AC 8554 - 8555
In the preceding chapter, in the internal sense,
the third temptation was treated of --
that there was a lack of good.
This having been given them,
in the internal sense in this chapter
the fourth temptation is treated of --
that there was a lack of truth.
This temptation is signified by
"the murmuring of the sons of Israel
because they had no water;"
and therefore the truth of faith
was given them by the Lord,
which is signified by
"the water out of the rock of Horeb."
Then follows the combat of the falsity
that is from evil against the truth and good of faith,
which combat is represented by
the fighting of Amalek against Israel.
That they who are in the truth and good of faith
conquer when they look upward to the Lord,
and that they yield when they look downward,
is represented by the sons of Israel conquering
so long as Moses kept his hands raised,
and by their yielding when he let them down.
AC 8557
That Spiritual life grows by means of temptations
is because by means of them
the truths which are of faith are confirmed,
and are conjoined with the good which is of charity.
AC 8559
The life of heaven
is to be led of the Lord by means of good.
In order that a man may come to that life,
good must be implanted by means of truth;
that is, charity by means of faith.
So long as this is being done,
the man is in the way to heaven,
but is not yet in heaven.
And in order that at that time
the truths which are of faith may be confirmed,
and may also be conjoined with good,
the man is let into temptations,
for these are the means
of the conjunction of good and truth.
When therefore the man is in good, that is,
in the affection of doing good for the sake of good,
thus for the sake of the neighbor,
he is uplifted into heaven,
for he is in the order of heaven,
and is led of the Lord by means of good.
From all this it can be seen
what is meant by "the life of heaven."
AC 8562 [2]
Temptations attack that which a man loves and longs for.
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