AC 1659 [3]
In very ancient times also,
many things were represented by wars,
which they called the Wars of Jehovah,
and which meant nothing else
than the combats of the church,
and of those who were of the church,
that is, their temptations,
which are nothing but combats and wars
with the evils in themselves,
and consequently with the diabolical crew
that excite the evils,
and endeavor to destroy the church
and the people of the church.
That nothing else is meant in the Word by "wars,"
may be clearly seen from the fact
that nothing can be treated of in the Word
except the Lord and His kingdom, and the church;
because it is Divine and not human,
consequently heavenly and not worldly,
and therefore by "wars," in the sense of the letter,
nothing else can be meant in the internal sense.
AC 1661 [2]
No one can ever fight against evils and falsities
until he has learned to know what evil and falsity are,
and therefore not until he has been instructed.
A person does not know what evil is,
still less what falsity is,
until he has the full use of
his understanding and judgment,
which is the reason why a person
does not come into temptations
until he has arrived at adult age;
thus every person in his age of manhood,
but the Lord in His childhood.
AC 1663 [2]
That the Lord underwent and endured
the most grievous temptations --
temptations more grievous
than have ever been endured by anyone --
is not so well known from the Word,
where it is only mentioned
that He was in the wilderness forty days,
and was tempted by the devil.
The temptations themselves which He then had,
are described in a few words only;
but these few involve them all;
as that it is said in Mark (1:12, 13)
that He was there with the beasts,
by which are meant the worst of the infernal crew;
and the things which are mentioned
[in Matthew and in Luke],
that He was taken by the devil
upon the pinnacles of the temple,
and upon a high mountain,
are nothing but representatives
of most grievous temptations
which He had in the wilderness;
concerning which, of the Lord's Divine mercy hereafter.
AC 1664 [8]
That Jehovah alone, that is, the Lord,
combats and overcomes the devil that is with a person
when he is in the combats of temptations,
although it does not so appear to the person,
is a constant truth;
for not even the smallest thing
can be brought upon a person by evil spirits
that is not by permission;
and nothing, however small,
can be averted by angels,
except from the Lord;
so that it is the Lord alone who sustains all the combat,
and who overcomes;
which also is everywhere represented by the wars
waged by the sons of Israel against the nations.
That it is the Lord alone, is also declared in Moses:
Jehovah your God who walks before you,
He shall fight for you.
(Deuteronomy 1:30)
Again:
Jehovah your God is He that walks with you,
to fight for you against your enemies,
to save you.
(Deuteronomy 20:4; so too in Joshua 23:3, 5)
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