Good Afternoon Friends,
Sunday Sermon 05/07/2023 | 10:00 am
“Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life” was the answer Jacob gave to Pharaoh who asked him how old he was. He was 130 years old! (He then lived another 17 years to the ripe old age of 147.) This week we finish up our study of Genesis 47 where we find Jacob, who was not long for this world, making a special request of Joseph. Come join us in person or online as we learn the nature and significance of that request.
https://www.youtube.com/c/TheNewChurchatBoyntonBeach
A Passage Explaining the Custom of Putting the Hand Under the Thigh When a Special Vow was Made
“Put now your hand under my thigh” means a sacred bond. This is clear from the meaning of “putting a hand under the thigh” as a bond established through what is connected with conjugial love, by all one’s power, for “hand” means power, [see the passages listed as follows:] 878, 3091, 4971-4937, 5728, 5544, and “thigh” what is connected with conjugial love, dealt with in 3021, 4277, 4280, 4575, 5050, 5062. The conjugial relationship in the supreme sense is the union within the Lord of the Divine and the Divine Human. From this it is the union of Divine Good and Divine Truth in heaven, for what goes forth from the Lord is Divine Truth from Divine Good. This is why heaven is heaven and is called a marriage, for the existence there of goodness and truth joined together, which go forth from the Lord, is what makes heaven. Also, since the Lord is the good there, and heaven is the truth from it, the Lord is in the Word called “the bridegroom,” while heaven and also the Church is called “the bride.” For goodness and truth constitute a marriage, and the existence of the two joined together is meant by the conjugial relationship. From this one may see how sacred it to be bound by what is of a conjugial nature, meant by “putting a hand under the thigh.”
Arcana Coelestia 6179
Congratulations!
Louis and Aileen are grandparents once again. A granddaughter, Hannah Aileen, was born on May 4th to Judah and Lydia Synnestvedt of Kempton, PA. Wishing little Hannah and her family all the best!
Bible Study
This week we will repeat the blurb we had last time, since we are now caught up:
Tuesday, May 9th at 10:00 am
We have often spoken of the way the character of Joseph in the Old Testament is a type or a representation of the Lord in the New Testament. The parallels are unmistakable. In our chapter this week, Genesis 45, we get to the climatic event where Joseph reveals himself to his brothers:
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. . . . And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. . . . No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has brought Him forth to view (John 1:14-18).
A steady tapping sound was coming from our church steeple this morning. It was one of our many neighborhood woodpeckers who visit our church property and trees and buildings!
Here is Devon welcoming the large audience of families and friends.
We salute Devon’s contribution to the community!