AC 7454 [2, 3]
Every spirit, and still more every society,
is surrounded with a sphere
of the faith and of the life of that spirit or society.
This sphere is a spiritual sphere,
and by it is known the quality of the spirit,
and even better that of the society.
For the sphere is perceived by those who have perception,
sometimes at a considerable distance; and this
although the spirit or the society is in hiding,
and does not communicate by thought or by speech.
This spiritual sphere may be compared
to the material sphere
which encompasses the body of a person in the world,
which is a sphere of effluvia exuding from him,
and is smelled by keen-scented beasts.
. . . it can also be seen
that nothing whatever is hidden
which a person in the world has
thought, spoken, and done,
but that it is in the open;
for it is these things which make this sphere.
Such a sphere also pours forth from the spirit of a person
while he is in the body in the world;
and from this his quality is also known.
Therefore believe not
that the things a person thinks in secret
and that he does in secret,
are hidden,
for they are as clearly shown in heaven
as are those which appear in the light of noon,
according to the Lord's words in Luke:
There is nothing covered that shall not be revealed;
or hidden that shall not be known;
therefore whatsoever you have said in the darkness
shall be heard in the light;
and that which you have spoken in the ear in bed-chambers,
shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
(Luke 12:2-3)
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Portions: Kings 20 - 23
Hezekiah had asked Isaiah,
"What will be the sign that the Lord will heal me
and that I will go up to the temple of the Lord
on the third day from now?
Isaiah answered,
"This is the Lord's sign to you
that the Lord will do what He has promised:
Shall the shadow go forward ten steps,
or shall it go back ten steps?"
As for the other events of Hezekiah's reign,
all his achievements and how he made the pool
and the tunnel by which he brought water into the city,
are they not written in the book
of the annals of the kings of Judah?
Hezekiah rested with his fathers.
And Manasseh hi son succeeded him as king.
(II Kings 20:8-10,20-21)
Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king,
and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years.
His mother's name was Hephzibah.
He did evil in the eyes of the Lord,
following the detestable practices of the nations
the Lord had driven out before the Israelites.
Manasseh rested with his fathers
and was buried in his palace garden,
the garden of Uzza.
And Amon his son succeeded him as king.
Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king,
and he reigned in Jerusalem two years.
His mother's name was Meshullemeth daughter of Haruz;
she was from Jotbah.
He did evil in the eyes of the Lord,
as his father Manasseh had done.
He was buried in his grave in the garden of Uzza.
And Josiah his son succeeded him as king.
(II Kings 21:1-2,18-20,26)
Josiah was eight years old when he became king,
and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years.
His mother's name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah;
she was from Bozkath.
He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord
and walked in all the ways of his father David,
not turning aside to the right or the left.
Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king,
"Go and inquire of the Lord for me
and for the people and for all Judah
about what is written in this book that has been found."
(II Kings 22 ;1-2,10-11,13)
The king stood by the pillar
and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord -
to follow the Lord and keep His commands,
regulations and decrees with all his heart and soul,
thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book.
Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.
Neither before or after Josiah was there a king like him
who turned to the Lord as he did -
with all his heart and with all his soul
and with all his strength,
in accordance with all the Law of Moses.
While Josiah was king,
Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt went up to the Euphrates River
to help the king of Assyria.
King Josiah marched out to meet him in battle,
but Neco faced him and killed him at Megiddo.
Josiah's servants brought his body in a chariot
from Megiddo to Jerusalem
and buried him in his own tomb.
And the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah
and anointed him and made him king in place of his father.
Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old
when he became king,
and he reigned in Jerusalem three months.
His mother's name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah;
she was from Libnah.
Pharaoh Neco put him in chains at Riblah
in the land of Hamath
so that he might not reign in Jerusalem . . . .
Pharaoh Neco made Eliakim son of Josiah
king in place of his father Josiah
and changed Eliakim's name to Jehoiakim.
But he took Jehoahaz and carried him off to Egypt,
and there he died.
Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king,
and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years.
His mother's name was Zebidah daughter of Pedaiah;
she was from Rumah.
And he did evil in the eyes of the Lord,
just as his fathers had done.
(II Kings 23:3,25,29-32,34,36-37)
"What will be the sign that the Lord will heal me
and that I will go up to the temple of the Lord
on the third day from now?
Isaiah answered,
"This is the Lord's sign to you
that the Lord will do what He has promised:
Shall the shadow go forward ten steps,
or shall it go back ten steps?"
As for the other events of Hezekiah's reign,
all his achievements and how he made the pool
and the tunnel by which he brought water into the city,
are they not written in the book
of the annals of the kings of Judah?
Hezekiah rested with his fathers.
And Manasseh hi son succeeded him as king.
(II Kings 20:8-10,20-21)
Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king,
and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years.
His mother's name was Hephzibah.
He did evil in the eyes of the Lord,
following the detestable practices of the nations
the Lord had driven out before the Israelites.
Manasseh rested with his fathers
and was buried in his palace garden,
the garden of Uzza.
And Amon his son succeeded him as king.
Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king,
and he reigned in Jerusalem two years.
His mother's name was Meshullemeth daughter of Haruz;
she was from Jotbah.
He did evil in the eyes of the Lord,
as his father Manasseh had done.
He was buried in his grave in the garden of Uzza.
And Josiah his son succeeded him as king.
(II Kings 21:1-2,18-20,26)
Josiah was eight years old when he became king,
and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years.
His mother's name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah;
she was from Bozkath.
He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord
and walked in all the ways of his father David,
not turning aside to the right or the left.
Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king,
"Go and inquire of the Lord for me
and for the people and for all Judah
about what is written in this book that has been found."
(II Kings 22 ;1-2,10-11,13)
The king stood by the pillar
and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord -
to follow the Lord and keep His commands,
regulations and decrees with all his heart and soul,
thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book.
Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.
Neither before or after Josiah was there a king like him
who turned to the Lord as he did -
with all his heart and with all his soul
and with all his strength,
in accordance with all the Law of Moses.
While Josiah was king,
Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt went up to the Euphrates River
to help the king of Assyria.
King Josiah marched out to meet him in battle,
but Neco faced him and killed him at Megiddo.
Josiah's servants brought his body in a chariot
from Megiddo to Jerusalem
and buried him in his own tomb.
And the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah
and anointed him and made him king in place of his father.
Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old
when he became king,
and he reigned in Jerusalem three months.
His mother's name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah;
she was from Libnah.
Pharaoh Neco put him in chains at Riblah
in the land of Hamath
so that he might not reign in Jerusalem . . . .
