1787# “亚伯兰，你不要惧怕！我是你的盾牌”象征着保护，来抵御邪恶和伪谬，这保护是值得信赖的。这一点从“盾牌”的象征意义中可以看出，我们将会对此进行更深入的讨论。这些话语，即“耶和华是盾牌”和“大大的赏赐”，是试探之后的安慰语。每一次试探都伴随着一定程度的绝望感，如果没有这种感觉，那么它就不算是一场试探，因此安慰之词随后而来。那些处于试探中的人会感受到焦虑，这种焦虑会导致对结果的绝望。试探的本质就是如此。对于那些对胜利有坚定信念的人而言，他们不会感到焦虑，从而也就不处于试探之中。
【2】主因承受了极端严酷和残忍的试探，不可避免地经历了绝望，但他以自己的力量战胜并消除了这些绝望。在客西马尼园的试探中，主的经历便清楚体现了这一点。《路加福音》的记载如下：
到了那地方，就对他们说：“你们要祷告，免得入了迷惑。” 于是离开他们约有扔一块石头那么远，跪下祷告， 说：“父啊！你若愿意，就把这杯撤去；然而，不要成就我的意思，只要成就你的意思。” 有一位天使从天上显现，加添他的力量。 耶稣极其伤痛，祷告更加恳切，汗珠如大血点滴在地上。 （路加福音22:40-44）
在《马太福音》中，耶稣开始感受到深重的痛苦和忧伤。他向门徒们透露自己的感受：
“我心里甚是忧伤，几乎要死。”……他就稍往前走，俯伏在地，祷告说：“我父啊，倘若可行，求你叫这杯离开我。然而，不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。”……第二次又去祷告说：“我父啊，这杯若不能离开我，必要我喝，就愿你的意旨成全。”……第三次祷告，说的话还是与先前一样。（马太福音26:36-44）
《马可福音》中说：
耶稣就惊恐起来，极其难过，对他们说：“我心里甚是忧伤，几乎要死……”他就稍往前行，俯伏在地，祷告说：“倘若可行，便叫那时候过去。”他说：“阿爸！父啊，在你凡事都能；求你将这杯撤去。然而，不要从我的意思，只要从你的意思。”……耶稣又去祷告，说的话还是与先前一样。（马可福音14:33-41）
【3】从这里可以清晰地理解到，主所经历的试探极为严峻，他在内心深处承受着极大的痛苦，直至流出血一般的汗水，并在那时对结果感到了绝望，因此他得到了慰藉。这句话“我是你的盾牌，必大大地赏赐你”也蕴含了对经历过试探之战的人的安慰，这一点在上一章中有所论述。
1787、“亚伯兰，不要惧怕！我是你的盾牌”表示保护，免受邪恶和虚假的伤害，以及对这种保护的信靠，这从稍后解释的“盾牌”的含义清楚可知。这些话，即耶和华是“盾牌”、“是你极大的赏赐”，是试探之后安慰的话。每次试探都伴随着某种绝望，否则就不是试探；因此，安慰随之而来。凡正在受到试探的人都会变得焦虑，这种焦虑又会产生对目的或结果的一种绝望状态。实际的试探的争战不是别的。那些确保得胜的人不会感到焦虑，因此不会面临任何试探。
主经历了最可怕、最残酷的试探，所以也不可避免地陷入绝望的状态；祂凭自己的能力驱散并战胜了这些状态；这一点从祂在客西马尼园所受的试探很清楚地看出来，这次试探在路加福音被描述如下：
耶稣到了那地方，就对门徒说，你们要祷告，免得陷入试探。于是祂离开他们约有扔一块石头那么远，跪下祷告，说，父啊，你若愿意，就给我免去这杯罢；然而，愿你的旨意成就，而非我的意愿。有一位天使从天上向祂显现，加添祂的力量。耶稣极其伤痛，祷告更加恳切，祂的汗如同大血滴落在地上。（路加福音22:40-45）
马太福音：
祂就开始忧愁难过，便对门徒说，我的灵魂甚是忧伤，几乎要死。祂就稍往前走，俯面祷告说，我父啊，倘若可能，就让这杯离开我吧；然而，不要照我所愿的，只要照你所愿的。第二次又走开祷告说，我父啊，这杯若不能离开我，非要我喝不可，就愿你的旨意成就。第三次祷告，又说了同样的话。（马太福音26:37-44）
马可福音：
祂就开始惊恐起来，极其难过，对门徒说，我的灵魂被忧伤围困，几乎要死。祂就稍往前走，俯伏在地上祷告，倘若可能，便叫那时刻过去。祂说，阿爸，父啊！在你一切都可能，给我免去这杯罢；然而，不要照我所愿的，只要照你所愿的。祂这样说了第二次和第三次。（马可福音14:33-41）
从这些经文可以看出主的试探是何性质，即：它们是最可怕的，祂从其存在的至内在部分感到极度痛苦，甚至汗滴如血；那时，祂对目的和结果都陷入绝望的状态，也得到安慰。“我，耶和华是你的盾牌，是你极大的赏赐”这些话以同样的方式体现了前一章所描述的试探的争战之后所得的安慰。
New Century Edition
Cooper(2008,2013)
[NCE]1787. Do not be afraid, Abram; I am a shield to you, symbolizes protection from evil and falsity, and trust in that protection, as can be seen from the symbolism of a shield, discussed just below.
