AC 10577 [2]
That "to show grace"
denotes to endow with spiritual truth and good,
and "to show mercy"
to endow with celestial truth and good
is because "grace" is predicated of faith,
and "mercy" of love;
and the good of faith is spiritual good,
and the good of love is celestial good.
Therefore will Jehovah wait
to show grace unto you,
and therefore will He exalt Himself
to have mercy upon you.
(Isaiah 30:18)
AC 10579 [7, 8-9]
It was said above that by "the faces of Jehovah"
are signified the interior Divine things of the Word,
of the church, and of worship.
The reason is that the interior Divine things
of the Word, of the church, and of worship
are the Divine truth proceeding from the Lord,
thus are the Lord in heaven.
This is signified by the "face of Jehovah,"
where it is mentioned in the Word, as in these passages:
See that ye despise not one of these little ones;
for I say unto you,
that their angels in the heavens
do always see the face of My Father
who is in the heavens.
(Matthew 18:10)
The throne of God and of the Lamb
shall be in the holy Jerusalem;
and His servants shall minister to Him.
And they shall see His faces.
(Revelation 22:3, 4)
Jehovah shall make His faces to shine upon thee,
and shall have pity on thee;
Jehovah shall lift up His faces upon thee,
and shall give thee peace.
(Numbers 6:25, 26)
Everyone can comprehend what is here meant
by "the faces of Jehovah," namely, the Divine,
and whatever belongs to the Divine,
thus mercy, peace, and all good;
but in the universal sense the Divine truth,
because all good is in the Divine truth.
Both with man and with angel
the Divine good is in the Divine truth,
and without the latter there is not the former;
for truth is the recipient of good,
thus also of mercy and peace.
From this then it follows
that where Divine good is not in Divine truth,
there the face of Jehovah is not;
and it also follows
that where there is evil in falsity,
the Divine does not appear.
This is meant by Jehovah
"hiding and turning away His faces"
in the following passages:
Your sins have hidden the faces of Jehovah from you.
(Isaiah 59:2)
For their wickedness I have hid My faces from this city.
(Jeremiah 33:5)
Jehovah will hide His faces from them,
according as they have rendered in their works evil.
(Micah 3:4)
But be it known that Jehovah, that is, the Lord,
never turns away His faces from man;
but that the man who is in evil
turns away his face from the Lord.
And as the Divine is then behind him,
it appears as if this hides or turns itself away.
Moreover, it is an actual fact
that all infernal spirits turn their backs to the Lord as a sun,
whereas the angels always turn their faces to Him.
It is the same with a man,
in respect to his spirit,
during his life in the world.
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
~ Sing and Rejoice! ~
Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, praise His name;
proclaim His salvation day after day.
Declare His glory among the nations,
His marvelous deeds among all peoples.
For great is the Lord
and most worthy of praise;
He is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before Him;
strength and glory are in His sanctuary.
Let the heavens rejoice,
let the earth be glad;
let the sea resound,
and all that is in it;
let the fields be jubilant,
and everything in them.
Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy;
they will sing before the Lord,
for He comes,
He comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples in His truth.
(Psalm 96:1-6, 11-13)
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, praise His name;
proclaim His salvation day after day.
Declare His glory among the nations,
His marvelous deeds among all peoples.
For great is the Lord
and most worthy of praise;
He is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before Him;
strength and glory are in His sanctuary.
Let the heavens rejoice,
let the earth be glad;
let the sea resound,
and all that is in it;
let the fields be jubilant,
and everything in them.
Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy;
they will sing before the Lord,
for He comes,
He comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples in His truth.
(Psalm 96:1-6, 11-13)
** Mary Visits Elizabeth **
And Mary arose in those days,
and went into the hill country with haste,
into a city of Judah;
And entered into the house of Zacharias,
and saluted Elisabeth.
and went into the hill country with haste,
into a city of Judah;
And entered into the house of Zacharias,
and saluted Elisabeth.
And it came to pass, that,
when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary,
the babe leaped in her womb;
and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit:
And she spake out with a loud voice, and said,
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
And why am I so favored,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation
sounded in mine ears,
the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
And blessed is she that believed:
for there shall be a performance of those things
which were told her from the Lord.
MARY'S SONG
And Mary said,
My soul doth magnify the Lord,
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior,
for He hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden:
for, behold, from henceforth
all generations shall call me blessed.
For He that is mighty hath done to me great things;
and holy is His name.
And His mercy is on them that fear Him
from generation to generation.
He hath shewed strength with His arm;
He hath scattered the proud
in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seats,
and exalted them of low degree.
He hath filled the hungry with good things;
and the rich He hath sent empty away.
He hath helped His servant Israel,
in remembrance of His mercy;
as He spake to our fathers,
to Abraham, and to His seed for ever.
And Mary abode with her about three months,
and returned to her own house.
(Luke 1:39-56)
when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary,
the babe leaped in her womb;
and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit:
And she spake out with a loud voice, and said,
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
And why am I so favored,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation
sounded in mine ears,
the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
And blessed is she that believed:
for there shall be a performance of those things
which were told her from the Lord.
MARY'S SONG
And Mary said,
My soul doth magnify the Lord,
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior,
for He hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden:
for, behold, from henceforth
all generations shall call me blessed.
For He that is mighty hath done to me great things;
and holy is His name.
And His mercy is on them that fear Him
from generation to generation.
He hath shewed strength with His arm;
He hath scattered the proud
in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seats,
and exalted them of low degree.
He hath filled the hungry with good things;
and the rich He hath sent empty away.
He hath helped His servant Israel,
in remembrance of His mercy;
as He spake to our fathers,
to Abraham, and to His seed for ever.
And Mary abode with her about three months,
and returned to her own house.
(Luke 1:39-56)
Tuesday, December 18, 2018
AC 10568 - The Land of Canaan; AC 10570 - 'On the Face of the Ground'; AC 10574 - 'Jehovah's Glory'
AC 10568
The reason why being led into the land of Canaan
means the establishment of the Church
is that by the land of Canaan in the Word
those in heaven understand nothing at all
other than the Church.
They perceive everything in the Word on a spiritual level;
consequently when any land is mentioned
they think of the kinds of things constituting the Church
that exist in that land or among the nation inhabiting it.
Angels in heaven cannot keep their mind focused
on the idea of a land
because that idea is a material one,
nor on the idea of any nation
since this idea too is material;
therefore a spiritual idea
is what immediately presents itself to them,
an idea that has something to do with the Church.
In general a spiritual idea has to do with the Lord,
His kingdom, heaven, the Church,
love to the Lord and faith in Him,
and countless aspects of faith and love,
thus of the Church.
And if you are willing to believe it,
it is impossible for any material idea to enter heaven;
it is cast off at the gateway of heaven.
This is how it is with every single thing in the Word.
So it is then that being led into the land of Canaan
means the establishment of the Church,
and not being led in,
implied in the present verse,
its not being established.
AC 10570 [4]
By the words 'on the face of the ground'
wherever the Church exists should be understood;
for 'the ground' has the same meaning as 'the earth',
namely the Church.
But 'the ground' means the Church
for the same reason as 'the field' does,
that is, because it receives various kinds of seeds,
which then grow into plants and bear fruit,
by which the truths
and forms of the good of faith and love
are meant.
For the human being is a recipient of these
just as the ground is of seeds.
The earth is called a Church however
on account of the people inhabiting it,
with whom the Church exists.
But since the ground implies
that which extends spatially
just as the earth or the land does,
translators use the word 'earth' instead of 'ground'.
Here they say 'on the face of the earth'
instead of 'on the face of the ground',
as they do in other places.
And yet in the original language
the term that denotes the ground
is derived from an entirely different root from the one
that the term denoting the earth springs from.
AC 10574 [4-5]
The reason why 'Jehovah's glory'
means the inner substance
of the Word, the Church, and worship
is that Divine Truth emanating from the Lord,
as it exists in heaven,
constitutes Jehovah's glory;
for Divine Truth emanating from the Lord
is seen there as light.
The Lord's appearance within that light
is what is meant in the truest sense by 'Jehovah's glory';
and by the Lord's appearance
one should understand all the things there
which come from the Lord,
which are countless
and are referred to by
the general terms 'celestial' and 'spiritual'.
The reason why the inner substance
of the Word, the Church, and worship
is meant by 'Jehovah's glory' is that it dwells in that light.
The outward form however
dwells in the light of the world,
which is why that outward form
is meant in the Word by 'the cloud'.
From this it is evident
that the internal sense of the Word is 'the glory'.
From all this it may now become clear
what is meant in the following places
by 'the glory of Jehovah' and by His 'light', as in Isaiah,
Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of Jehovah has risen upon you.
Behold, darkness is covering the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples.
But Jehovah will arise upon You,
and His glory will be seen over You.
Nations will walk to Your light,
and kings to the brightness of Your rising.
Your sun will no longer go down
and Your moon will not be withdrawn,
for Jehovah will be to You an everlasting light.
(Isaiah 60:1-3,20)
This refers to the Lord's Coming.
'Light' here means the Divine Truth emanating from the Lord,
and 'His glory' and 'the brightness of His rising'
mean everything visible in that light
which has regard to the Lord,
and to faith in Him and love to Him.
'The darkness' and 'the thick darkness'
which are 'covering the earth and the peoples'
mean the dimness of faith and love,
for these words are used
of the Church to be established among the gentiles.
From this it follows
that the light and glory which will arise and be seen,
and to which nations and kings will walk,
means Divine Truths regarding the Lord,
and regarding faith in Him and love to Him,
which are derived from Him.
The reason why being led into the land of Canaan
means the establishment of the Church
is that by the land of Canaan in the Word
those in heaven understand nothing at all
other than the Church.
They perceive everything in the Word on a spiritual level;
consequently when any land is mentioned
they think of the kinds of things constituting the Church
that exist in that land or among the nation inhabiting it.
Angels in heaven cannot keep their mind focused
on the idea of a land
because that idea is a material one,
nor on the idea of any nation
since this idea too is material;
therefore a spiritual idea
is what immediately presents itself to them,
an idea that has something to do with the Church.
In general a spiritual idea has to do with the Lord,
His kingdom, heaven, the Church,
love to the Lord and faith in Him,
and countless aspects of faith and love,
thus of the Church.
And if you are willing to believe it,
it is impossible for any material idea to enter heaven;
it is cast off at the gateway of heaven.
This is how it is with every single thing in the Word.
So it is then that being led into the land of Canaan
means the establishment of the Church,
and not being led in,
implied in the present verse,
its not being established.
AC 10570 [4]
By the words 'on the face of the ground'
wherever the Church exists should be understood;
for 'the ground' has the same meaning as 'the earth',
namely the Church.
But 'the ground' means the Church
for the same reason as 'the field' does,
that is, because it receives various kinds of seeds,
which then grow into plants and bear fruit,
by which the truths
and forms of the good of faith and love
are meant.
For the human being is a recipient of these
just as the ground is of seeds.
The earth is called a Church however
on account of the people inhabiting it,
with whom the Church exists.
But since the ground implies
that which extends spatially
just as the earth or the land does,
translators use the word 'earth' instead of 'ground'.
Here they say 'on the face of the earth'
instead of 'on the face of the ground',
as they do in other places.
And yet in the original language
the term that denotes the ground
is derived from an entirely different root from the one
that the term denoting the earth springs from.
AC 10574 [4-5]
The reason why 'Jehovah's glory'
means the inner substance
of the Word, the Church, and worship
is that Divine Truth emanating from the Lord,
as it exists in heaven,
constitutes Jehovah's glory;
for Divine Truth emanating from the Lord
is seen there as light.
The Lord's appearance within that light
is what is meant in the truest sense by 'Jehovah's glory';
and by the Lord's appearance
one should understand all the things there
which come from the Lord,
which are countless
and are referred to by
the general terms 'celestial' and 'spiritual'.
The reason why the inner substance
of the Word, the Church, and worship
is meant by 'Jehovah's glory' is that it dwells in that light.
The outward form however
dwells in the light of the world,
which is why that outward form
is meant in the Word by 'the cloud'.
From this it is evident
that the internal sense of the Word is 'the glory'.
From all this it may now become clear
what is meant in the following places
by 'the glory of Jehovah' and by His 'light', as in Isaiah,
Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of Jehovah has risen upon you.