Pharaoh Neco made Eliakim son of Josiah
king in place of his father Josiah
and changed Eliakim's name to Jehoiakim.
But he took Jehoahaz and carried him off to Egypt,
and there he died.
Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king,
and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years.
His mother's name was Zebidah daughter of Pedaiah;
she was from Rumah.
And he did evil in the eyes of the Lord,
just as his fathers had done.
(II Kings 23:3,25,29-32,34,36-37)
AC 7439 - preparation
AC 7439 [3]
. . .a person must be prepared for heaven
by his whole life in the world,
and this is done of the Lord's mercy,
and none are admitted into heaven from mercy alone,
regardless of how they lived in the world.
. . .a person must be prepared for heaven
by his whole life in the world,
and this is done of the Lord's mercy,
and none are admitted into heaven from mercy alone,
regardless of how they lived in the world.
Portions: Kings 16 - 19
In the seventeenth year of Pekah son of Remaliah,
Ahaz son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign.
Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king,
and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years.
Unlike David his father,
he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord his God.
He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel
and even sacrificed his son in the fire,
following the detestable ways of the nations
the Lord had driven out before the Israelites.
Ahaz rested with his fathers
and was buried with them in the City of David.
And Hezekiah his son succeeded him as king.
(II Kings 16:1-3,20)
In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah,
Hoshea son of Elah became king of Israel in Samaria,
and he reigned nine years.
The king of Assyria invaded the entire land,
marched against Samaria
and laid siege to it for three years.
In the ninth year of Hoshea,
the king of Assyria captured Samaria
and deported the Israelites to Assyria.
He settled them in Halah,
in Gozan on the Habor River
and in the towns of the Medes.
The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon,
Cuthah, Avva, Hamath and Sepharvaim
and settled them in the towns of Samaria
to replace the Israelites.
They took over Samaria and lived in its towns.
(II Kings 17:1,5-6;24)
In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel,
Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.
He was twenty-five years old when he became king,
and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years.
His mother's name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah.
He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord,
just as his father David had done.
Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel.
There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah,
either before him or after him.
He held fast to the Lord and did not cease to follow Him;
he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses.
(II Kings 18:1-3,5,6-7)
When King Hezekiah's officials came to Isaiah,
Isaiah said to them, "Tell your master,
'This is what the Lord says:
do not be afraid of what you have heard -
those words with which the underlings
of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me.
Listen! I am going to put such a spirit in him
that when he hears a certain report,
he will return to his own country,
and there I will have him cut down with the sword.'"
That night the angel of the Lord went out
and put to death
a hundred and eighty-five thousand men
in the Assyrian camp.
When the people got up the next morning -
there were all these dead bodies!
So Sennacherib kin of Assyria
broke camp and withdrew.
He returned to Nineveh and stayed there.
(II Kings 19:5-7,35-36)
Ahaz son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign.
Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king,
and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years.
Unlike David his father,
he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord his God.
He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel
and even sacrificed his son in the fire,
following the detestable ways of the nations
the Lord had driven out before the Israelites.
Ahaz rested with his fathers
and was buried with them in the City of David.
And Hezekiah his son succeeded him as king.
(II Kings 16:1-3,20)
In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah,
Hoshea son of Elah became king of Israel in Samaria,
and he reigned nine years.
The king of Assyria invaded the entire land,
marched against Samaria
and laid siege to it for three years.
In the ninth year of Hoshea,
the king of Assyria captured Samaria
and deported the Israelites to Assyria.
He settled them in Halah,
in Gozan on the Habor River
and in the towns of the Medes.
The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon,
Cuthah, Avva, Hamath and Sepharvaim
and settled them in the towns of Samaria
to replace the Israelites.
They took over Samaria and lived in its towns.
(II Kings 17:1,5-6;24)
In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel,
Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.
He was twenty-five years old when he became king,
and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years.
His mother's name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah.
He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord,
just as his father David had done.
Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel.
There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah,
either before him or after him.
He held fast to the Lord and did not cease to follow Him;
he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses.
(II Kings 18:1-3,5,6-7)
When King Hezekiah's officials came to Isaiah,
Isaiah said to them, "Tell your master,
'This is what the Lord says:
do not be afraid of what you have heard -
those words with which the underlings
of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me.
Listen! I am going to put such a spirit in him
that when he hears a certain report,
he will return to his own country,
and there I will have him cut down with the sword.'"
That night the angel of the Lord went out
and put to death
a hundred and eighty-five thousand men
in the Assyrian camp.
When the people got up the next morning -
there were all these dead bodies!
So Sennacherib kin of Assyria
broke camp and withdrew.
He returned to Nineveh and stayed there.
(II Kings 19:5-7,35-36)
AC 7401 - there is none like Jehovah God
AC 7401
In the Word it is sometimes said
that "there is none like Jehovah God,"
and also that "there is no God like Him."
It was so said in the Word,
because at that time in the land where the church was,
as also in the lands where the church was not,
they worshiped many gods,
and everyone preferred his own god to the god of another.
They distinguished these gods by names,
and the God of the Israelites and Jews
by the name "Jehovah."
The Jews and Israelites themselves also believed
that there were many gods,
but that Jehovah was greater than the rest
on account of the miracles;
and therefore when the miracles ceased,
they at once fell away into the worship of other gods,
as is apparent from the historical parts of the Word.
That there is one God and none besides Him,
they indeed said with the mouth,
but did not believe with the heart.
In the Word it is sometimes said
that "there is none like Jehovah God,"
and also that "there is no God like Him."
It was so said in the Word,
because at that time in the land where the church was,
as also in the lands where the church was not,
they worshiped many gods,
and everyone preferred his own god to the god of another.
They distinguished these gods by names,
and the God of the Israelites and Jews
by the name "Jehovah."
The Jews and Israelites themselves also believed
that there were many gods,
but that Jehovah was greater than the rest
on account of the miracles;
and therefore when the miracles ceased,
they at once fell away into the worship of other gods,
as is apparent from the historical parts of the Word.
That there is one God and none besides Him,
they indeed said with the mouth,
but did not believe with the heart.
Portions: Kings 13 - 15
(Apology - I was having issues getting on to this blog. But now all seems well.)
In the twenty-third year of Joash
son of Ahaziah king of Judah,
Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king of Israel in Samaria,
and he reigned seventeen years.
Jehoahaz rested with his fathers
and was buried in Samaria.
And Jehoash his son succeeded hm as king.
In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah,
Jehoash son of Jehoahaz
became king of Israel in Samaria,
and he reigned sixteen years.
