in the
Blessing — Numbers vi. 26 and Psalm iv, 6, 7 — by
which is signified that the Lord gives man charity.
A. 358-

By the faces of Jehovah is meant the Divine, and whatsoever
is of the Divine, thus mercy, peace, and all good,
but in the universal sense the Divine truth, since in the
Divine truth is all good. A. 10579.

By seeing the face of the Lord is not meant to see His
face, but to know and acknowledge Him as He is with
regard to His Divine attributes, which are many. They
who are conjoined with Him by love know Him and thus
see His face. R. 939.

By the light of the countenance of Jehovah is understood
the Divine truth from the Divine love, thence also
the expression implies intelligence and wisdom, for from
the Divine truth, or the Divine light in the heavens are
derived all the wisdom and intelligence, both of angels and
men. E. 412.

7, 8. The face of Jehovah or of the Lord is mercy, peace
and every good, as is clearly evident from the blessing,
also in Numbers vi. 25, 26. A. 222.

Lifting up the light of the countenance means to give
good from mercy. A. 5585.

 In peace will I both lay me down and sleep;

 7-9. By peace are signified all the things in the complex
which are from the Lord, and thence all the things of
heaven and the church, and the blessedness of life in
them. These are of peace in the highest or inmost sense.
It follows from this that charity, spiritual security and
internal rest are peace. R. 306.

In these words is described the peace which they possess
who are in conjunction with the Lord, by the reception
of Divine good and Divine truth from Him. It is
peace in which heavenly joy is contained and from which
it is derived. E. 365.

 For thou, Jehovah, alone makest me dwell in safety.

 9. Making to dwell in safety signifies a state of peace.
A. 3384.

See Psalm lii. 6, 7. A. 3696.

Author: EMANUEL SWEDENBORG (1688-1772)