Behold, darkness is covering the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples.
But Jehovah will arise upon You,
and His glory will be seen over You.
Nations will walk to Your light,
and kings to the brightness of Your rising.
Your sun will no longer go down
and Your moon will not be withdrawn,
for Jehovah will be to You an everlasting light.
(Isaiah 60:1-3,20)
This refers to the Lord's Coming.
'Light' here means the Divine Truth emanating from the Lord,
and 'His glory' and 'the brightness of His rising'
mean everything visible in that light
which has regard to the Lord,
and to faith in Him and love to Him.
'The darkness' and 'the thick darkness'
which are 'covering the earth and the peoples'
mean the dimness of faith and love,
for these words are used
of the Church to be established among the gentiles.
From this it follows
that the light and glory which will arise and be seen,
and to which nations and kings will walk,
means Divine Truths regarding the Lord,
and regarding faith in Him and love to Him,
which are derived from Him.
~ The Heavens Praise Your Wonders, O Lord ~
The heavens praise Your wonders, O Lord,
Your faithfulness too,
in the assembly of the holy ones.
For who in the skies above
can compare with the Lord?
Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?
In the council of the holy ones
God is greatly feared;
He is more awesome than all who surround Him.
O Lord God Almighty, who is like You?
You are mighty, O Lord,
and Your faithfulness surrounds You.
Righteousness and justice
are the foundation of Your throne;
love and faithfulness go before You.
Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim You,
who walk in the light of Your presence, O Lord.
They rejoice in Your name all day long;
they exult in Your righteousness.
For You are their glory and strength,
and by Your favor You exalt over him.
Indeed, our shield belongs to the Lord,
our king to the Holy One of Israel.
(Psalm 89:5-8, 14-18)
Your faithfulness too,
in the assembly of the holy ones.
For who in the skies above
can compare with the Lord?
Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?
In the council of the holy ones
God is greatly feared;
He is more awesome than all who surround Him.
O Lord God Almighty, who is like You?
You are mighty, O Lord,
and Your faithfulness surrounds You.
Righteousness and justice
are the foundation of Your throne;
love and faithfulness go before You.
Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim You,
who walk in the light of Your presence, O Lord.
They rejoice in Your name all day long;
they exult in Your righteousness.
For You are their glory and strength,
and by Your favor You exalt over him.
Indeed, our shield belongs to the Lord,
our king to the Holy One of Israel.
(Psalm 89:5-8, 14-18)
** An Angel Appears to Mary **
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel
was sent from God unto a city of Galilee,
named Nazareth,
to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph,
of the house of David;
and the virgin's name was Mary.
was sent from God unto a city of Galilee,
named Nazareth,
to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph,
of the house of David;
and the virgin's name was Mary.
And the angel came in unto her, and said,
Hail, thou that art highly favored,
the Lord is with thee:
blessed art thou among women.
And when she saw him,
she was troubled at his saying,
and cast in her mind
what manner of salutation this should be.
And the angel said unto her,
Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb,
and bring forth a son,
and shalt call His name JESUS.
He shall be great,
and shall be called the Son of the Highest:
and the Lord God shall give unto Him
the throne of His father David:
And He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever;
and of His kingdom there shall be no end.
Then said Mary unto the angel,
How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
And the angel answered and said unto her,
The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee,
and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee:
therefore also that holy thing
which shall be born of thee
shall be called the Son of God.
And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth,
she has also conceived a son in her old age:
and this is the sixth month with her,
who was called barren.
For with God nothing shall be impossible.
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord;
be it unto me according to thy word.
And the angel departed from her.
(Luke 1:26-38)
Hail, thou that art highly favored,
the Lord is with thee:
blessed art thou among women.
And when she saw him,
she was troubled at his saying,
and cast in her mind
what manner of salutation this should be.
And the angel said unto her,
Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb,
and bring forth a son,
and shalt call His name JESUS.
He shall be great,
and shall be called the Son of the Highest:
and the Lord God shall give unto Him
the throne of His father David:
And He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever;
and of His kingdom there shall be no end.
Then said Mary unto the angel,
How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
And the angel answered and said unto her,
The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee,
and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee:
therefore also that holy thing
which shall be born of thee
shall be called the Son of God.
And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth,
she has also conceived a son in her old age:
and this is the sixth month with her,
who was called barren.
For with God nothing shall be impossible.
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord;
be it unto me according to thy word.
And the angel departed from her.
(Luke 1:26-38)
Monday, December 17, 2018
AC 10559 -The Land of Canaan
AC 10559 [3]
. . . to be brought by Jehovah into the land of Canaan
denotes to become the church.
The reason of this is
that the church had been in the land of Canaan
from the most ancient times,
and that the Word could not have been written elsewhere,
thus except with the nation which possessed that land;
and where the Word is,
there is the church.
That the Word could not have been written anywhere else
was because all the places
that were in the whole of that land,
and that were round about it,
such as the mountains, the valleys,
the rivers, the forests, and all the rest,
had become representative of celestial and spiritual things;
and it was necessary that the sense of the letter of the Word,
in both the historical and the prophetical parts,
should consist of such things,
because the interior things of the Word,
which are celestial and spiritual,
must close in such things,
and as it were stand on them
like a house upon its foundation;
for unless the Word in respect to the sense of the letter,
which is its ultimate,
stood upon such things,
it would be like a house without a foundation.
That this is so is evident from the Word,
in that mention is so often made of the places of that land,
all of which, having become representative,
signify the things of heaven and of the church.
. . . to be brought by Jehovah into the land of Canaan
denotes to become the church.
The reason of this is
that the church had been in the land of Canaan
from the most ancient times,
and that the Word could not have been written elsewhere,
thus except with the nation which possessed that land;
and where the Word is,
there is the church.
That the Word could not have been written anywhere else
was because all the places
that were in the whole of that land,
and that were round about it,
such as the mountains, the valleys,
the rivers, the forests, and all the rest,
had become representative of celestial and spiritual things;
and it was necessary that the sense of the letter of the Word,
in both the historical and the prophetical parts,
should consist of such things,
because the interior things of the Word,
which are celestial and spiritual,
must close in such things,
and as it were stand on them
like a house upon its foundation;
for unless the Word in respect to the sense of the letter,
which is its ultimate,
stood upon such things,
it would be like a house without a foundation.
That this is so is evident from the Word,
in that mention is so often made of the places of that land,
all of which, having become representative,
signify the things of heaven and of the church.
~ Blessed Is the Man Who Trusts in the Lord ~
How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty!
My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young --
a place near Your altar, O Lord Almighty,
my Kings, and my God.
Blessed are those who dwell in Your house;
they are ever praising You.
Selah
Blessed are those whose strength is in You,
who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the valley of Baca,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.
Hear my prayer, O Lord God Almighty;
listen to me, O God of Jacob.
Selah
Look upon our shield, O God;
look with favor on Your anointed one.
Better is one day in Your courts
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does He withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.
O Lord Almighty,
blessed is the man who trusts in You.
(Psalm 84)
My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young --
a place near Your altar, O Lord Almighty,
my Kings, and my God.
Blessed are those who dwell in Your house;
they are ever praising You.
Selah
Blessed are those whose strength is in You,
who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the valley of Baca,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.
Hear my prayer, O Lord God Almighty;
listen to me, O God of Jacob.
Selah
Look upon our shield, O God;
look with favor on Your anointed one.
Better is one day in Your courts
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does He withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.
O Lord Almighty,
blessed is the man who trusts in You.
(Psalm 84)
** An Angel Appears to Zacharias **
There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea,
a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia:
and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron,
and her name was Elisabeth.
And they were both righteous before God,
walking in all the commandments
and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
And they had no child,
because that Elisabeth was barren,
and they both were now well stricken in years.
And it came to pass,
that while he executed the priest's office
before God in the order of his course,
According to the custom of the priest's office,
his lot was to burn incense
when he went into the temple of the Lord.
And the whole multitude of the people
were praying without at the time of incense.
And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord
standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled,
and fear fell upon him.
But the angel said unto him,
Fear not, Zacharias:
for thy prayer is heard;
and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son,
and thou shalt call his name John.
And thou shalt have joy and gladness;
and many shall rejoice at his birth.
For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord,
and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink;
and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost,
even from his mother's womb.
And many of the children of Israel
shall he turn to the Lord their God.
And he shall go before Him
in the spirit and power of Elias,
to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,
and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just;
to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
And Zacharias said unto the angel,
Whereby shall I know this?
for I am an old man,
and my wife well stricken in years.
And the angel answering said unto him,
I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God;
and am sent to speak unto thee,
and to shew thee these glad tidings.
And, behold,
thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak,
until the day that these things shall be performed,
because thou believest not my words,
which shall be fulfilled in their season.
And the people waited for Zacharias,
and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
And when he came out,
he could not speak unto them:
and they perceived
that he had seen a vision in the temple:
for he beckoned unto them,
and remained speechless.
And it came to pass, that, as soon
as the days of his ministration were accomplished,
he departed to his own house.
And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived,
and hid herself five months, saying,
Thus hath the Lord dealt with me
in the days wherein he looked on me,
to take away my reproach among men.
(Luke 1:5-25)
a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia:
and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron,
and her name was Elisabeth.
And they were both righteous before God,
walking in all the commandments
and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
And they had no child,
because that Elisabeth was barren,
and they both were now well stricken in years.
And it came to pass,
that while he executed the priest's office
before God in the order of his course,
According to the custom of the priest's office,
his lot was to burn incense
when he went into the temple of the Lord.
And the whole multitude of the people
were praying without at the time of incense.
And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord
standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled,
and fear fell upon him.
But the angel said unto him,
Fear not, Zacharias:
for thy prayer is heard;
and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son,
and thou shalt call his name John.
And thou shalt have joy and gladness;
and many shall rejoice at his birth.
For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord,
and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink;
and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost,
even from his mother's womb.
And many of the children of Israel
shall he turn to the Lord their God.
And he shall go before Him
in the spirit and power of Elias,
to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,
and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just;
to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
And Zacharias said unto the angel,
Whereby shall I know this?
for I am an old man,
and my wife well stricken in years.
And the angel answering said unto him,
I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God;
and am sent to speak unto thee,
and to shew thee these glad tidings.
And, behold,
thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak,
until the day that these things shall be performed,
because thou believest not my words,
which shall be fulfilled in their season.
And the people waited for Zacharias,
and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
And when he came out,
he could not speak unto them:
and they perceived
that he had seen a vision in the temple:
for he beckoned unto them,
and remained speechless.
And it came to pass, that, as soon
as the days of his ministration were accomplished,
he departed to his own house.
And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived,
and hid herself five months, saying,
Thus hath the Lord dealt with me
in the days wherein he looked on me,
to take away my reproach among men.
(Luke 1:5-25)
Sunday, December 16, 2018
AC 10551 - Enlightenment
AC 10551 [2, 5]
Those who
when reading the Word
are in enlightenment,
see it from within,
for their internal is open,
and when the internal is open
it is in the light of heaven.
This light flows in and enlightens,
although the man is unaware of it.
The reason why he is unaware of it,
is that this light flows into the knowledges
that are in the man's memory,
and these knowledges are in natural light.
And as the man thinks from these knowledges
as from himself,
he cannot perceive the influx,
nevertheless from various indications
he is able to know that he has been in enlightenment.
But yet everyone is deceived
who believes himself to be in enlightenment,
unless he loves to know truth for the sake of truth
and for the sake of the good of life,
thus unless he loves Divine truth for the sake of life,
because to live according to Divine truths from the Word
is to love the Lord,
and all enlightenment comes from the Lord
when He is loved.
It shall also be briefly stated how the influx
from which comes enlightenment is effected.
Equally with men,
the angels also perceive the Word when it is read;
but the angels perceive it spiritually,
and men perceive it naturally.
The man whose internal is open
also perceives the Word spiritually;
but while he lives in the world
he is unaware of this,
because his spiritual thought flows into
the natural thought in the external man,
and there presents itself to view.
Nevertheless it is this interior thought which enlightens,
and by means of which
the influx from the Lord is effected.