Jehoash rested with his fathers,
and Jeroboam succeeded him on the throne.
Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
Elisha died and was buried.
(II Kings 13:1,9-10,13,20,
In the second year of Jehoash
son of Jehoahaz king of Israel,
Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah began to reign.
He was twenty-five years old when he became king,
and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years.
His mother's name was Jehoaddin;
she was from Jerusalem.
Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah
lived for fifteen years after the death of Jehoash
son of Jehoahaz king of Israel.
They conspired against him in Jerusalem,
and he fled to Lachiash,
but they sent men after him there.
He was brought back by horse
and was buried in Jerusalem with his fathers,
in the City of David.
Then all the people of Judah took Azariah,
who was sixteen years old,
and made him king in place of his father Amaziah.
In the fifteenth year of Amaziah
son of Joash king of Judah,
Jeroboam son of Jehoash king of Israel
became king in Samaria,
and he reigned forty-one years.
Jeroboam rested with his fathers,
the kings of Israel.
And Zechariah his son succeeded him as king.
(II Kings 14:1-2,17,19-21,23,29)
In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel,
Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah began to reign.
He was sixteen years old when he became king,
and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two ears.
His mother's name was Jecoliah;
she was from Jerusalem.
Azariah rested with his fathers
and was buried in the City of David.
and Jotham his son succeeded him as king.
In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah,
Zechariah son of Jeroboam
became king of Israel in Samaria,
and he reigned six moths.
Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah.
He attacked him in front of the people,
assassinated him and succeeded him as king.
So the word of the Lord spoken to Jehu was fulfilled:
"Your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel
to the fourth generation."
Shallum son of Jabesh became king
in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah,
and he reigned in Samaria one month.
Then Menahem son of Gadi
went from Tirzah up to Samaria.
He attacked Shallum son of Jabesh in Samaria,
assassinated him and succeeded him as king.
In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah,
Menahem son of Gadi became king of Israel,
and he reigned in Samaria ten years.
Menahem rested with his fathers.
And Pekahiah his son succeeded him as king.
In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah,
Pekahiah son of Menahem
became king of Israel in Samaria,
and he reigned two years.
One of his chief officers, Pekah son of Remaliah,
conspired against him.
Taking fifty men of Gilead with him,
he assassinated Pekahiah, along with Argob and Arieh,
in the citadel of the royal palace at Samaria.
So Pekah killed Pekahiah and succeeded him as king.
In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah,
Pekah son of Remaliah became king of Israel in Samaria,
and he reigned twenty years.
Then Hosea son of Elah conspired against
against Pekah son of Remaliah.
He attacked and assassinated him,
and then succeeded him as king in the twentieth year
of Jotham son of Uzziah.
In the second year of Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel,
Jotham son of Uzziah king of Judah began to reign.
He was twenty-five years old when he became king,
and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years.
His mother's name of Jerusha daughter of Zadok.
Jotham rested with his fathers
and was bried with them in the City of David,
the city of his father.
And Ahaz his son succeeded him as king.
(II Kings 15:1-2,7-8,10,12-14;17,22;23,25;27,30;32-33,38)
In the twenty-third year of Joash
son of Ahaziah king of Judah,
Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king of Israel in Samaria,
and he reigned seventeen years.
Jehoahaz rested with his fathers
and was buried in Samaria.
And Jehoash his son succeeded hm as king.
In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah,
Jehoash son of Jehoahaz
became king of Israel in Samaria,
and he reigned sixteen years.
Jehoash rested with his fathers,
and Jeroboam succeeded him on the throne.
Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
Elisha died and was buried.
(II Kings 13:1,9-10,13,20,
In the second year of Jehoash
son of Jehoahaz king of Israel,
Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah began to reign.
He was twenty-five years old when he became king,
and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years.
His mother's name was Jehoaddin;
she was from Jerusalem.
Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah
lived for fifteen years after the death of Jehoash
son of Jehoahaz king of Israel.
They conspired against him in Jerusalem,
and he fled to Lachiash,
but they sent men after him there.
He was brought back by horse
and was buried in Jerusalem with his fathers,
in the City of David.
Then all the people of Judah took Azariah,
who was sixteen years old,
and made him king in place of his father Amaziah.
In the fifteenth year of Amaziah
son of Joash king of Judah,
Jeroboam son of Jehoash king of Israel
became king in Samaria,
and he reigned forty-one years.
Jeroboam rested with his fathers,
the kings of Israel.
And Zechariah his son succeeded him as king.
(II Kings 14:1-2,17,19-21,23,29)
In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel,
Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah began to reign.
He was sixteen years old when he became king,
and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two ears.
His mother's name was Jecoliah;
she was from Jerusalem.
Azariah rested with his fathers
and was buried in the City of David.
and Jotham his son succeeded him as king.
In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah,
Zechariah son of Jeroboam
became king of Israel in Samaria,
and he reigned six moths.
Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah.
He attacked him in front of the people,
assassinated him and succeeded him as king.
So the word of the Lord spoken to Jehu was fulfilled:
"Your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel
to the fourth generation."
Shallum son of Jabesh became king
in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah,
and he reigned in Samaria one month.
Then Menahem son of Gadi
went from Tirzah up to Samaria.
He attacked Shallum son of Jabesh in Samaria,
assassinated him and succeeded him as king.
In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah,
Menahem son of Gadi became king of Israel,
and he reigned in Samaria ten years.
Menahem rested with his fathers.
And Pekahiah his son succeeded him as king.
In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah,
Pekahiah son of Menahem
became king of Israel in Samaria,
and he reigned two years.
One of his chief officers, Pekah son of Remaliah,
conspired against him.
Taking fifty men of Gilead with him,
he assassinated Pekahiah, along with Argob and Arieh,
in the citadel of the royal palace at Samaria.
So Pekah killed Pekahiah and succeeded him as king.
In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah,
Pekah son of Remaliah became king of Israel in Samaria,
and he reigned twenty years.
Then Hosea son of Elah conspired against
against Pekah son of Remaliah.
He attacked and assassinated him,
and then succeeded him as king in the twentieth year
of Jotham son of Uzziah.
In the second year of Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel,
Jotham son of Uzziah king of Judah began to reign.
He was twenty-five years old when he became king,
and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years.
His mother's name of Jerusha daughter of Zadok.
Jotham rested with his fathers
and was bried with them in the City of David,
the city of his father.
And Ahaz his son succeeded him as king.
