Swedenborg says that when something is described as quiet, still or calm in the Bible, it represents the state of peace that comes with being aligned with what the the Lord’s thoughts and wishes. And if makes sesne if you think about it: When what you want is good and what you know is true, not much will bother you.
Passages from Swedenborg
Heaven and Hell 297
[3] A state of peace is also meant in the Word when it says that “Jehovah smelled an odor of quietness,” as in Exodus 29:18, 25, 41; Leviticus 1:9, 13, 17; 2:2, 9; 6:8, 14 [6:15, 21]; 23:12, 13, 18; Numbers 15:3, 7, 13; 28:6, 8, 13; 29:2, 6, 8, 13, 36. “An odor ofquietness,” in the heavenly sense, means a perception of peace.(b)
b. An odor in the Word means a perception of something pleasant or unpleasant, depending on the quality of the love and faith of the entity described: 3577, 4626, 4628, 4748, 5021 [5621], 10292. An odor of quietness, in relation to Jehovah, means a perception of peace: 925, 10054. So frankincense, various kinds of incense, and the fragrances in oils and salves came to be representative: 925, 4748, 5621, 10177.
Apocalypse Explained 365
[40] In the same:
“The work of Jehovah is peace; and the labour of justice quietnessand security even for ever; that my people may dwell in a habitation of peace, and in tents of securities, and in quiet resting-places” (xxxii. 17, 18).
Peace is called the work of Jehovah, because it is solely from the Lord, and everything that exists by virtue of peace from the Lord, with those who are in conjunction with the Lord, is called the work of Jehovah; hence it is said, the work of Jehovah is peace. The labour of justice signifies good conjoined with truth, in whichpeace consists; for labour in the Word is predicated of truth, justice of good, and quietness of the peace therein. Security for ever signifies that thus there will be no infestation and fear from evils and falsities. Hence it is evident what is signified by, “that my people may dwell in a habitation of peace, and in tents of securities, and in quiet resting-places,” namely, that they are in heaven where the Lord is, and thence in the good of love and of worship without infestation from the hells, and thus in the delights of good and the pleasantnesses of truth. The habitation of peacedenotes heaven where the Lord is; tents of securities denote the goods of love and of worship thence without infestation by evils and falsities from hell; and quiet resting-places denote the delight of good, and the pleasantnesses of truth. (That tents signify the goods of love and worship, may be seen, n. 414, 1102, 2145, 2152, 3321, 3391, 4391, 10,545.)