Those who
when reading the Word
are in enlightenment,
see it from within,
for their internal is open,
and when the internal is open
it is in the light of heaven.
This light flows in and enlightens,
although the man is unaware of it.
The reason why he is unaware of it,
is that this light flows into the knowledges
that are in the man's memory,
and these knowledges are in natural light.
And as the man thinks from these knowledges
as from himself,
he cannot perceive the influx,
nevertheless from various indications
he is able to know that he has been in enlightenment.
But yet everyone is deceived
who believes himself to be in enlightenment,
unless he loves to know truth for the sake of truth
and for the sake of the good of life,
thus unless he loves Divine truth for the sake of life,
because to live according to Divine truths from the Word
is to love the Lord,
and all enlightenment comes from the Lord
when He is loved.
It shall also be briefly stated how the influx
from which comes enlightenment is effected.
Equally with men,
the angels also perceive the Word when it is read;
but the angels perceive it spiritually,
and men perceive it naturally.
The man whose internal is open
also perceives the Word spiritually;
but while he lives in the world
he is unaware of this,
because his spiritual thought flows into
the natural thought in the external man,
and there presents itself to view.
Nevertheless it is this interior thought which enlightens,
and by means of which
the influx from the Lord is effected.
~ He Promises Peace to His People ~
I will listen to what God the Lord
will say;
He promises peace to His people, His saints --
but let them not return to folly.
Surely His salvation is near those who fear Him,
that His glory may dwell in our land.
Love and faithfulness meet together;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
and righteousness looks down from heaven.
the Lord will indeed give what is good,
and our land will yield its harvest.
Righteousness goes before Him
and prepares the way for His steps.
(Psalm 85:8-13)
He promises peace to His people, His saints --
but let them not return to folly.
Surely His salvation is near those who fear Him,
that His glory may dwell in our land.
Love and faithfulness meet together;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
and righteousness looks down from heaven.
the Lord will indeed give what is good,
and our land will yield its harvest.
Righteousness goes before Him
and prepares the way for His steps.
(Psalm 85:8-13)
** The Genealogy in Matthew **
The book of the generation of Jesus
Christ,
the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob;
and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
and Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar;
and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;
and Aram begat Aminadab;
and Aminadab begat Naasson;
and Naasson begat Salmon;
and Salmon begat Booz of Rachab;
and Booz begat Obed of Ruth;
and Obed begat Jesse;
and Jesse begat David the king.
And David the king begat Solomon
of her that had been the wife of Urias;
and Solomon begat Roboam;
and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa,
and Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram;
and Joram begat Ozias; and Ozias begat Joatham;
and Joatham begat Achaz;
and Achaz begat Ezekias;
and Ezekias begat Manasses;
and Manasses begat Amon;
and Amon begat Josias;
and Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren,
about the time they were carried away to Babylon.
And after they were brought to Babylon,
Jechonias begat Salathiel;
and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;
and Zorobabel begat Abiud;
and Abiud begat Eliakim;
and Eliakim begat Azor;
and Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim;
and Achim begat Eliud; and Eliud begat Eleazar;
and Eleazar begat Matthan;
and Matthan begat Jacob;
and Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary,
of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
So all the generations
from Abraham to David are fourteen generations;
and from David until the carrying away into Babylon
are fourteen generations;
and from the carrying away into Babylon
unto Christ are fourteen generations.
(Matthew 1:1-17)
the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob;
and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
and Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar;
and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;
and Aram begat Aminadab;
and Aminadab begat Naasson;
and Naasson begat Salmon;
and Salmon begat Booz of Rachab;
and Booz begat Obed of Ruth;
and Obed begat Jesse;
and Jesse begat David the king.
And David the king begat Solomon
of her that had been the wife of Urias;
and Solomon begat Roboam;
and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa,
and Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram;
and Joram begat Ozias; and Ozias begat Joatham;
and Joatham begat Achaz;
and Achaz begat Ezekias;
and Ezekias begat Manasses;
and Manasses begat Amon;
and Amon begat Josias;
and Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren,
about the time they were carried away to Babylon.
And after they were brought to Babylon,
Jechonias begat Salathiel;
and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;
and Zorobabel begat Abiud;
and Abiud begat Eliakim;
and Eliakim begat Azor;
and Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim;
and Achim begat Eliud; and Eliud begat Eleazar;
and Eleazar begat Matthan;
and Matthan begat Jacob;
and Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary,
of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
So all the generations
from Abraham to David are fourteen generations;
and from David until the carrying away into Babylon
are fourteen generations;
and from the carrying away into Babylon
unto Christ are fourteen generations.
(Matthew 1:1-17)
Saturday, December 15, 2018
AC 10528, 10539 - Angels
AC 10528
And I will send an angel before thee.
(Exodus 33:2)
That this signifies the Divine of the Lord
from which is the church and its worship,
is evident from the signification of "an angel,"
as being in the supreme sense
the Lord as to the Divine Human,
and in the relative sense
the Divine of the Lord in heaven with the angels,
as also in the church with men;
and from the signification of "sending before thee,"
as being to prepare.
From this it follows that "an angel"
also signifies the Divine of the Lord
with the men who receive it;
for men who are in
the good of love and in the truths of faith
in the Lord from the Lord,
after death become angels;
and those who do so are angels inwardly
even while they live in the world.
AC 10539
. . . in the other life, where all, both angels and spirits,
appear clothed in garments,
and each one according to his truths.
They who are in genuine Divine truths
appear clothed in white shining garments,
and others in other garments.
Spirits do not know from where their garments come,
but are clothed with them without knowing this.
Moreover, their garments vary
according to the changes of their state
in respect to truths.
In a word, it is their understanding
which is presented to view
and represented by their garments,
for each person's understanding
is formed by means of truths,
and becomes such as are the truths
from which it is formed.
With the angels of heaven
their understanding is in their internal,
and consequently they have white shining garments.
The shining is from Divine good,
and the whiteness is from the light of heaven,
which is Divine truth.
And I will send an angel before thee.
(Exodus 33:2)
That this signifies the Divine of the Lord
from which is the church and its worship,
is evident from the signification of "an angel,"
as being in the supreme sense
the Lord as to the Divine Human,
and in the relative sense
the Divine of the Lord in heaven with the angels,
as also in the church with men;
and from the signification of "sending before thee,"
as being to prepare.
From this it follows that "an angel"
also signifies the Divine of the Lord
with the men who receive it;
for men who are in
the good of love and in the truths of faith
in the Lord from the Lord,
after death become angels;
and those who do so are angels inwardly
even while they live in the world.
AC 10539
. . . in the other life, where all, both angels and spirits,
appear clothed in garments,
and each one according to his truths.
They who are in genuine Divine truths
appear clothed in white shining garments,
and others in other garments.
Spirits do not know from where their garments come,
but are clothed with them without knowing this.
Moreover, their garments vary
according to the changes of their state
in respect to truths.
In a word, it is their understanding
which is presented to view
and represented by their garments,
for each person's understanding
is formed by means of truths,
and becomes such as are the truths
from which it is formed.
With the angels of heaven
their understanding is in their internal,
and consequently they have white shining garments.
The shining is from Divine good,
and the whiteness is from the light of heaven,
which is Divine truth.
~ Help Us, O God Our Savior ~
Help us, O God our Savior,
for the glory of Your name;
deliver us and forgive our sins.
(Psalm 79:9)
for the glory of Your name;
deliver us and forgive our sins.
(Psalm 79:9)
** An Oracle of Balaam **
And he took up his parable, and said,
Balaam the son of Beor has said,
and the man whose eyes are open has said:
He has said, which heard the words of God,
and knew the knowledge of the most High,
which saw the vision of the Almighty,
falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
I shall see Him, but not now:
I shall behold Him, but not nigh:
there shall come a Star out of Jacob,
and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel,
and shall smite the corners of Moab,
and destroy all the children of Sheth.
And Edom shall be a possession,
Seir also shall be a possession for His enemies;
and Israel shall do valiantly.
Out of Jacob shall come He that shall have dominion,
and shall destroy Him that remains of the city.
(Numbers 24:15-19)
AC 3322 [3]
…treats of the coming of the Lord into the world,
whose Human Essence is called a "star out of Jacob,"
and a "scepter out of Israel".
AC 4240 [2]
Everyone can see that in these passages
"Seir" signifies something of the Lord,
for it is said that Jehovah "arose from Seir," … .
To "arise," and to "go forth out of Seir"
denote that He made even His natural Divine,
in order that from this also there might be light,
that is, intelligence and wisdom;
and that in this way He might become Jehovah,
not only as to His Human Rational,
but also as to His Human Natural;
and therefore it is said, "Jehovah arose from Seir,"
and "Jehovah went forth out of Seir."
Balaam the son of Beor has said,
and the man whose eyes are open has said:
He has said, which heard the words of God,
and knew the knowledge of the most High,
which saw the vision of the Almighty,
falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
I shall see Him, but not now:
I shall behold Him, but not nigh:
there shall come a Star out of Jacob,
and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel,
and shall smite the corners of Moab,
and destroy all the children of Sheth.
And Edom shall be a possession,
Seir also shall be a possession for His enemies;
and Israel shall do valiantly.
Out of Jacob shall come He that shall have dominion,
and shall destroy Him that remains of the city.
(Numbers 24:15-19)
AC 3322 [3]
…treats of the coming of the Lord into the world,
whose Human Essence is called a "star out of Jacob,"
and a "scepter out of Israel".
AC 4240 [2]
Everyone can see that in these passages
"Seir" signifies something of the Lord,
for it is said that Jehovah "arose from Seir," … .
To "arise," and to "go forth out of Seir"
denote that He made even His natural Divine,
in order that from this also there might be light,
that is, intelligence and wisdom;
and that in this way He might become Jehovah,
not only as to His Human Rational,
but also as to His Human Natural;
and therefore it is said, "Jehovah arose from Seir,"
and "Jehovah went forth out of Seir."
Friday, December 14, 2018
AC 10519-10522 - The Holy Supper
AC 10519-10522
The Holy Supper was instituted by the Lord
in order that by means of it
there may be a conjunction of the church with heaven,
thus with the Lord.
It is therefore the most holy thing of the church.
But in what manner
conjunction is effected by means of it,
is not apprehended by those
who do not know anything
of the internal or spiritual sense of the Word;
for they do not think beyond its external sense,
which is the sense of the letter.
From the internal or spiritual sense of the Word
it is known what is signified
by the "body" and the "blood,"
and what by the "bread" and the "wine,"
and also what by "eating."
In this sense the Lord's "body" or "flesh"
denotes the good of love,
in like manner the "bread;"
and the Lord's "blood" denotes the good of faith,
in like manner the "wine;" and "eating"
denotes appropriation and conjunction.
The angels who are with a man
when he comes to the sacrament of the Supper
perceive these things no otherwise;
for they apprehend all things spiritually.
From this it is
that there then flows in from the angels to the man,
thus through heaven from the Lord,
a holy feeling of love and of faith.
From this comes the conjunction.
From all this it is evident
that when a man takes the bread, which is the body,
he is conjoined with the Lord
through the good of love to Him from Him;
and when he takes the wine, which is the blood,
he is conjoined with the Lord
through the good of faith to Him from Him.
But be it known
that conjunction with the Lord
through the sacrament of the Supper
is effected solely with those
who are in the good of love and of faith
to the Lord from the Lord.
The Holy Supper is the seal of this conjunction.
The Holy Supper was instituted by the Lord
in order that by means of it
there may be a conjunction of the church with heaven,
thus with the Lord.
It is therefore the most holy thing of the church.
But in what manner
conjunction is effected by means of it,
is not apprehended by those
who do not know anything
of the internal or spiritual sense of the Word;
for they do not think beyond its external sense,
which is the sense of the letter.
From the internal or spiritual sense of the Word
it is known what is signified
by the "body" and the "blood,"
and what by the "bread" and the "wine,"
and also what by "eating."
In this sense the Lord's "body" or "flesh"
denotes the good of love,
in like manner the "bread;"
and the Lord's "blood" denotes the good of faith,
in like manner the "wine;" and "eating"
denotes appropriation and conjunction.
The angels who are with a man
when he comes to the sacrament of the Supper
perceive these things no otherwise;
for they apprehend all things spiritually.