(II Kings 15:1-2,7-8,10,12-14;17,22;23,25;27,30;32-33,38)
Sunday, September 08, 2013
AC 7367-7368 & 7373-7374 - what love of self and love of the world are
AC 7367 - 7368
The love of self reigns with a person, that is,
he is in the love of self,
when in what he thinks and does,
he does not regard his neighbor,
thus not the public,
still less the Lord,
but only himself and those who belong to him;
consequently when he does all things
for the sake of himself and those who belong to him;
and if for the sake of the public and his neighbor,
it is merely for the sake of the appearance.
It is said
"for the sake of himself and those who belong to him,"
because he together with these,
and these together with him, make a one;
just as when anyone does anything for the sake of his wife,
of his children, grandchildren,
sons-in-law, or daughters-in-law,
he does it for the sake of himself,
because they are his.
In like manner one who does anything
for the sake of relatives and of friends
who favor his love and thereby conjoin themselves with him;
for by such conjunction they make one with him,
that is, regard themselves in him,
and him in themselves.
AC 7373-7374
But the love of the world reigns with a person,
that is, a person is in the love of the world,
when in what he thinks and does
he regards and intends nothing but his own advantage,
not caring whether this involves
harm to his neighbor and to the public.
Those are in the love of the world
who desire to possess themselves of the goods of others
by artful devices,
and still more those who do this by cunning and deceit.
They who are in this love
envy others their goods, and covet them;
and insofar as they do not fear the laws,
they take them away, even by robbery.
The love of self reigns with a person, that is,
he is in the love of self,
when in what he thinks and does,
he does not regard his neighbor,
thus not the public,
still less the Lord,
but only himself and those who belong to him;
consequently when he does all things
for the sake of himself and those who belong to him;
and if for the sake of the public and his neighbor,
it is merely for the sake of the appearance.
It is said
"for the sake of himself and those who belong to him,"
because he together with these,
and these together with him, make a one;
just as when anyone does anything for the sake of his wife,
of his children, grandchildren,
sons-in-law, or daughters-in-law,
he does it for the sake of himself,
because they are his.
In like manner one who does anything
for the sake of relatives and of friends
who favor his love and thereby conjoin themselves with him;
for by such conjunction they make one with him,
that is, regard themselves in him,
and him in themselves.
AC 7373-7374
But the love of the world reigns with a person,
that is, a person is in the love of the world,
when in what he thinks and does
he regards and intends nothing but his own advantage,
not caring whether this involves
harm to his neighbor and to the public.
Those are in the love of the world
who desire to possess themselves of the goods of others
by artful devices,
and still more those who do this by cunning and deceit.
They who are in this love
envy others their goods, and covet them;
and insofar as they do not fear the laws,
they take them away, even by robbery.
Portions: II Kings 9 - 12
The Prophet Elisha summoned a man
from the company of the prophets and said to him,
"Tuck your cloak into your belt,
take this flask of oil with you and go to Ramoth Gilead.
When you get there,
look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi.
Go to him, get him away from his companions
and take him into an inner room.
Then take the flask and pour the oil on his head and declare,
'This is what the Lord says:
I anoint you king over Israel.'
Then open the door and run; don't delay!"
So the young man, the prophet, went to Ramoth Gilead.
When Joram saw Jehu he asked,
"Have you come in peace, Jehu?"
"How can there be peace," Jehu replied,
"as long as all the idolatry and witchcraft
of your mother Jezebel abound?"
Then Jehu drew his bow
and shot Joram between the shoulders.
When Ahaziah king of Judah saw what had happened,
he fled up the road to Beth Haggan.
Jehu chased him, shouting,
"Kill him too!"
(II Kings 9:1-4,22,24,27)
So Jehu destroyed Baal worship in Israel.
However, he did not turn away from the sins
of Jeroboam son of Nebat,
which he had caused Israel to commit -
the worship of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan.
The Lord said to Jehu,
"Because you have done well
in accomplishing what is right in My eyes
and have done to the house of Ahab
all I had in mind to do,
your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel
to the fourth generation."
In those days the Lord began to reduce the size of Israel.
Jehu rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria.
And Jehoahaz his son succeeded him as king.
The time that Jehu reigned
over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.
(II Kings 10:28,32,35-36,35-36)
When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah
saw that her son was dead,
she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family.
But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram
and the sister of Ahaziah,
took Joash son of Ahaziah
and stole him away from the royal princes,
who were about to be murdered.
She put him and his nurse in a bedroom
to hide him from Athaliah; so he was not killed.
He remained hidden with his nurse
at the temple of the Lord
for six years while Ahaliah ruled the land.
Jehoiada (the priest) brought out the king's son
and put the crown on him;
he presented him with a copy of the covenant
and proclaimed him king.
They anointed him,
and the people clapped their hands and shouted,
"Long live the king!"
Johoiada then made a covenant
between the Lord and the king and people
that they would be the Lord's people.
He also made a covenant
between the king and the people.
All the people of the land
went to the temple of Baal and tore it down.
They smashed the altars and idols to pieces
and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.
Joash was seven years old when he began to reign.
(II Kings 11:1-3,12,17-18,21)
In the seventh year of Jehu,
Joash became king,
and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years.
His mother's name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba.
Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord
all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him.
His officials conspired against him
and assassinated him at Beth Millo,
on the road down to Silla.
The officials who murdered him were
Jozabad son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer.
He died and was buried with his fathers
in the City of David.
And Amaziah his son succeeded him as king.
(II Kings 12:1-20-21)
from the company of the prophets and said to him,
"Tuck your cloak into your belt,
take this flask of oil with you and go to Ramoth Gilead.
When you get there,
look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi.
Go to him, get him away from his companions
and take him into an inner room.
Then take the flask and pour the oil on his head and declare,
'This is what the Lord says:
I anoint you king over Israel.'
Then open the door and run; don't delay!"
So the young man, the prophet, went to Ramoth Gilead.
When Joram saw Jehu he asked,
"Have you come in peace, Jehu?"
"How can there be peace," Jehu replied,
"as long as all the idolatry and witchcraft
of your mother Jezebel abound?"
Then Jehu drew his bow
and shot Joram between the shoulders.
When Ahaziah king of Judah saw what had happened,
he fled up the road to Beth Haggan.
Jehu chased him, shouting,
"Kill him too!"
(II Kings 9:1-4,22,24,27)
So Jehu destroyed Baal worship in Israel.
However, he did not turn away from the sins
of Jeroboam son of Nebat,
which he had caused Israel to commit -
the worship of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan.