These words — that Jehovah is a shield and very much a reward — are words of comfort after trial. All trial carries with it some kind of despair; otherwise it is not a trial. So consolation follows. Anyone who is being tested becomes anxious, and the anxiety causes a state of despair over the outcome. The actual struggle is nothing else.
Those who are sure of victory feel no anxiety, so they face no test.
[2] Because the Lord endured the most dreadful, fiercest trials of all, he too was inevitably driven to despair, a despair he was to overcome and dispel by his own power. This is quite clear from his crisis in Gethsemane, described this way in Luke:
When Jesus was in the place, he said to his disciples, "Pray not to undergo trial." And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and dropping to his knees he prayed, saying, "Father, if you want this cup to pass by me ... Still, let your will be done, not mine." An angel appeared to him from heaven, though, comforting him. And when he was in agony, he prayed more intensely. And his sweat became as drops of blood falling on the ground. (Luke 22:40-45)
In Matthew:
He began to be grieved and distressed. Then he said to his disciples, "My soul is completely grief-stricken, even to death." And going on a little he fell on his face praying, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass by me. Yet not as I wish but as you do." Again a second time he went away and prayed, saying, "My Father, if this cup cannot pass by me unless I drink it, let your will be done." And he prayed a third time, saying the same words. (Matthew 26:36-44)
In Mark:
He began to be terrified and greatly distressed. He said to his disciples, "My soul is wrapped in grief, even to death." Going on a little, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it was possible, the hour pass by him. He said, "Abba,{*1} Father, all things are possible for you. Make this cup pass by me. Not as I wish, though, but as you do." He did this a second time and a third time. (Mark 14:33-41)
[3] These passages show what the Lord's crises were like: they were the fiercest of all; he had very deep-seated anguish, to the point of sweating blood; he was then in a state of despair about the goal and the outcome; and he received comfort. The present words — "I Jehovah am your shield and very much your reward" — also entail comfort after the spiritual battles described in the last chapter.
Footnotes:
{*1} Abba is Aramaic for "father." Although Aramaic is the language that Jesus is presumed to have spoken, the Gospels were written in Greek, and the Greek texts have transliterated this word — probably because it had come to seem a sacred proper name. The texts add the Greek word for "father," pater, in explanation, so that the Greek reads ᾽Αββὰ ὁ πατήρ (Abbà ho patér; "Abba the Father"). Swedenborg follows suit, as do most English translations of the New Testament. The term also occurs at Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6. See The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church 2005, under Abba. [RS, LHC]
Potts(1905-1910) 1787
1787. Fear not, Abram, I am a shield to thee. That this signifies protection against evils and falsities, which is to be trusted, is evident from the signification of "a shield," to be explained presently. These words, namely, that Jehovah is a shield, and that He is an exceeding great reward, are words of consolation after temptations. Every temptation is attended with some kind of despair (otherwise it is not a temptation), and therefore consolation follows. He who is tempted is brought into anxieties, which induce a state of despair as to what the end is to be. The very combat of temptation is nothing else. He who is sure of victory is not in anxiety, and therefore is not in temptation. [2] The Lord also, as He endured the most dire and cruel temptations of all, could not but be driven into states of despair, and these He dispelled and overcame by His own power; as may be clearly seen from His temptation in Gethsemane, thus recorded in Luke:
When Jesus was at the place, He said unto the disciples, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. But He was parted from them about a stone's cast; and kneeling down He prayed, saying, Father, if Thou be willing let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Thine, be done. And there appeared unto Him an angel from heaven, strengthening Him; and being in an agony, He prayed more earnestly; and His sweat became as drops of blood falling down upon the ground (Luke 22:40-45). In Matthew:
He began to be sorrowful and sore troubled. Then saith He unto the disciples, My whole soul is sorrowful even unto death. And going forward a little, He fell on His face, praying, and saying, My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt. Again a second time He went away, and prayed, saying, My Father, if this cup cannot pass except I drink it, Thy will be done. And He prayed a third time, saying the same word (Matt. 26:37-44). In Mark:
He began to be terrified, and sore troubled, and said to the disciples, My soul is encompassed with sorrow even unto death. He went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from Him. He said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto Thee; remove this cup from Me; howbeit, not as I will, but as Thou wilt: and He spake thus a second time and a third (Mark 14:33-41). [3] From these passages we may see what was the nature of the Lord's temptations-that they were the most terrible of all; and that He felt anguish from the very inmosts, even to the sweating of blood; and that He was then in a state of despair concerning the end and the event; and also that He had consolations. The words now under consideration, "I, Jehovah, am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward," involve in like manner consolation after the combats of temptations treated of in the foregoing chapter.