From this it is
that there then flows in from the angels to the man,
thus through heaven from the Lord,
a holy feeling of love and of faith.
From this comes the conjunction.
From all this it is evident
that when a man takes the bread, which is the body,
he is conjoined with the Lord
through the good of love to Him from Him;
and when he takes the wine, which is the blood,
he is conjoined with the Lord
through the good of faith to Him from Him.
But be it known
that conjunction with the Lord
through the sacrament of the Supper
is effected solely with those
who are in the good of love and of faith
to the Lord from the Lord.
The Holy Supper is the seal of this conjunction.
~ We Give Thanks to You, O God ~
We give thanks to You, O God,
we give thanks, for Your Name is near;
men tell of Your wonderful deeds.
You say, "I choose the appointed time;
it is I who judge uprightly.
When the earth and all its people quake,
it is I who hold its pillars firm
Selah
To the arrogant I say, "Boast no more,"
and to the wicked, "Do not lift up your horns.
Do not lift your horns against heaven;
do not speak with outstretched neck.
As for me, I will declare this forever;
I will sing praise to the God of Jacob.
I will cut off the horns of all the wicked,
but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.
(Psalm 75:1-5, 9-10)
we give thanks, for Your Name is near;
men tell of Your wonderful deeds.
You say, "I choose the appointed time;
it is I who judge uprightly.
When the earth and all its people quake,
it is I who hold its pillars firm
Selah
To the arrogant I say, "Boast no more,"
and to the wicked, "Do not lift up your horns.
Do not lift your horns against heaven;
do not speak with outstretched neck.
As for me, I will declare this forever;
I will sing praise to the God of Jacob.
I will cut off the horns of all the wicked,
but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.
(Psalm 75:1-5, 9-10)
** Behold He Comes **
Behold I send My angel
who shall prepare the way before Me;
and the Lord whom ye seek
shall suddenly come to His temple,
even the Angel of the covenant whom you desire;
behold He comes
but who may abide the day of His coming?
Then shall the meat-offering
of Judah and of Jerusalem
be pleasant unto Jehovah,
as in the days of old,
and as in former years.
(Malachi 3:1-4)
AC 3881 [8]
. . . where the subject treated of
is clearly the Lord's advent.
It is known that the meat-offering
of Judah and Jerusalem was not then pleasant;
but that worship from love was pleasant,
which is the "meat-offering of Judah;"
and worship from faith derived from love,
which is the "meat-offering of Jerusalem."
who shall prepare the way before Me;
and the Lord whom ye seek
shall suddenly come to His temple,
even the Angel of the covenant whom you desire;
behold He comes
but who may abide the day of His coming?
Then shall the meat-offering
of Judah and of Jerusalem
be pleasant unto Jehovah,
as in the days of old,
and as in former years.
(Malachi 3:1-4)
AC 3881 [8]
. . . where the subject treated of
is clearly the Lord's advent.
It is known that the meat-offering
of Judah and Jerusalem was not then pleasant;
but that worship from love was pleasant,
which is the "meat-offering of Judah;"
and worship from faith derived from love,
which is the "meat-offering of Jerusalem."
Thursday, December 13, 2018
AC 10492 - A Contraction, a Wrinkle; AC 10495 - "A Blessing"
AC 10492 [2]
Evils and falsities are what close the internal man,
or what is the same thing,
worldly, earthly, and bodily loves,
when they prevail,
for all evils and falsities are from this source.
The reason why the internal is closed by these loves,
is that they are opposed to heavenly loves,
or what is the same thing,
evils and falsities are opposed to goods and truths;
and when things that are opposed act against each other,
that which is injured contracts
almost as does a fiber when it is pricked,
and as in other circumstances
every part of man will shrink when in pain.
It is well known that an injury,
and also a troubled state of mind,
will cause the face to wrinkle;
and will also cause the abdomen,
together with the lungs and their respiration,
to contract.
Such also is the case with the internal man,
when evils and falsities enter into the thought
and into the will.
That there is then an aversion,
and from this a contraction is perceived,
and is also apparent.
AC 10495
. . . the reception of Divine truth from the Word
and thereby conjunction with the Lord,
is evident from the signification of "a blessing"
as being in general
that which is given to man by the Lord;
and as everything the Lord gives
bears relation to the good of love and the truth of faith,
this and everything from this
is what is signified by "blessing;"
here therefore
the reception of Divine truth from the Word
and thereby conjunction with the Lord.
Evils and falsities are what close the internal man,
or what is the same thing,
worldly, earthly, and bodily loves,
when they prevail,
for all evils and falsities are from this source.
The reason why the internal is closed by these loves,
is that they are opposed to heavenly loves,
or what is the same thing,
evils and falsities are opposed to goods and truths;
and when things that are opposed act against each other,
that which is injured contracts
almost as does a fiber when it is pricked,
and as in other circumstances
every part of man will shrink when in pain.
It is well known that an injury,
and also a troubled state of mind,
will cause the face to wrinkle;
and will also cause the abdomen,
together with the lungs and their respiration,
to contract.
Such also is the case with the internal man,
when evils and falsities enter into the thought
and into the will.
That there is then an aversion,
and from this a contraction is perceived,
and is also apparent.
AC 10495
. . . the reception of Divine truth from the Word
and thereby conjunction with the Lord,
is evident from the signification of "a blessing"
as being in general
that which is given to man by the Lord;
and as everything the Lord gives
bears relation to the good of love and the truth of faith,
this and everything from this
is what is signified by "blessing;"
here therefore
the reception of Divine truth from the Word
and thereby conjunction with the Lord.
~ God Is the Strength ~
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
(Psalm 73:26)
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
(Psalm 73:26)
** The House of David Shall Be as God **
Jehovah shall save the tents of Judah first,
that the glory of the house of David,
and the glory of the inhabitant of Jerusalem,
may not exalt itself above Judah.
In that day shall Jehovah defend
the inhabitant of Jerusalem,
and the house of David shall be as God,
and as the angel of Jehovah before them.
And I will pour upon the house of David,
and upon the inhabitant of Jerusalem,
the spirit of grace.
In that day there shall be a fountain
open to the house of David,
and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
(Zechariah 12:7-8, 10; 13:1)
AE 205 [3]
Here the Lord's coming is treated of,
and the salvation at that time
of those who are of His spiritual kingdom.
"Tents of Judah" mean the celestial kingdom;
and the
"house of David and the inhabitant of Jerusalem,"
the spiritual kingdom.
The spiritual kingdom is constituted
of those in heaven and on earth
who are in Divine truth,
and the celestial kingdom
of those who are in Divine good.
From this it can be seen what these words mean,
namely, that these two kingdoms shall act as one,
and that one shall not exalt itself above the other.
That "Judah" signifies the Lord
in respect to celestial love . . ..
And that "Jerusalem"
signifies the Lord's spiritual kingdom . . ..
The same is therefore signified by
"the house of David;"
consequently it is here said,
"the house of David shall be as God,
and as the angel of Jehovah;"
"God" also means
the Lord in respect to Divine truth;
and the like is meant by the "angel of Jehovah".
that the glory of the house of David,
and the glory of the inhabitant of Jerusalem,
may not exalt itself above Judah.
In that day shall Jehovah defend
the inhabitant of Jerusalem,
and the house of David shall be as God,
and as the angel of Jehovah before them.
And I will pour upon the house of David,
and upon the inhabitant of Jerusalem,
the spirit of grace.
In that day there shall be a fountain
open to the house of David,
and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
(Zechariah 12:7-8, 10; 13:1)
AE 205 [3]
Here the Lord's coming is treated of,
and the salvation at that time
of those who are of His spiritual kingdom.
"Tents of Judah" mean the celestial kingdom;
and the
"house of David and the inhabitant of Jerusalem,"
the spiritual kingdom.
The spiritual kingdom is constituted
of those in heaven and on earth
who are in Divine truth,
and the celestial kingdom
of those who are in Divine good.
From this it can be seen what these words mean,
namely, that these two kingdoms shall act as one,
and that one shall not exalt itself above the other.
That "Judah" signifies the Lord
in respect to celestial love . . ..
And that "Jerusalem"
signifies the Lord's spiritual kingdom . . ..
The same is therefore signified by
"the house of David;"
consequently it is here said,
"the house of David shall be as God,
and as the angel of Jehovah;"
"God" also means
the Lord in respect to Divine truth;
and the like is meant by the "angel of Jehovah".
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
AC 10468, 10471 - Internals and Externals; AC 10488 - Life
AC 10468
Whether you say
the internal and the external of the Word,
or simply the internal and the external,
it is here the same thing,
for the Word is Divine truth,
from which man has perception,
here perception concerning such an external
as there was with the Israelitish nation,
whether in worship,
or in everything of the church,
or in everything of the Word.
Be it known that all perception about the external
is from the internal,
for that which is in the external
can be seen from the internal;
but not from the external what is in itself;
and still less
from the external what is in the internal.
From this it is that those who are in external things
without what is internal
do not acknowledge internal things,
because they do not feel and see them;
and also that some deny them,
and, together with them,
things heavenly and Divine.
AC 10471
Moses is here called "my lord" by Aaron,
because relatively the internal is a lord,
and the external is a servant;
for the internal with man is in heaven,
and consequently when it is open
it is the man's heaven;
while the external with him is in the world,
thus is his world;
and the world was made to serve heaven
as a servant his lord.
It is similar with the external of worship,
and likewise with the external of the church,
and also of the Word,
relatively to their internal.
AC 10488
By truth from good is meant a life according to truth,
for good is of the life.
Whether you say
the internal and the external of the Word,
or simply the internal and the external,
it is here the same thing,
for the Word is Divine truth,
from which man has perception,
here perception concerning such an external
as there was with the Israelitish nation,
whether in worship,
or in everything of the church,
or in everything of the Word.
Be it known that all perception about the external
is from the internal,
for that which is in the external
can be seen from the internal;
but not from the external what is in itself;
and still less
from the external what is in the internal.
From this it is that those who are in external things
without what is internal
do not acknowledge internal things,
because they do not feel and see them;
and also that some deny them,
and, together with them,
things heavenly and Divine.
AC 10471
Moses is here called "my lord" by Aaron,
because relatively the internal is a lord,
and the external is a servant;
for the internal with man is in heaven,
and consequently when it is open
it is the man's heaven;
while the external with him is in the world,
thus is his world;
and the world was made to serve heaven
as a servant his lord.
It is similar with the external of worship,
and likewise with the external of the church,
and also of the Word,
relatively to their internal.
AC 10488
By truth from good is meant a life according to truth,
for good is of the life.
~ I Will Tell Praise and Proclaim ~
But as for me,
I will always have hope;
I will praise You more and more.
My mouth will tell of Your righteousness,
of Your salvation all day long,
though I know not its measure.
I will come and proclaim Your mighty acts,
O Sovereign Lord;
I will proclaim Your righteousness,
Yours alone.
Since my youth, O God,
You have taught me,
and to this day
I declare Your marvelous deeds.
(Psalm 71:14-17)
I will always have hope;
I will praise You more and more.
My mouth will tell of Your righteousness,
of Your salvation all day long,
though I know not its measure.
I will come and proclaim Your mighty acts,
O Sovereign Lord;
I will proclaim Your righteousness,
Yours alone.
Since my youth, O God,
You have taught me,
and to this day
I declare Your marvelous deeds.
(Psalm 71:14-17)
** Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter of Zion! **
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!
Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and having salvation,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
I will take away the chariots from Ephraim
and the war-horses from Jerusalem,
and the battle bow will be broken.
He will proclaim peace to the nations.
His rule will extend from sea to sea
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
(Zechariah 9:9-10)
Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and having salvation,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
I will take away the chariots from Ephraim
and the war-horses from Jerusalem,
and the battle bow will be broken.
He will proclaim peace to the nations.
His rule will extend from sea to sea
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
(Zechariah 9:9-10)
Tuesday, December 11, 2018
AC 10451 - The Testimony; AC 10460 - The Word
AC 10451
And the two tables of the Testimony were in his hand.
(Exodus 32:15)
That this signifies the Word of the Lord
in special and in general,
is evident from the signification of "the tables"
upon which the ten commandments were written,
as being the Word in the whole complex;
and from the signification of "the Testimony,"
as being the Lord in respect to Divine truth.