The Lord said to Jehu,
"Because you have done well
in accomplishing what is right in My eyes
and have done to the house of Ahab
all I had in mind to do,
your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel
to the fourth generation."
In those days the Lord began to reduce the size of Israel.
Jehu rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria.
And Jehoahaz his son succeeded him as king.
The time that Jehu reigned
over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.
(II Kings 10:28,32,35-36,35-36)
When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah
saw that her son was dead,
she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family.
But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram
and the sister of Ahaziah,
took Joash son of Ahaziah
and stole him away from the royal princes,
who were about to be murdered.
She put him and his nurse in a bedroom
to hide him from Athaliah; so he was not killed.
He remained hidden with his nurse
at the temple of the Lord
for six years while Ahaliah ruled the land.
Jehoiada (the priest) brought out the king's son
and put the crown on him;
he presented him with a copy of the covenant
and proclaimed him king.
They anointed him,
and the people clapped their hands and shouted,
"Long live the king!"
Johoiada then made a covenant
between the Lord and the king and people
that they would be the Lord's people.
He also made a covenant
between the king and the people.
All the people of the land
went to the temple of Baal and tore it down.
They smashed the altars and idols to pieces
and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.
Joash was seven years old when he began to reign.
(II Kings 11:1-3,12,17-18,21)
In the seventh year of Jehu,
Joash became king,
and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years.
His mother's name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba.
Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord
all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him.
His officials conspired against him
and assassinated him at Beth Millo,
on the road down to Silla.
The officials who murdered him were
Jozabad son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer.
He died and was buried with his fathers
in the City of David.
And Amaziah his son succeeded him as king.
(II Kings 12:1-20-21)
Saturday, September 07, 2013
AC 7352 - frogs & reasoning from falsity
AC 7352
That "frogs" denote reasonings is because they are in waters,
where they make a chattering noise and croak,
and are also among things unclean.
What reasoning from mere falsities is,
shall be illustrated by some examples.
-- That a person reasons from mere falsities
who attributes all things to nature,
and scarcely anything to the Divine;
when yet all things are from the Divine,
and nature is only the instrumental means
by which the Divine works.
-- He reasons from mere falsities
who believes that a person is like a beast,
only more perfect, because he can think;
and thus that a person will die like a beast;
by this denying the conjunction
of a person with the Divine
through the thought which is of faith,
and the affection which is of love,
and consequently his resurrection and life eternal,
such a person speaks from mere falsities.
-- In like manner is he who believes that there is no hell.
-- And also he who believes that all a person has
is the delight of this world's life,
and therefore he must enjoy this,
because when he dies, he dies altogether.
-- He reasons from mere falsities
who believes that all things depend upon his own sagacity,
and on fortune; and not on the Divine Providence,
except such as is universal.
-- And also he who believes
that religion is good for nothing
except to keep the simple in bonds.
-- Especially do they reason from mere falsities
who believe that the Word is not Divine.
In short, all those reason from mere falsities
who utterly deny truths Divine.
That "frogs" denote reasonings is because they are in waters,
where they make a chattering noise and croak,
and are also among things unclean.
What reasoning from mere falsities is,
shall be illustrated by some examples.
-- That a person reasons from mere falsities
who attributes all things to nature,
and scarcely anything to the Divine;
when yet all things are from the Divine,
and nature is only the instrumental means
by which the Divine works.
-- He reasons from mere falsities
who believes that a person is like a beast,
only more perfect, because he can think;
and thus that a person will die like a beast;
by this denying the conjunction
of a person with the Divine
through the thought which is of faith,
and the affection which is of love,
and consequently his resurrection and life eternal,
such a person speaks from mere falsities.
-- In like manner is he who believes that there is no hell.
-- And also he who believes that all a person has
is the delight of this world's life,
and therefore he must enjoy this,
because when he dies, he dies altogether.
-- He reasons from mere falsities
who believes that all things depend upon his own sagacity,
and on fortune; and not on the Divine Providence,
except such as is universal.
-- And also he who believes
that religion is good for nothing
except to keep the simple in bonds.
-- Especially do they reason from mere falsities
who believe that the Word is not Divine.
In short, all those reason from mere falsities
who utterly deny truths Divine.
Portions: II Kings 5 - 8
Naaman's servants went to him and said,
"My father, if the prophet had told you do do some great thing,
would you not have done it?
How much more, then, when he tells you,
'Wash and be cleansed'!"
So he went down
and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times,
as the man of God had told him,
and his flesh was restored
and became clean like that of a young boy.
(II Kings 5:13-14)
When the servant of the man of God
got up and went out early the next morning,
an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city.
"Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" the servant asked.
"Don't be afraid," the prophet answered.
"Those who are with us
are more than those who are with them."
And Elisha prayed,
"O Lord, open his eyes so he may see."
Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes,
and he looked and saw
the hills full of horses and chariots of fire
all around Elisha.
(II Kings 6:15-17)
The officer had said to the man of God,
"Look, even if the Lord
should open the floodgates of the heavens,
could this happen?"
The man of God had replied,
"You will see it with your own eyes,
but you will not eat any of it!"
And that is exactly what happened to him,
for the people trampled him in the gateway,
and he died.
(II Kings 7:19-20)
In the fifth year of Joram son of Ahab king of Israel,
when Jehoshaphat was king of Judah,
Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat
began his reign as king of Judah.
He was thirty-two years old when he became king,
and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years.
He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel,
as the house of Ahab had done,
for he married a daughter of Ahab.
He did evil in the eyes of the Lord.
Jehoram rested with his fathers
and was buried with them in the City of David.
And Ahaziah his son succeeded him as king.
(II Kings 8:16-18,24)
"My father, if the prophet had told you do do some great thing,
would you not have done it?
How much more, then, when he tells you,
'Wash and be cleansed'!"
So he went down
and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times,
as the man of God had told him,
and his flesh was restored
and became clean like that of a young boy.
(II Kings 5:13-14)
When the servant of the man of God
got up and went out early the next morning,
an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city.
"Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" the servant asked.
"Don't be afraid," the prophet answered.
"Those who are with us
are more than those who are with them."
And Elisha prayed,
"O Lord, open his eyes so he may see."
Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes,
and he looked and saw
the hills full of horses and chariots of fire
all around Elisha.
(II Kings 6:15-17)
The officer had said to the man of God,
"Look, even if the Lord
should open the floodgates of the heavens,
could this happen?"
The man of God had replied,
"You will see it with your own eyes,
but you will not eat any of it!"
And that is exactly what happened to him,
for the people trampled him in the gateway,
and he died.