Elliott(1983-1999) 1787
1787. 'Fear not, Abram, I am a shield to you' means protection against evils and falsities which is able to be trusted. This is clear from the meaning of 'a shield', to be dealt with shortly. These words which declare that Jehovah is 'a shield' and 'an exceedingly great reward' are words of comfort following temptations. Every temptation entails some kind of despair, or else it is not temptation; and for that reason comfort follows. A person who is being tempted is subjected to anxious fears which produce a state of despair over the end in view. The conflict brought about by temptation does not consist in anything else. One who is quite certain of victory does not experience any anxiety, nor thus any temptation.
[2] Since the Lord underwent the most dreadful and the cruelest temptations of all it was inevitable that He too should be driven into feelings of despair which He put to flight and overcame by His own power, as becomes quite clear from His temptation in Gethsemane, which is described in Luke as follows,
When Jesus was at the place He said to the disciples, Pray that you may not enter into temptation. But He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and kneeling down He prayed, saying, Father, if You are willing, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless not My will but Yours be done. And there appeared to Him an angel from heaven, strengthening Him. And when He was in agony He prayed more earnestly; and His sweat became as great drops of blood falling down upon the ground. Luke 22:40-45.
In Matthew,
He began to be sorrowful and in agony. Then He said to the disciples, My soul is utterly dejected even to death. And He went forward a little and praying fell on His face, saying, My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will but as You will. Again, for the second time, He went away and prayed, saying, My Father, if this cup cannot pass from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done. And He prayed for the third time, saying the same thing.a Matt 26:36-44.
In Mark,
He began to be terrified and in great agony. He said to the disciples, My soul is wrapped in dejection, even to death. He went forward a little, fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible the hour might pass from Him. He said, Abba, Father, all things are possible to You; remove this cup from Me; yet not as I will but as You will. This happened a second and a third time. Mark 14:33-41.
[3] These quotations show the nature of the Lord's temptations - that they were the most frightful of all; that He suffered agony from the inmost parts of His being, even to the sweating of blood; that He was at the time in a state of despair over the end in view and over the outcome; and that He received comfort repeatedly. The words 'I am Jehovah your shield, your exceedingly great reward' in a similar way embody the comfort received after the conflicts brought about by the temptations which were described in the previous chapter.
Latin(1748-1756) 1787
1787. 'Ne timeas Abram, Ego clypeus tibi:' quod significet tutationem contra mala et falsa cui confiditur, constat a significatione 'clypei,' de qua mox: haec verba quod nempe 'Jehovah clypeus' et quod 'merces valde,' sunt verba consolationis post tentationes; omnis tentatio secum habet aliquam speciem desperationis, alioquin non est tentatio, quare etiam consolatio sequitur; qui tentatur, in anxietates fertur quae inducunt statum desperationis de fine; ipsa pugna tentationis non aliud est: qui in certitudine est de victoria, is non in anxietate est, ita nec in tentatione: [2] Dominus quia sustinuit omnium dirissimas et crudelissimas tentationes, non potuit aliter ac quod etiam in desperationes actus esset, quas dispelleret et evinceret propria potentia; ut satis constare potest a tentatione Ipsius in Gethsemane, de qua ita apud Lucam Cum Jesus esset in loco, dixit discipulis, Orate ut non ingrediamini in tentationem; Ipse autem abstractus est ab illis quasi ad jactum lapidis, et ponens genua oravit, dicens, Pater, si velis, ut transeat calix hic a Me, attamen non voluntas Mea, sed Tua fiat: visus autem Ipsi angelus e caelo confortans Ipsum; cumque esset in angore, intentius oravit; factus vero sudor Ipsius ut guttae {1} sanguinis descendentes super terram, xxii 40-45:apud Matthaeum, Incipit affici dolore et angore; tunc dixit discipulis, Maesta tota est anima Mea usque ad mortem,... et progressus paulum cecidit super faciem Suam precans, dicens, Pater Mi, si possibile est, transeat a Me calix hic; verum tamen non sicut Ego volo, sed sicut Tu:... rursus secunda vice abiit, et precatus est, dicens, Pater Mi, si non potest hic calix transire a Me, nisi bibero illum, fiat voluntas Tua;... et precatus est tertia vice, idem verbum dicens, xxvi 36-44:
apud Marcum, Coepit expavescere et valde angi,... dixit discipulis, Maestitia circumdata est anima Mea usque ad mortem;... progressus paululum, cecidit super terram, et oravit, ut, si possibile esset, transiret ab Ipso hora; dixit, Abba Pater, omnia possibilia Tibi, transfer calicem a Me hunc, non tamen ut Ego volo, sed sicut Tu: hoc secundo, et hoc tertio, xiv 33-41. [3] Ex his constare potest quales Domini tentationes fuerunt, quod omnium immanissimae, et quod Ipsi ab intimis angor, usque ad sudores sanguinis, et quod tunc in statu desperationis de fine et eventu, et quod Ipsi consolationes; haec verba, 'Ego Jehovah clypeus tuus, et merces tua valde' involvunt similiter consolationem post pugnas tentationum, de quibus in capite praecedente actum. @1 Gk. [ ] (thromboi) = clots, A.V. has great drops.$