The reason why
by these tables
is signified the Word
in the whole complex,
thus in special and in general,
is that upon them was written the law of life,
and by the law in a restricted sense
are meant the ten commandments,
in a less restricted sense
is meant the Word written by Moses,
in a broader sense the historic Word,
and in the broadest sense the whole Word.
Moreover, because Mount Sinai,
where the law was written upon these tables,
signified heaven,
out of which comes Divine truth,
and Moses represented the Word,
which is Divine truth itself from the Lord,
therefore as a sign of this representation
the tables were in his hands.
AC 10460
For the Word teaches
what must be the quality of the man of the church,
or what must be the quality of the church with man,
and likewise what must be
the quality of worship with the man of the church;
because it is the goods and truths of love and of faith
that make the internal church,
and also internal worship.
The Word teaches these goods and truths,
and these are the internal things of the Word.
And the two tables of the Testimony were in his hand.
(Exodus 32:15)
That this signifies the Word of the Lord
in special and in general,
is evident from the signification of "the tables"
upon which the ten commandments were written,
as being the Word in the whole complex;
and from the signification of "the Testimony,"
as being the Lord in respect to Divine truth.
The reason why
by these tables
is signified the Word
in the whole complex,
thus in special and in general,
is that upon them was written the law of life,
and by the law in a restricted sense
are meant the ten commandments,
in a less restricted sense
is meant the Word written by Moses,
in a broader sense the historic Word,
and in the broadest sense the whole Word.
Moreover, because Mount Sinai,
where the law was written upon these tables,
signified heaven,
out of which comes Divine truth,
and Moses represented the Word,
which is Divine truth itself from the Lord,
therefore as a sign of this representation
the tables were in his hands.
AC 10460
For the Word teaches
what must be the quality of the man of the church,
or what must be the quality of the church with man,
and likewise what must be
the quality of worship with the man of the church;
because it is the goods and truths of love and of faith
that make the internal church,
and also internal worship.
The Word teaches these goods and truths,
and these are the internal things of the Word.
~ Praise Our God ~
May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make His face shine upon us,
Selah.
That Your ways may be known on earth,
Your salvation among all nations.
May the peoples praise You, O God;
may all the peoples praise You.
May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for You rule the peoples justly
and guide the nations of the earth.
Selah.
May the peoples praise You, O God;
may all the peoples praise You.
Then the land will yield its harvest,
and God, our God, will bless us.
God will bless us,
and all the ends of the earth will fear Him.
(Psalm 67)
and make His face shine upon us,
Selah.
That Your ways may be known on earth,
Your salvation among all nations.
May the peoples praise You, O God;
may all the peoples praise You.
May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for You rule the peoples justly
and guide the nations of the earth.
Selah.
May the peoples praise You, O God;
may all the peoples praise You.
Then the land will yield its harvest,
and God, our God, will bless us.
God will bless us,
and all the ends of the earth will fear Him.
(Psalm 67)
** We Have Waited for Him **
AC 1769 [2]
No other was acknowledged and called Jehovah
by the Jewish Church,
for it worshiped the one God Jehovah,
and this was the more fully the case for the reason -
which was unknown to most of them -
that all the rites of that church represented the Lord,
and all the things of the Word in the internal sense
were significative of Him.
He will swallow up death forever;
and the Lord Jehovih will wipe away
the tears from off all faces.
And it shall be said in that day,
Lo, this is our God;
we have waited for Him,
and He will save us;
this is Jehovah,
we have waited for Him;
let us exult and be glad in his salvation
(Isaiah 25:8-9);
(Treating of the coming of the Lord.)
No other was acknowledged and called Jehovah
by the Jewish Church,
for it worshiped the one God Jehovah,
and this was the more fully the case for the reason -
which was unknown to most of them -
that all the rites of that church represented the Lord,
and all the things of the Word in the internal sense
were significative of Him.
He will swallow up death forever;
and the Lord Jehovih will wipe away
the tears from off all faces.
And it shall be said in that day,
Lo, this is our God;
we have waited for Him,
and He will save us;
this is Jehovah,
we have waited for Him;
let us exult and be glad in his salvation
(Isaiah 25:8-9);
(Treating of the coming of the Lord.)
Monday, December 10, 2018
AC 10438 - Mountains, Hills, Rocks, Valleys
AC 10438 [2]
. . . by "mountains" are signified
those who are in the good of celestial love,
thus who are in the inmost heaven,
and in the abstract sense the goods of celestial love,
thus the heaven which is in this love;
that by "hills" are signified
those who are in the good of spiritual love,
thus who are in the middle heaven,
and in the abstract sense
the good of this love and the heaven which is in it;
that by "rocks" are signified
those who are in the good of faith
and from this are in the ultimate heaven,
and in the abstract sense this good and this heaven;
and that by "valleys" are signified those
who have not yet been carried up
to these goods, thus to heaven.
. . . by "mountains" are signified
those who are in the good of celestial love,
thus who are in the inmost heaven,
and in the abstract sense the goods of celestial love,
thus the heaven which is in this love;
that by "hills" are signified
those who are in the good of spiritual love,
thus who are in the middle heaven,
and in the abstract sense
the good of this love and the heaven which is in it;
that by "rocks" are signified
those who are in the good of faith
and from this are in the ultimate heaven,
and in the abstract sense this good and this heaven;
and that by "valleys" are signified those
who have not yet been carried up
to these goods, thus to heaven.
~ Find Rest, O My Soul ~
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
my hope comes from Him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress,
I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
He is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in Him at all times, O people;
pour out your hearts to Him,
for God is our refuge.
Selah.
One thing God has spoken,
two things have I heard:
that You, O God, are strong,
and that You, O Lord, are loving.
Surely You will reward each person
according to what he has done.
(Psalm 62:5-8, 11-13)
my hope comes from Him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress,
I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
He is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in Him at all times, O people;
pour out your hearts to Him,
for God is our refuge.
Selah.
One thing God has spoken,
two things have I heard:
that You, O God, are strong,
and that You, O Lord, are loving.
Surely You will reward each person
according to what he has done.
(Psalm 62:5-8, 11-13)
** Out of Bethlehem **
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for Me
One who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from old,
from ancient times.
He will stand and shepherd His flock
in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God.
And the will live securely,
for then His greatness
will reach to the ends of the earth.
And He will be their peace.
(Micah 5:2, 4-5)
AC 2135 [4]
Thou Bethlehem, the land of Judah,
art in no wise least among the leaders of Judah;
for out of thee shall come forth a Leader,
who shall feed My people Israel.
(Matt. 2:6; compare Micah 5:2)
They who abide in the literal sense, as do the Jews,
know indeed from this passage
that the Lord should be born there;
but as they are expecting a leader and a king
who will bring them back into the land of Canaan,
they therefore explain the words found here
according to the letter;
that is, by the "land of Judah"
they understand the land of Canaan;
by "Israel" they understand Israel,
although they know not where Israel now is;
and by a "Leader" they still understand their Messiah;
when yet other things are meant
by "Judah" and "Israel;"
namely, by "Judah" those who are celestial,
by "Israel," those who are spiritual,
in heaven and on earth;
and by the "Leader" the Lord.
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for Me
One who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from old,
from ancient times.
He will stand and shepherd His flock
in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God.
And the will live securely,
for then His greatness
will reach to the ends of the earth.
And He will be their peace.
(Micah 5:2, 4-5)
AC 2135 [4]
Thou Bethlehem, the land of Judah,
art in no wise least among the leaders of Judah;
for out of thee shall come forth a Leader,
who shall feed My people Israel.
(Matt. 2:6; compare Micah 5:2)
They who abide in the literal sense, as do the Jews,
know indeed from this passage
that the Lord should be born there;
but as they are expecting a leader and a king
who will bring them back into the land of Canaan,
they therefore explain the words found here
according to the letter;
that is, by the "land of Judah"
they understand the land of Canaan;
by "Israel" they understand Israel,
although they know not where Israel now is;
and by a "Leader" they still understand their Messiah;
when yet other things are meant
by "Judah" and "Israel;"
namely, by "Judah" those who are celestial,
by "Israel," those who are spiritual,
in heaven and on earth;
and by the "Leader" the Lord.
Sunday, December 09, 2018
AC 10420 - Turning Back; AC 10422 - Leading and Confirming
AC 10420
. . . all corruption and transgression in worship
are a turning back and away from the Divine.
AC 10422 [2]
. . .all truth leads to its own love,
because that is called truth
which confirms what is loved.
. . . all corruption and transgression in worship
are a turning back and away from the Divine.
AC 10422 [2]
. . .all truth leads to its own love,
because that is called truth
which confirms what is loved.
~ I Will Praise You ~
I will praise You, O Lord, among the
nations;
I will sing of You among the peoples.
For great is Your love,
reaching to the heavens;
Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let Your glory be over all the earth.
(Psalm 57:9-11)
I will sing of You among the peoples.
For great is Your love,
reaching to the heavens;
Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let Your glory be over all the earth.
(Psalm 57:9-11)
** Behold the Days Come **
AC 3654 [7]
Behold the days come, said Jehovah,
that I will raise unto David a righteous offshoot,
and He shall reign as king, and prosper,
and shall execute
judgment and righteousness in the earth.
In His days Judah shall be saved,
and Israel shall dwell securely;
and this is His name whereby He shall be called:
JEHOVAH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
(Jeremiah 23:5, 6; 33:15, 16);
where the Lord's advent is treated of,
"Judah" denoting those
who are in the good of love to the Lord;
"Israel," those who are in the truth of this good.
That by "Judah" is not meant Judah,
nor by "Israel" Israel,
is evident from the fact
that neither Judah nor Israel was saved.
Behold the days come, said Jehovah,
that I will raise unto David a righteous offshoot,
and He shall reign as king, and prosper,
and shall execute
judgment and righteousness in the earth.
In His days Judah shall be saved,
and Israel shall dwell securely;
and this is His name whereby He shall be called:
JEHOVAH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
(Jeremiah 23:5, 6; 33:15, 16);
where the Lord's advent is treated of,
"Judah" denoting those
who are in the good of love to the Lord;
"Israel," those who are in the truth of this good.
That by "Judah" is not meant Judah,
nor by "Israel" Israel,
is evident from the fact
that neither Judah nor Israel was saved.
Saturday, December 08, 2018
AC 10406 - A Graving Tool; AC 10407 - Worship; AC 10411 - A Person's Heaven
AC 10406 [1-2]
And formed it with a graving tool.
(Exodus 32:4)
That this signifies from their own intelligence,
is evident from the signification of
"forming with a graving tool,"
when said concerning an idol,
as being to prepare false doctrine
from one's own intelligence,
which is effected by the application
of the sense of the letter of the Word
in favor of the loves of self and of the world;
for when these loves reign,
the man is not in any enlightenment from heaven,
but takes all things from his own intelligence,
and confirms them from the sense of the letter of the Word,
which he falsifies by a wrong application
and a perverted interpretation,
and afterward favors such things
because they are from himself.
In the Word throughout
mention is made of "graven images" and "molten images."
They who apprehend the Word
merely according to the letter
suppose that idols only are meant by these images.
Nevertheless idols are not meant,
but false doctrinal things of the church,
such as are formed by man himself
under the guidance of some love of his.
The forming of these falsities to cohere,
and to appear as if they were truths,
is signified by a "graven image."
The joining of them together to favor external loves,
so that evils may appear as goods,
is signified by a "molten image."
As both are meant by the "golden calf,"
therefore it is here said
that Aaron "formed it with a graving tool,"
by which is meant the forming of falsities
so as to appear as if they were truths;
and by its being said that
he "made the gold a molten calf."
And afterward that he
"cast it into the fire, and it came forth a calf" (verse 24),
means the joining together to favor external loves
so that evils may appear as goods.
Such moreover is the case
with all doctrine that is made from man,
and not from the Lord;
and it is made from man
when he has as his end his own glory or his own profit;
but it is from the Lord
when the good of the neighbor
and the good of the Lord's kingdom
are regarded as the end.
AC 10407 [2]
. . . a man worships that which he loves above all things.
AC 10411
For the internal of man is his heaven,
and his external is his world.
Moreover, his internal has been formed
according to the image of heaven,
thus for the reception of such things as are there;
and his external according to the image of the world,
thus for the reception of such things as are there.