(II Kings 7:19-20)
In the fifth year of Joram son of Ahab king of Israel,
when Jehoshaphat was king of Judah,
Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat
began his reign as king of Judah.
He was thirty-two years old when he became king,
and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years.
He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel,
as the house of Ahab had done,
for he married a daughter of Ahab.
He did evil in the eyes of the Lord.
Jehoram rested with his fathers
and was buried with them in the City of David.
And Ahaziah his son succeeded him as king.
(II Kings 8:16-18,24)
Friday, September 06, 2013
AC 7324 - pools; AC 7343 - to drink
AC 7324
"Pools," when mentioned in the Word,
in the spiritual sense
signify intelligence from the knowledges of good and truth,
for "pools" there mean waters gathered together, or lakes;
and waters gathered together, and lakes,
denote in the complex the knowledges
through which is intelligence . . ..
AC 7343
That "to drink" is to apply . . ..
He who is in the affection of truth
applies truths to himself
according to the state and quality of his affection;
he who is in the affection of falsity,
when he applies truths to himself,
perverts and falsifies them,
as can be seen from the fact
that Divine truth flows in with all,
but is varied with everyone
according to the state and quality of his life;
and so the infernals turn it into falsities,
just as they turn Divine good into evil,
heavenly loves into diabolical loves,
mercy into hatred and cruelty,
conjugial love into adulteries . . ..
"Pools," when mentioned in the Word,
in the spiritual sense
signify intelligence from the knowledges of good and truth,
for "pools" there mean waters gathered together, or lakes;
and waters gathered together, and lakes,
denote in the complex the knowledges
through which is intelligence . . ..
AC 7343
That "to drink" is to apply . . ..
He who is in the affection of truth
applies truths to himself
according to the state and quality of his affection;
he who is in the affection of falsity,
when he applies truths to himself,
perverts and falsifies them,
as can be seen from the fact
that Divine truth flows in with all,
but is varied with everyone
according to the state and quality of his life;
and so the infernals turn it into falsities,
just as they turn Divine good into evil,
heavenly loves into diabolical loves,
mercy into hatred and cruelty,
conjugial love into adulteries . . ..
Portions: II Kings 1 - 4
The angel of the Lord said to Elijah,
"Go down with him; do not be afraid of him."
So Elijah got up and went down with him to the king.
He told the king,
"This is what the Lord says:
Is it because there is no God in Israel for you to consult
that you have sent messengers
to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?
Because you have done this,
you will never leave the bed you are lying on.
You will certainly die!" So he died,
according to the word of the Lord that Elijah had spoken.
Because Ahaziah had no son,
Joram succeeded him as king
in the second year of Jehoram
son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah.
As for all the other events of Ahaziah's reign,
and what he did,
are they not written in the book
of the annals of the kings of Israel?
(II Kings 1:16-18)
When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha,
"Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?"
"Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,"
Elisha replied.
"You have asked a difficult thing," Elijah said,
"yet if you see me when I am taken from you,
it will be yours - otherwise not."
As they were walking along and talking together,
suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire
appeared and separated the two of them,
and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.
Elisha saw this and cried out,
My father! My father!
The chariots and horsemen of Israel!"
and Elisha saw him no more.
Then he took hold off his own clothes and tore them apart.
(II Kings 2:9-12)
Joram son of Ahab became king of Israel in Samaria
in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah,
and he reigned twelve years.
He did evil in the eyes of the Lord,
but not as his father and mother had done.
He got rid of the sacred stone of Baal
that his father had made.
(II Kings 3:1-2)
A man came from Baal Shalishah,
bringing the man of God twenty loaves of barley bread
baked from the first ripe gain,
along with some heads of new grain.
"Give it to the people to eat," Elisha said.
"How can I set this before a hundred men?"
his servant asked.
But Elisha answered,
"Give it to the people to eat.
For this is what the Lord says:
'They will eat and have some left over.'"
Then he set it before them,
and they ate and had some left over,
according to the word of the Lord.
(II Kings 4:42-44)
"Go down with him; do not be afraid of him."
So Elijah got up and went down with him to the king.
He told the king,
"This is what the Lord says:
Is it because there is no God in Israel for you to consult
that you have sent messengers
to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?
Because you have done this,
you will never leave the bed you are lying on.
You will certainly die!" So he died,
according to the word of the Lord that Elijah had spoken.
Because Ahaziah had no son,
Joram succeeded him as king
in the second year of Jehoram
son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah.
As for all the other events of Ahaziah's reign,
and what he did,
are they not written in the book
of the annals of the kings of Israel?
(II Kings 1:16-18)
When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha,
"Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?"
"Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,"
Elisha replied.
"You have asked a difficult thing," Elijah said,
"yet if you see me when I am taken from you,
it will be yours - otherwise not."
As they were walking along and talking together,
suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire
appeared and separated the two of them,
and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.
Elisha saw this and cried out,
My father! My father!
The chariots and horsemen of Israel!"
and Elisha saw him no more.
Then he took hold off his own clothes and tore them apart.
(II Kings 2:9-12)
Joram son of Ahab became king of Israel in Samaria
in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah,
and he reigned twelve years.
He did evil in the eyes of the Lord,
but not as his father and mother had done.
He got rid of the sacred stone of Baal
that his father had made.
(II Kings 3:1-2)
A man came from Baal Shalishah,
bringing the man of God twenty loaves of barley bread
baked from the first ripe gain,
along with some heads of new grain.
"Give it to the people to eat," Elisha said.
"How can I set this before a hundred men?"
his servant asked.
But Elisha answered,
"Give it to the people to eat.
For this is what the Lord says:
'They will eat and have some left over.'"
Then he set it before them,
and they ate and had some left over,
according to the word of the Lord.
(II Kings 4:42-44)
Thursday, September 05, 2013
AC 7306 - falsity rejects; AC 7318 - examples of the falsification of truth
AC 7306
The reason why those who are in falsities
cannot be enlightened,
is that falsities reject and extinguish
all the light which enlightens,
which light is received solely by truths.
AC 7318
What the falsification of truth is
shall be illustrated by some examples.
-- Truth is falsified
when from reasonings it is concluded and said
that because no one can do what is good from himself,
therefore good effects nothing toward salvation.
-- Truth is also falsified when it is said
that all the good which a person does regards himself
and is done for the sake of recompense,
and this being so, works of charity are not to be done.
-- Truth is falsified when it is said
that because all good is from the Lord,
therefore a person ought to do nothing of good,
but should await influx.
-- Truth is falsified when it said
that truth can exist in a person
without the good which is of charity,
thus faith without charity.
-- Truth is falsified when it is said
that no one can enter into heaven
except one who is miserable and poor;
also when it is said,
unless he gives all he has to the poor,
and reduces himself to miseries.
-- Truth is falsified when it is said
that everyone can be admitted into heaven from mercy,
no matter how he has lived.
-- Truth is still more falsified when it is said
that there has been given to man
the power of admitting into heaven whomsoever he pleases.
-- Truth is falsified when it is said
that sins are wiped and washed away like filth by water;
and truth is still more falsified when it is said
that a person has the power of remitting sins,
and that when they have been remitted,
they are altogether wiped away,
and the person is pure.
-- Truth is falsified when it is said
that the Lord has taken all sins upon Himself,
and so has taken them away,
and that thus a person can be saved,
no matter what his life is.
-- Truth is falsified when it is said
that no one is saved except one who is within the church.
The reasonings by which such falsification is effected,
are that they who are within the church have been baptized,
have the Word, know about the Lord,
about the resurrection, life eternal, heaven, and hell,
and thus they know what the faith is
by which they can be justified.
There are countless such things as these,
for there is not a single truth which cannot be falsified,
and the falsification confirmed by reasonings from fallacies.
The reason why those who are in falsities
cannot be enlightened,
is that falsities reject and extinguish
all the light which enlightens,
which light is received solely by truths.
AC 7318
What the falsification of truth is
shall be illustrated by some examples.
-- Truth is falsified
when from reasonings it is concluded and said
that because no one can do what is good from himself,
therefore good effects nothing toward salvation.
-- Truth is also falsified when it is said
that all the good which a person does regards himself
and is done for the sake of recompense,
and this being so, works of charity are not to be done.
-- Truth is falsified when it is said
that because all good is from the Lord,
therefore a person ought to do nothing of good,
but should await influx.
-- Truth is falsified when it said
that truth can exist in a person
without the good which is of charity,
thus faith without charity.
-- Truth is falsified when it is said
that no one can enter into heaven
except one who is miserable and poor;
also when it is said,
unless he gives all he has to the poor,
and reduces himself to miseries.
-- Truth is falsified when it is said
that everyone can be admitted into heaven from mercy,
no matter how he has lived.
-- Truth is still more falsified when it is said
that there has been given to man
the power of admitting into heaven whomsoever he pleases.
-- Truth is falsified when it is said
that sins are wiped and washed away like filth by water;
and truth is still more falsified when it is said
that a person has the power of remitting sins,
and that when they have been remitted,
they are altogether wiped away,
and the person is pure.
-- Truth is falsified when it is said
that the Lord has taken all sins upon Himself,
and so has taken them away,
and that thus a person can be saved,
no matter what his life is.
-- Truth is falsified when it is said
that no one is saved except one who is within the church.
The reasonings by which such falsification is effected,
are that they who are within the church have been baptized,
have the Word, know about the Lord,
about the resurrection, life eternal, heaven, and hell,
and thus they know what the faith is
by which they can be justified.
There are countless such things as these,
for there is not a single truth which cannot be falsified,
and the falsification confirmed by reasonings from fallacies.
Portions: I Kings 21 & 22
Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the
Tishbite:
"Go down to meet Ahab king of Israel,
who rules in Samaria.
He is now in Naboth's vineyard,
where he has gone to a take possession of it.
Say to him, 'This is what the Lord says:
Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?'
Then say to him, 'This is what the Lord says:
In the place where dogs licked up Naboth's blood,
dogs will lick up your blood - yes, yours!"
(There was never a man like Ahab,
who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord,
urged on by Jezebel his wife.
He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols,
like the Amorites the Lord drove out before Israel.)
(I Kings 21:17-19,25-26)
For three years
there was no war between Aram and Israel.
Now the king of Aram
had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders,
"Do not fight with anyone, small or great,
except the king of Israel."
So the king died (Ahab) and was brought to Samaria,
and they buried him there.
They washed the chariot at a pool in Samaria
(where the prostitutes bathed),
and the dogs licked up his blood,
as the word of the Lord had declared.
Ahab rested with his fathers.
And Ahaziah his son succeeded him as king.
Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king of Judah
in the forth year of Ahab king of Israel.
Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old
when he became king,
and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years.
His mother's name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.
In everything he walked in the ways of his father Asa
and did not stray from them;
he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.
Then Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers
and was buried with them in the city of David his father.
And Jehoram his succeeded him.
Ahaziah son of Ahab became king of Israel in Samaria
in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah,
and he reigned over Israel two years.
He did evil in the eyes of the Lord,
because he walked in the ways of his father and mother
and in the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat,
who caused Israel to sin.
(I Kings 22:1,31,37-38,40-43,50)
"Go down to meet Ahab king of Israel,
who rules in Samaria.
He is now in Naboth's vineyard,
where he has gone to a take possession of it.
Say to him, 'This is what the Lord says:
Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?'
Then say to him, 'This is what the Lord says:
In the place where dogs licked up Naboth's blood,
dogs will lick up your blood - yes, yours!"
(There was never a man like Ahab,
who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord,
urged on by Jezebel his wife.
He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols,
like the Amorites the Lord drove out before Israel.)
(I Kings 21:17-19,25-26)
For three years
there was no war between Aram and Israel.
Now the king of Aram
had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders,
"Do not fight with anyone, small or great,
except the king of Israel."
So the king died (Ahab) and was brought to Samaria,
and they buried him there.
They washed the chariot at a pool in Samaria
(where the prostitutes bathed),
and the dogs licked up his blood,
as the word of the Lord had declared.
Ahab rested with his fathers.
And Ahaziah his son succeeded him as king.
Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king of Judah
in the forth year of Ahab king of Israel.
Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old
when he became king,
and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years.
His mother's name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.
In everything he walked in the ways of his father Asa
and did not stray from them;
he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.
Then Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers
and was buried with them in the city of David his father.
And Jehoram his succeeded him.
Ahaziah son of Ahab became king of Israel in Samaria
in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah,
and he reigned over Israel two years.
He did evil in the eyes of the Lord,
because he walked in the ways of his father and mother
and in the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat,
who caused Israel to sin.
(I Kings 22:1,31,37-38,40-43,50)
Wednesday, September 04, 2013
AC 7298 - the use of doubt
AC 7298 [2]
. . . it is according to the laws of order
that no one ought to be persuaded about truth in a moment,
that is to say,
that truth should be so confirmed in a moment
as to leave no doubt whatever about it;
because the truth which is so impressed
becomes persuasive truth,
and is devoid of any extension,
and also of any yielding quality.