And formed it with a graving tool.
(Exodus 32:4)
That this signifies from their own intelligence,
is evident from the signification of
"forming with a graving tool,"
when said concerning an idol,
as being to prepare false doctrine
from one's own intelligence,
which is effected by the application
of the sense of the letter of the Word
in favor of the loves of self and of the world;
for when these loves reign,
the man is not in any enlightenment from heaven,
but takes all things from his own intelligence,
and confirms them from the sense of the letter of the Word,
which he falsifies by a wrong application
and a perverted interpretation,
and afterward favors such things
because they are from himself.
In the Word throughout
mention is made of "graven images" and "molten images."
They who apprehend the Word
merely according to the letter
suppose that idols only are meant by these images.
Nevertheless idols are not meant,
but false doctrinal things of the church,
such as are formed by man himself
under the guidance of some love of his.
The forming of these falsities to cohere,
and to appear as if they were truths,
is signified by a "graven image."
The joining of them together to favor external loves,
so that evils may appear as goods,
is signified by a "molten image."
As both are meant by the "golden calf,"
therefore it is here said
that Aaron "formed it with a graving tool,"
by which is meant the forming of falsities
so as to appear as if they were truths;
and by its being said that
he "made the gold a molten calf."
And afterward that he
"cast it into the fire, and it came forth a calf" (verse 24),
means the joining together to favor external loves
so that evils may appear as goods.
Such moreover is the case
with all doctrine that is made from man,
and not from the Lord;
and it is made from man
when he has as his end his own glory or his own profit;
but it is from the Lord
when the good of the neighbor
and the good of the Lord's kingdom
are regarded as the end.
AC 10407 [2]
. . . a man worships that which he loves above all things.
AC 10411
For the internal of man is his heaven,
and his external is his world.
Moreover, his internal has been formed
according to the image of heaven,
thus for the reception of such things as are there;
and his external according to the image of the world,
thus for the reception of such things as are there.
~ Have Mercy and Clean Me ~
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to Your unfailing love;
according to Your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgression,
and my sin is always before me.
Against You, You only,
have I sinned
and done what is evil in Your sight,
so that You are proved right when You speak
and justified when You judge.
Surely You desire truth in the inner parts;
You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
Cleanse me with hyssop,
and I will be clean;
wash me,
and I will be whiter than snow.
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit,
to sustain me.
(Psalm 51:1-4, 6-7, 10-12)
according to Your unfailing love;
according to Your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgression,
and my sin is always before me.
Against You, You only,
have I sinned
and done what is evil in Your sight,
so that You are proved right when You speak
and justified when You judge.
Surely You desire truth in the inner parts;
You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
Cleanse me with hyssop,
and I will be clean;
wash me,
and I will be whiter than snow.
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit,
to sustain me.
(Psalm 51:1-4, 6-7, 10-12)
** Another Prophecy from Psalms **
Endow the king with Your justice, O God,
the royal son with Your righteousness.
He will judge Your people in righteousness,
Your afflicted ones with justice.
The mountains will bring prosperity to the people,
the hills the fruit of righteousness.
He will defend the afflicted among the people
and save the children of the needy;
He will crush the oppressor.
He will endure as long as the sun,
as long as the moon,
through all generations.
He will be like rain falling on a mown field,
like showers watering the earth.
In His days the righteous will flourish;
prosperity will abound till the moon is no more.
He will rule from sea to sea
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
The desert tribes will bow before Him
and His enemies will lick the dust.
The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores
will bring tribute to Him;
the kings of Sheba and Seba will present Him gifts.
All kings will bow down to Him
and all nations will serve Him.
For He will deliver the needy who cry out,
the afflicted who have no one to help.
He will take pity on the weak and the needy
and save the needy from death.
He will rescue them from violence,
for precious is their blood in His sight.
Long may He live!
May gold from Sheba be given Him.
May people ever pray for Him
and bless Him all day long.
Let grain abound throughout the land;
on the tops of the hills may it sway.
Let its fruit flourish like Lebanon;
let it thrive like the grass of the field.
May His name endure forever;
may it continue as long as the sun.
All nations will be blessed through Him,
and they will call Him blessed.
Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel,
who alone does marvelous deeds.
Praise be to His glorious name forever;
may the whole earth be filled with His glory.
Amen and Amen.
(Psalm 72:1-19; listed in Coronis 60)
the royal son with Your righteousness.
He will judge Your people in righteousness,
Your afflicted ones with justice.
The mountains will bring prosperity to the people,
the hills the fruit of righteousness.
He will defend the afflicted among the people
and save the children of the needy;
He will crush the oppressor.
He will endure as long as the sun,
as long as the moon,
through all generations.
He will be like rain falling on a mown field,
like showers watering the earth.
In His days the righteous will flourish;
prosperity will abound till the moon is no more.
He will rule from sea to sea
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
The desert tribes will bow before Him
and His enemies will lick the dust.
The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores
will bring tribute to Him;
the kings of Sheba and Seba will present Him gifts.
All kings will bow down to Him
and all nations will serve Him.
For He will deliver the needy who cry out,
the afflicted who have no one to help.
He will take pity on the weak and the needy
and save the needy from death.
He will rescue them from violence,
for precious is their blood in His sight.
Long may He live!
May gold from Sheba be given Him.
May people ever pray for Him
and bless Him all day long.
Let grain abound throughout the land;
on the tops of the hills may it sway.
Let its fruit flourish like Lebanon;
let it thrive like the grass of the field.
May His name endure forever;
may it continue as long as the sun.
All nations will be blessed through Him,
and they will call Him blessed.
Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel,
who alone does marvelous deeds.
Praise be to His glorious name forever;
may the whole earth be filled with His glory.
Amen and Amen.
(Psalm 72:1-19; listed in Coronis 60)
Friday, December 07, 2018
AC 10396, 10397, 10400 - The External, Internal, and Enlightenment
AC 10396 [3]
. . . those who are in bodily and earthly loves;
namely, that the interiors with them are closed;
and those with whom the interiors have been closed
do not acknowledge anything internal,
saying that only those things exist
which they see with their eyes and touch with their hands,
and that all other things
which they do not see with their eyes
and touch with their hands,
have no existence.
Consequently they have no faith
in the existence of heaven,
of the life after death,
or that the interior things which the church teaches
are anything.
AC 10397
He who separates
the internal of the Word,
of the church,
and of worship from the external,
separates from it the holy Divine.
For the internal of these is their spirit;
but the external is the body of this spirit,
and the body without the spirit is dead;
and accordingly to worship
what is dead is to worship an idol,
in this case to worship the golden calf
and to proclaim a feast to it,
and so to make the people lax.
AC 10400 [3-4]
. . . the interior intellectual ideas of man
are not such as are his natural ideas,
to which nevertheless they correspond.
But of the nature of these ideas man
is not aware so long as he lives in the body;
but he comes into them spontaneously
when he comes into the other life,
because they are implanted in him,
and by means of them
he is forthwith in fellowship with the angels.
From this it is evident
that the man whose internal is open,
is in the internal sense of the Word,
although he is not aware of it.
From this he has enlightenment
when he reads the Word,
but according to the light that he can have
by means of the knowledges which he has.
. . . those who are in bodily and earthly loves;
namely, that the interiors with them are closed;
and those with whom the interiors have been closed
do not acknowledge anything internal,
saying that only those things exist
which they see with their eyes and touch with their hands,
and that all other things
which they do not see with their eyes
and touch with their hands,
have no existence.
Consequently they have no faith
in the existence of heaven,
of the life after death,
or that the interior things which the church teaches
are anything.
AC 10397
He who separates
the internal of the Word,
of the church,
and of worship from the external,
separates from it the holy Divine.
For the internal of these is their spirit;
but the external is the body of this spirit,
and the body without the spirit is dead;
and accordingly to worship
what is dead is to worship an idol,
in this case to worship the golden calf
and to proclaim a feast to it,
and so to make the people lax.
AC 10400 [3-4]
. . . the interior intellectual ideas of man
are not such as are his natural ideas,
to which nevertheless they correspond.
But of the nature of these ideas man
is not aware so long as he lives in the body;
but he comes into them spontaneously
when he comes into the other life,
because they are implanted in him,
and by means of them
he is forthwith in fellowship with the angels.
From this it is evident
that the man whose internal is open,
is in the internal sense of the Word,
although he is not aware of it.
From this he has enlightenment
when he reads the Word,
but according to the light that he can have
by means of the knowledges which he has.
~ Clap Your Hands ~
Clap your hands, all you nations;
shout to God with cries of joy.
How awesome is the Lord Most High,
the great King over all the earth!
God has ascended amid shouts of joy,
the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.
Sing praises to God, sing praises;
sing praises to our King, sing praises.
For God is the King of all the earth;
sing to Him a psalm of praise.
God reigns over the nations;
God is seated on His holy throne.
The nobles of the nations assemble
as the people of the God of Abraham,
for the kings of the earth belong to God;
He is greatly exalted.
(Psalm 47:1-2, 5-9)
shout to God with cries of joy.
How awesome is the Lord Most High,
the great King over all the earth!
God has ascended amid shouts of joy,
the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.
Sing praises to God, sing praises;
sing praises to our King, sing praises.
For God is the King of all the earth;
sing to Him a psalm of praise.
God reigns over the nations;
God is seated on His holy throne.
The nobles of the nations assemble
as the people of the God of Abraham,
for the kings of the earth belong to God;
He is greatly exalted.
(Psalm 47:1-2, 5-9)
** One Like the Son of Man (Daniel) **
I saw, and behold, one like the Son of man
came with the clouds of heaven,
and came to the Ancient of days,
and they brought Him near before Him;
and there was given Him
dominion, and glory, and a kingdom,
that all people, and nations, and languages
should serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
(Daniel 7:13-14).
AC 49 [4]
The Lord also frequently calls Himself
the "Son of man" that is, the man,
and, as in Daniel, foretells His coming in glory:
Then shall they see the Son of man
coming in the clouds of heaven
with power and great glory.
(Matthew 24:30)
The "clouds of heaven"
are the literal sense of the Word;
"power and great glory"
are the internal sense of the Word,
which in all things both in general and in particular
has reference solely to the Lord and His kingdom;
and it is from this
that the internal sense derives its power and glory.
AC 1990 [3]
. . . the Infinite Esse, which is Jehovah,
could not possibly be manifested to man
except through the Human Essence,
thus except through the Lord . . ..
. . . He adopted the Human Essence itself
by being born.
He did so in order that the Infinite Divine
could be joined to man
even though man was so remote.
Otherwise mankind would have
died the death of those for ever damned.
came with the clouds of heaven,
and came to the Ancient of days,
and they brought Him near before Him;
and there was given Him
dominion, and glory, and a kingdom,
that all people, and nations, and languages
should serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
(Daniel 7:13-14).
AC 49 [4]
The Lord also frequently calls Himself
the "Son of man" that is, the man,
and, as in Daniel, foretells His coming in glory:
Then shall they see the Son of man
coming in the clouds of heaven
with power and great glory.
(Matthew 24:30)
The "clouds of heaven"
are the literal sense of the Word;
"power and great glory"
are the internal sense of the Word,
which in all things both in general and in particular
has reference solely to the Lord and His kingdom;
and it is from this
that the internal sense derives its power and glory.
AC 1990 [3]
. . . the Infinite Esse, which is Jehovah,
could not possibly be manifested to man
except through the Human Essence,
thus except through the Lord . . ..
. . . He adopted the Human Essence itself
by being born.
He did so in order that the Infinite Divine
could be joined to man
even though man was so remote.
Otherwise mankind would have
died the death of those for ever damned.
Thursday, December 06, 2018
AC 10392 - Believing and Baptism
AC 10392
He that believes and is baptized shall be saved;
but he that believes not shall be condemned.
(Mark 16:16);
"he that believes"
is he who acknowledges the Lord
and receives Divine truths from Him through the Word;
"he that is baptized"
is he who is regenerated by the Lord
by means of these truths.
He that believes and is baptized shall be saved;
but he that believes not shall be condemned.
(Mark 16:16);
"he that believes"
is he who acknowledges the Lord
and receives Divine truths from Him through the Word;
"he that is baptized"
is he who is regenerated by the Lord
by means of these truths.
~ Your Hand, Your Arm, Your Face ~
We have heard with our ears, O God;
our fathers have told us
what You did in their days,
in days long ago.
With Your hand You drove out the nations
and planted our fathers;
You crushed the peoples
and made our fathers flourish.
It was not by their sword
that they won the land,
nor did their arm bring them victory;
it was Your right hand,
Your arm,
and the light of Your face,
for You loved them.
(Psalm 44:1-3)
our fathers have told us
what You did in their days,
in days long ago.
With Your hand You drove out the nations
and planted our fathers;
You crushed the peoples
and made our fathers flourish.
It was not by their sword
that they won the land,
nor did their arm bring them victory;
it was Your right hand,
Your arm,
and the light of Your face,
for You loved them.
(Psalm 44:1-3)
** "He Bore Our Sicknesses" **
AC 9937 [6]
. . . it can be known what is signified by all that is said
in the fifty-third chapter of the . . . prophet Isaiah
concerning the Lord,
in which from beginning to end
the state of His temptations is treated of;
thus the state in which He was
while He fought with the hells,
for temptations are nothing else
than combats with these.
This state is thus described:
He bore our sicknesses,
and carried our griefs;
He was pierced for our transgressions,
and bruised for our iniquities;
Jehovah made to fall on Him
the iniquity of us all;
and thus He gave the wicked to their sepulcher;
the will of Jehovah shall prosper by His hand;
He shall see from the labor of His soul and be sated;
and by His wisdom shall justify many,
because He hath borne their iniquities,
and thus hath carried the sin of many.
(Isaiah 53:4-5)
He is also called there "the Arm of Jehovah,"
by which is signified Divine power.
That by "bearing sicknesses," "sorrows," and "iniquities,"
and by "being pierced and bruised by them,"
is signified a state of temptations, is evident;
for in such a state there are griefs of soul,
distresses, and despairs,
which in this way cause anguish.
Such things are induced by the hells,
for in temptations they assault
the very love of him against whom they fight;
the love of everyone being the inmost of his life.
The Lord's love
was the love of saving the human race,
which love was the Esse of His life,
for this love was the Divine in Him.
. . . it can be known what is signified by all that is said
in the fifty-third chapter of the . . . prophet Isaiah
concerning the Lord,
in which from beginning to end
the state of His temptations is treated of;
thus the state in which He was
while He fought with the hells,
for temptations are nothing else
than combats with these.
This state is thus described:
He bore our sicknesses,
and carried our griefs;
He was pierced for our transgressions,
and bruised for our iniquities;
Jehovah made to fall on Him
the iniquity of us all;
and thus He gave the wicked to their sepulcher;
the will of Jehovah shall prosper by His hand;
He shall see from the labor of His soul and be sated;
and by His wisdom shall justify many,
because He hath borne their iniquities,
and thus hath carried the sin of many.
(Isaiah 53:4-5)
He is also called there "the Arm of Jehovah,"
by which is signified Divine power.
That by "bearing sicknesses," "sorrows," and "iniquities,"
and by "being pierced and bruised by them,"
is signified a state of temptations, is evident;
for in such a state there are griefs of soul,
distresses, and despairs,
which in this way cause anguish.
Such things are induced by the hells,
for in temptations they assault
the very love of him against whom they fight;
the love of everyone being the inmost of his life.
The Lord's love
was the love of saving the human race,
which love was the Esse of His life,
for this love was the Divine in Him.
Wednesday, December 05, 2018
AC 10360 - Keeping the Sabbath; AC 10362 - Profaning the Sabbath
AC 10360 [1-2, 8]
And ye shall keep the Sabbath.
(Exodus 31:13)
That this signifies that
the Divine Human of the Lord is to be worshiped,
is evident from the signification of "keeping,"
when said of the Divine,
as being to worship;
and from the signification of "the Sabbath,"
as being in the supreme sense
the union of the Divine which is called the "Father"
and of the Divine Human which is called the "Son,"
thus the Divine Human in which is this union.
This union is signified by "the Sabbath,"
because by the six days of labor which precede the seventh
is signified every state of combat;
for in the spiritual sense "labor"
does not mean such labor as there is in the world,
but such as those who are in the church endure
before they enter the church and become the church,
which labor is combat against evils and falsities of evil.
A like "labor" (in the spiritual sense)
was endured by the Lord when He was in the world;
for He then fought against the hells,
and reduced them and likewise the heavens into order,
and at the same time He glorified His Human,
that is, He united it to the Divine Itself
which He had from conception.
The time and state when the Lord was in combats
is signified by the six days of labor,
but the state when the union had been effected
is signified by the seventh day,
which is called "the Sabbath,"
from "rest," because the Lord then had rest.
Consequently by "the Sabbath" is signified also
the conjunction of the Lord with heaven,
with the church, with an angel of heaven,
and with a man of the church.
The reason is that all who are to come into heaven
must first be in combats against evils and the falsities of evil,
and when these have been separated
they enter heaven and are conjoined with the Lord,
and then they have rest.
It is similar with men in the world.
It is known that these must be in combats,
that is, that they must undergo temptations,
before the good and truth which make the church
have been implanted in them;
thus before they have been conjoined with the Lord,
consequently before they have rest.
From this it is evident whence it is
that a state of combat is signified by the six days of labor,
while rest and also conjunction
are signified by the seventh day or the Sabbath.
And therefore when the Lord was in the world,
and united His Human to the Divine Itself,
He abrogated the Sabbath
in respect to representative worship,
or in respect to its worship
such as was with the Israelitish people;
and made the Sabbath day
a day of instruction in the doctrine of faith and of love.
AC 10362
He that profanes it.
(Exodus 31:14)
That this signifies
to be led by one's self and one's own loves,
and not by the Lord,
is evident from the signification of
"profaning the Sabbath,"
or doing work on the Sabbath day,
as being to be led by one's self and not by the Lord,
thus by one's own loves.
And ye shall keep the Sabbath.
(Exodus 31:13)
That this signifies that
the Divine Human of the Lord is to be worshiped,
is evident from the signification of "keeping,"
when said of the Divine,
as being to worship;
and from the signification of "the Sabbath,"
as being in the supreme sense
the union of the Divine which is called the "Father"
and of the Divine Human which is called the "Son,"
thus the Divine Human in which is this union.
This union is signified by "the Sabbath,"
because by the six days of labor which precede the seventh
is signified every state of combat;
for in the spiritual sense "labor"
does not mean such labor as there is in the world,
but such as those who are in the church endure
before they enter the church and become the church,
which labor is combat against evils and falsities of evil.
A like "labor" (in the spiritual sense)
was endured by the Lord when He was in the world;
for He then fought against the hells,
and reduced them and likewise the heavens into order,
and at the same time He glorified His Human,
that is, He united it to the Divine Itself
which He had from conception.
The time and state when the Lord was in combats
is signified by the six days of labor,
but the state when the union had been effected
is signified by the seventh day,
which is called "the Sabbath,"
from "rest," because the Lord then had rest.
Consequently by "the Sabbath" is signified also
the conjunction of the Lord with heaven,
with the church, with an angel of heaven,
and with a man of the church.
The reason is that all who are to come into heaven
must first be in combats against evils and the falsities of evil,
and when these have been separated
they enter heaven and are conjoined with the Lord,
and then they have rest.
It is similar with men in the world.
It is known that these must be in combats,
that is, that they must undergo temptations,
before the good and truth which make the church
have been implanted in them;
thus before they have been conjoined with the Lord,
consequently before they have rest.
From this it is evident whence it is
that a state of combat is signified by the six days of labor,
while rest and also conjunction
are signified by the seventh day or the Sabbath.
And therefore when the Lord was in the world,
and united His Human to the Divine Itself,
He abrogated the Sabbath
in respect to representative worship,
or in respect to its worship
such as was with the Israelitish people;
and made the Sabbath day
a day of instruction in the doctrine of faith and of love.
AC 10362
He that profanes it.
(Exodus 31:14)
That this signifies
to be led by one's self and one's own loves,
and not by the Lord,
is evident from the signification of
"profaning the Sabbath,"
or doing work on the Sabbath day,
as being to be led by one's self and not by the Lord,
thus by one's own loves.
~ His Many Wonders ~
I waited patiently for the Lord;
He turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
He set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the Lord.
Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust,
who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods.
Many, O Lord my God,
are the wonders you have done.
The things You planned for us
no one can recount to You;
were I to speak and tell of them,
they would be too many to declare.
(Psalm 40:1-5)
He turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
He set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the Lord.
Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust,
who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods.
Many, O Lord my God,
are the wonders you have done.
The things You planned for us
no one can recount to You;
were I to speak and tell of them,
they would be too many to declare.
(Psalm 40:1-5)
** They Divided His Garments (from Psalms) **
Jehovah thy God will raise up
unto thee a Prophet
out of the midst of thy brethren,
like unto Me;
Him you shall obey.
And I will put My words in His mouth.
Whence it shall come to pass,
that the man who will not obey His words,
I will require it of him.
(Deuteronomy 18:15-18)
AC 2534
One reads the word 'prophet' many times in the Word,
and in the sense of the letter
it means those to whom revelation is given,
and also - abstractedly from persons - revelation itself.
But in the internal sense
that word means one who teaches,
and also - abstractedly - doctrine itself.
And because, as has been stated,
the Lord is doctrine itself,
or the Word which teaches,
He is called 'a Prophet' . . .
Jehovah your God will raise up a Prophet like me
from the midst of you, from your brothers;
Him shall you obey.
out of the midst of thy brethren,
like unto Me;
Him you shall obey.
And I will put My words in His mouth.
Whence it shall come to pass,
that the man who will not obey His words,
I will require it of him.
(Deuteronomy 18:15-18)
AC 2534
One reads the word 'prophet' many times in the Word,
and in the sense of the letter
it means those to whom revelation is given,
and also - abstractedly from persons - revelation itself.
But in the internal sense
that word means one who teaches,
and also - abstractedly - doctrine itself.
And because, as has been stated,
the Lord is doctrine itself,
or the Word which teaches,
He is called 'a Prophet' . . .
Jehovah your God will raise up a Prophet like me
from the midst of you, from your brothers;
Him shall you obey.
Tuesday, December 04, 2018
AC 10355 - When the Lord Came
AC 10355 [5]
. . . the Lord came into the world
and reduced into order all things
in the heavens and in the hells,
to the end that man may receive
influx from Him out of heaven and be enlightened;
and that the hells should not be able to hinder,
and infuse thick darkness.
. . . the Lord came into the world
and reduced into order all things
in the heavens and in the hells,
to the end that man may receive
influx from Him out of heaven and be enlightened;
and that the hells should not be able to hinder,
and infuse thick darkness.
~ Trust and Wait Patiently for the Lord ~
Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Delight yourself in the Lord
and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in Him
and He will do this:
He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret --
it leads only to evil.
For evil men will be cut off,
but those who hope in the Lord
will inherit the land.
A little while,
and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them,
they will not be found.
But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy great peace.
The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord;
He is their stronghold in time of trouble.
The Lord helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in Him.
(Psalm 37:3-11; 39-40)
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Delight yourself in the Lord
and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in Him
and He will do this:
He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret --
it leads only to evil.
For evil men will be cut off,
but those who hope in the Lord
will inherit the land.
A little while,
and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them,
they will not be found.
But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy great peace.
The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord;
He is their stronghold in time of trouble.
The Lord helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in Him.
(Psalm 37:3-11; 39-40)
** "I Have Installed My King" **
Why have the nations become tumultuous,
and why have the peoples meditated vanity?
The kings of the earth set themselves
and the rulers took counsel together
against Jehovah and against His Anointed.
I have anointed My king upon Zion,
the mountain of My holiness.
I will declare the statute,
Jehovah said unto me,
Thou art My Son,
this day have I begotten Thee;
ask of Me
and I will give the nations for Thine inheritance,
and the uttermost parts of the earth
for Thy possession.
Kiss the Son,
lest He be angry and ye perish in the way,
for His anger will shortly burn forth;
blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.
(Psalm 2:1, 2, 6-8, 12)
AE 684 [10]
Evidently "the Anointed of Jehovah"
means here the Lord in relation to the Divine Human,
for it is said,
"Jehovah said unto Me, Thou art My Son,
this day have I begotten Thee;
kiss the Son lest ye perish;
blessed are all they that put their trust in Him."
In the sense of the letter this indeed is said of David,
but in the Word "David" means the Lord
in relation to Divine truth, or as a King.
It is evident also that the Lord's coming
and finally the Last Judgment by Him,
and afterwards His sovereignty
over all things of the world,
are here treated of.
AC 9954 [14]
The kings of the earth have set themselves,
and the rulers have consulted together,
against Jehovah,
and against His Anointed.
I have anointed My king upon Zion,
the mountain of My holiness.
(Psalm 2:2, 6)
"The kings of the earth" denote falsities,
and "the rulers," evils, which are from the hells,
and against which the Lord fought
when He was in the world,
and which He conquered and subdued;
"the Anointed of Jehovah"
denotes the Lord as to the Divine Human,
for from this He fought;
"Zion the mountain of holiness,"
upon which He is said "to be Anointed as the King"
denotes the celestial kingdom,
which is in the good of love.
This kingdom is the inmost of heaven,
and the inmost of the church.
AC 2015 [10]
As "a king" signifies truth,
it may be seen what is meant in the internal sense
when the Lord is called a King and also a Priest;
and also what it was in the Lord
that was represented by kings,
and what by priests.
Kings represented His Divine truth,
and priests His Divine good.
All the laws of order by which
the Lord governs the universe as King,
are truths;
but all the laws by which He governs the universe
as and by which also
He rules truths themselves,
are goods;
for government from truths alone
would condemn everyone to hell;
but government from goods
lifts everyone out from there
and uplifts him into heaven.
and why have the peoples meditated vanity?
The kings of the earth set themselves
and the rulers took counsel together
against Jehovah and against His Anointed.
I have anointed My king upon Zion,
the mountain of My holiness.
I will declare the statute,
Jehovah said unto me,
Thou art My Son,
this day have I begotten Thee;
ask of Me
and I will give the nations for Thine inheritance,
and the uttermost parts of the earth
for Thy possession.
Kiss the Son,
lest He be angry and ye perish in the way,
for His anger will shortly burn forth;
blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.
(Psalm 2:1, 2, 6-8, 12)
AE 684 [10]
Evidently "the Anointed of Jehovah"
means here the Lord in relation to the Divine Human,
for it is said,
"Jehovah said unto Me, Thou art My Son,
this day have I begotten Thee;
kiss the Son lest ye perish;
blessed are all they that put their trust in Him."
In the sense of the letter this indeed is said of David,
but in the Word "David" means the Lord
in relation to Divine truth, or as a King.
It is evident also that the Lord's coming
and finally the Last Judgment by Him,
and afterwards His sovereignty
over all things of the world,
are here treated of.
AC 9954 [14]
The kings of the earth have set themselves,
and the rulers have consulted together,
against Jehovah,
and against His Anointed.
I have anointed My king upon Zion,
the mountain of My holiness.
(Psalm 2:2, 6)
"The kings of the earth" denote falsities,
and "the rulers," evils, which are from the hells,
and against which the Lord fought
when He was in the world,
and which He conquered and subdued;
"the Anointed of Jehovah"
denotes the Lord as to the Divine Human,
for from this He fought;
"Zion the mountain of holiness,"
upon which He is said "to be Anointed as the King"
denotes the celestial kingdom,
which is in the good of love.
This kingdom is the inmost of heaven,
and the inmost of the church.
AC 2015 [10]
As "a king" signifies truth,
it may be seen what is meant in the internal sense
when the Lord is called a King and also a Priest;
and also what it was in the Lord
that was represented by kings,
and what by priests.
Kings represented His Divine truth,
and priests His Divine good.
All the laws of order by which
the Lord governs the universe as King,
are truths;
but all the laws by which He governs the universe
as and by which also
He rules truths themselves,
are goods;
for government from truths alone
would condemn everyone to hell;
but government from goods
lifts everyone out from there
and uplifts him into heaven.
Monday, December 03, 2018
AC 10331 - Wisdom, Intelligence, Knowledge, and Work
AC 10331 [2]
But it shall be briefly told what is meant by
"wisdom, intelligence, knowledge, and work."
Those who do not know
what the internal man is and what the external,
and also what the understanding is and what the will,
cannot apprehend in what manner
wisdom, intelligence, knowledge, and work
are distinct from one another,
for the reason that they cannot have a distinct idea
of the one and of the other.
Wherefore they who have not this knowledge
call him wise who is only intelligent;
indeed, who merely has knowledge.
But he is wise who does truths from love;
he is intelligent who does them from faith;
he has knowledge who does them from knowledge;
and "work" denotes that which is done from all these;
thus "work" denotes their effect
in which they conjoin themselves together.
But it shall be briefly told what is meant by
"wisdom, intelligence, knowledge, and work."
Those who do not know
what the internal man is and what the external,
and also what the understanding is and what the will,
cannot apprehend in what manner
wisdom, intelligence, knowledge, and work
are distinct from one another,
for the reason that they cannot have a distinct idea
of the one and of the other.
Wherefore they who have not this knowledge
call him wise who is only intelligent;
indeed, who merely has knowledge.
But he is wise who does truths from love;
he is intelligent who does them from faith;
he has knowledge who does them from knowledge;
and "work" denotes that which is done from all these;
thus "work" denotes their effect
in which they conjoin themselves together.
~ We Wait in Hope ~
We wait in hope for the Lord;
He is our help and our shield.
In Him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in His holy name.
May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord,
even as we put our hope in You.
(Psalm 33:20-22)
He is our help and our shield.
In Him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in His holy name.
May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord,
even as we put our hope in You.
(Psalm 33:20-22)
** A Prophecy from Deuteronomy **
Jehovah
thy God will raise up unto thee
a Prophet out of the midst of thy brethren,
like unto Me;
Him you shall obey.
And I will put My words in His mouth.
Whence it shall come to pass,
that the man who will not obey His words,
I will require it of him.
(Deuteronomy 18:15-18)
AC 2534
One reads the word 'prophet' many times in the Word,
and in the sense of the letter
it means those to whom revelation is given,
and also - abstractedly from persons - revelation itself.
But in the internal sense
that word means one who teaches,
and also - abstractedly - doctrine itself.
And because, as has been stated,
the Lord is doctrine itself,
or the Word which teaches,
He is called 'a Prophet' . . .
Jehovah your God will raise up a Prophet like me
from the midst of you, from your brothers;
Him shall you obey.
a Prophet out of the midst of thy brethren,
like unto Me;
Him you shall obey.
And I will put My words in His mouth.
Whence it shall come to pass,
that the man who will not obey His words,
I will require it of him.
(Deuteronomy 18:15-18)
AC 2534
One reads the word 'prophet' many times in the Word,
and in the sense of the letter
it means those to whom revelation is given,
and also - abstractedly from persons - revelation itself.
But in the internal sense
that word means one who teaches,
and also - abstractedly - doctrine itself.
And because, as has been stated,
the Lord is doctrine itself,
or the Word which teaches,
He is called 'a Prophet' . . .
Jehovah your God will raise up a Prophet like me
from the midst of you, from your brothers;
Him shall you obey.
Sunday, December 02, 2018
AC 10303 - Good
AC 10303 [2]
. . . good never puts itself forth into uses
except by means of truths.
. . . good never puts itself forth into uses
except by means of truths.
~ He Shows His Love ~
How great is Your goodness,
which You have stored up for those who fear You,
which You bestow in the sight of men
on those who take refuge in You.
In the shelter of Your presence
You hide them from the intrigues of men;
in Your dwelling
You keep them safe from accusing tongues.
Praise be to the Lord,
for He showed His wonderful love to me
when I was in a besieged city.
In my alarm I said,
I am cut off from Your sight!"
Yet you heard my cry for mercy
when I called to You for help.
Love the Lord, all His saints!
The Lord preserves the faithful,
but the proud He pays back in full.
Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in the Lord.
(Psalm 32:19-24)
which You have stored up for those who fear You,
which You bestow in the sight of men
on those who take refuge in You.
In the shelter of Your presence
You hide them from the intrigues of men;
in Your dwelling
You keep them safe from accusing tongues.
Praise be to the Lord,
for He showed His wonderful love to me
when I was in a besieged city.
In my alarm I said,
I am cut off from Your sight!"
Yet you heard my cry for mercy
when I called to You for help.
Love the Lord, all His saints!
The Lord preserves the faithful,
but the proud He pays back in full.
Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in the Lord.
(Psalm 32:19-24)
** From Balaam's Third Oracle **
I see Him, but not now;
I behold Him, but not nigh;
there shall arise a star out of Jacob,
and a scepter shall rise up out of Israel.
(Numbers 24:17)
AC 1675
Where "to see Him, but not now,"
to "behold Him, but not nigh,"
is the Lord's coming into the world;
whose Human Essence is called
"a star out of Jacob,"
which is to arise . . ..
I behold Him, but not nigh;
there shall arise a star out of Jacob,
and a scepter shall rise up out of Israel.
(Numbers 24:17)
AC 1675
Where "to see Him, but not now,"
to "behold Him, but not nigh,"
is the Lord's coming into the world;
whose Human Essence is called
"a star out of Jacob,"
which is to arise . . ..
Saturday, December 01, 2018
AC 10291 - Spices; AC 10300 - Worship
AC 10291
Take to thee fragrant spices.
(Exodus 30:34)
That this signifies the affections of truth from good
which must be in Divine worship,
is evident from the signification of "spices,"
as being the perceptions and affections
of truth and of good.
That it signifies which must be in Divine worship,
is because by the incense
which was prepared from them
is signified Divine worship.
The spices which are now mentioned
are of a totally different kind
from those of which the oil of anointing was prepared.
These also are called "spices,"
but are expressed in the original tongue by another word.
The spices from which the oil of anointing was prepared,
in like manner signify perceptions and affections
of truth and good as do these spices,
but with the difference
that the former truths belong to the celestial class,
and the latter to the spiritual class.
AC 10300 [4]
. . . in all worship there must be a longing of truth for good . . .
Take to thee fragrant spices.
(Exodus 30:34)
That this signifies the affections of truth from good
which must be in Divine worship,
is evident from the signification of "spices,"
as being the perceptions and affections
of truth and of good.
That it signifies which must be in Divine worship,
is because by the incense
which was prepared from them
is signified Divine worship.
The spices which are now mentioned
are of a totally different kind
from those of which the oil of anointing was prepared.
These also are called "spices,"
but are expressed in the original tongue by another word.
The spices from which the oil of anointing was prepared,
in like manner signify perceptions and affections
of truth and good as do these spices,
but with the difference
that the former truths belong to the celestial class,
and the latter to the spiritual class.
AC 10300 [4]
. . . in all worship there must be a longing of truth for good . . .
~ Wait For the Lord ~
I am still confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.
(Psalm 27:13-14)
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.
(Psalm 27:13-14)
** The First Prophecy of the Lord's Coming **
Because thou hast done this,
thou art cursed above all cattle,
and above every beast of the field;
upon thy belly shalt thou go,
and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman,
and between thy seed and her seed;
it shall bruise thy head,
and thou shalt bruise his heel.
(Genesis 3:14-15)
AC 250
Everyone is aware that this is the first prophecy
of the Lord's advent into the world;
it appears indeed clearly from the words themselves,
and therefore from them and from the prophets
even the Jews knew that a Messiah was to come.
By the "serpent" is here meant all evil in general,
and specifically the love of self;
by the "woman" is meant the church;
by the "seed of the serpent" all infidelity;
by the "seed of the woman" faith in the Lord;
by "He" the Lord Himself;
by the "head of the serpent"
the dominion of evil in general,
and specifically that of the love of self;
by to "trample upon" depression,
so that it should "go upon the belly and eat dust;"
and by the "heel"
the lowest natural (as the corporeal),
which the serpent should "bruise."
_______________________________________
These ** Christmas Quotes ** from today until January 6,
are being repeated.
are being repeated.
May they be helpful as part of our yearly celebration
of the Lord's birth on earth.
'O Come Let Us Adore Him, Christ the Lord'
of the Lord's birth on earth.
'O Come Let Us Adore Him, Christ the Lord'
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