Such truth is represented in the other life as hard,
and as such
that it does not admit good into it
so as to become applicable.
Consequently it is
that in the other life as soon as any truth is presented
before good spirits by a clear experience,
there is soon afterward presented something opposite
which causes doubt.
In this way it is given them to think about it,
and to consider whether it be so,
and to collect reasons,
and so to bring that truth into their minds rationally.
By this there is effected
an extension in the spiritual sight in respect to that truth,
even to its opposites;
and from there
it sees and perceives in the understanding
all the quality of the truth,
and from there can admit influx from heaven
according to the states of the objects,
for truths receive various forms
according to the circumstances.
This is the reason why
the magicians were allowed to do as Aaron did;
for thereby doubt was excited among the sons of Israel
about the miracle, whether it was Divine;
and so an opportunity was given them
of thinking and considering whether it was Divine,
and of finally confirming themselves that it was so.
. . . it is according to the laws of order
that no one ought to be persuaded about truth in a moment,
that is to say,
that truth should be so confirmed in a moment
as to leave no doubt whatever about it;
because the truth which is so impressed
becomes persuasive truth,
and is devoid of any extension,
and also of any yielding quality.
Such truth is represented in the other life as hard,
and as such
that it does not admit good into it
so as to become applicable.
Consequently it is
that in the other life as soon as any truth is presented
before good spirits by a clear experience,
there is soon afterward presented something opposite
which causes doubt.
In this way it is given them to think about it,
and to consider whether it be so,
and to collect reasons,
and so to bring that truth into their minds rationally.
By this there is effected
an extension in the spiritual sight in respect to that truth,
even to its opposites;
and from there
it sees and perceives in the understanding
all the quality of the truth,
and from there can admit influx from heaven
according to the states of the objects,
for truths receive various forms
according to the circumstances.
This is the reason why
the magicians were allowed to do as Aaron did;
for thereby doubt was excited among the sons of Israel
about the miracle, whether it was Divine;
and so an opportunity was given them
of thinking and considering whether it was Divine,
and of finally confirming themselves that it was so.
Portions: I Kings 17- 20
Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead,
said to Ahab,
"As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives,
whom I serve,
there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years
except at my word."
Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah:
"Leave here, turn eastward
and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan.
You will drink from the brook,
and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there."
Then the world of the Lord came to him:
"Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there.
I have commanded a widow in that place
to supply you with food."
(I Kings 17:1-2,9)
At the time of sacrifice,
the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed:
"O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel,
let it be known today that You are God in Israel
and that I am Your servant
and have done all these things at Your command.
Answer me, O Lord, answer me,
so these people will know that You, O Lord, are God,
and that You are turning their hearts back again."
Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice,
the wood, the stones and the soil,
and also licked up the water in the trench.
(I Kings 18:36-38)
The Lord said,
"Go out and stand on the mountain
in the presence of the Lord,
for the Lord is about to pass by."
Then a great and powerful wind
tore the mountains apart
and shattered the rocks before the Lord,
but the Lord was not in the wind.
After the wind there was an earthquake,
but the Lord was not in the earthquake.
After the earthquake came a fire,
but the Lord was not in the fire.
And after the fire came a still small voice.
When Elijah heard it,
he pulled his cloak over his face
and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
(I Kings 19:11-13)
As the king (Ahab) passed by,
the prophet called out to him,
"Your servant went into the thick of the battle,
and someone came to me with a captive and said,
'Guard this man. If he is missing,
it will be your life for his life,
or you must pay a talent of silver.'
While your servant was busy here and there,
the man disappeared."
"That is your sentence," the king of Israel said.
"You have pronounced it yourself."
Then the prophet quickly removed
the headband from his eyes,
and the king of Israel recognized him
as one of the prophets.
He said to the king,
"This is what the Lord says:
'You have set free a man I had determined should die.
Therefore it is your life for his life,
your people for his people.'"
Sullen and angry,
the king of Israel went to his palace in Samaria.
(I Kings 20:39-43)
said to Ahab,
"As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives,
whom I serve,
there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years
except at my word."
Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah:
"Leave here, turn eastward
and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan.
You will drink from the brook,
and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there."
Then the world of the Lord came to him:
"Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there.
I have commanded a widow in that place
to supply you with food."
(I Kings 17:1-2,9)
At the time of sacrifice,
the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed:
"O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel,
let it be known today that You are God in Israel
and that I am Your servant
and have done all these things at Your command.
Answer me, O Lord, answer me,
so these people will know that You, O Lord, are God,
and that You are turning their hearts back again."
Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice,
the wood, the stones and the soil,
and also licked up the water in the trench.
(I Kings 18:36-38)
The Lord said,
"Go out and stand on the mountain
in the presence of the Lord,
for the Lord is about to pass by."
Then a great and powerful wind
tore the mountains apart
and shattered the rocks before the Lord,
but the Lord was not in the wind.
After the wind there was an earthquake,
but the Lord was not in the earthquake.
After the earthquake came a fire,
but the Lord was not in the fire.
And after the fire came a still small voice.
When Elijah heard it,
he pulled his cloak over his face
and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
(I Kings 19:11-13)
As the king (Ahab) passed by,
the prophet called out to him,
"Your servant went into the thick of the battle,
and someone came to me with a captive and said,
'Guard this man. If he is missing,
it will be your life for his life,
or you must pay a talent of silver.'
While your servant was busy here and there,
the man disappeared."
"That is your sentence," the king of Israel said.
"You have pronounced it yourself."
Then the prophet quickly removed
the headband from his eyes,
and the king of Israel recognized him
as one of the prophets.
He said to the king,
"This is what the Lord says:
'You have set free a man I had determined should die.
Therefore it is your life for his life,
your people for his people.'"
Sullen and angry,
the king of Israel went to his palace in Samaria.
(I Kings 20:39-43)
Tuesday, September 03, 2013
AC 7272 - "And I will harden Pharaoh's heart." (Exodus 7:3)
AC 7272
And I will harden Pharaoh's heart.
(Exodus 7:3)
That this signifies obstinacy from the evil of falsity,
is evident from the signification of "hardening,"
as being obstinacy;
that it denotes from the evil of falsity,
is signified by the "heart of Pharaoh" . . ..
The evil of falsity is that which takes its origin
from principles of falsity, such as, for example,
that men would become holy through external things,
as in the case of the Israelites and Jews
through sacrifices, washings, sprinkling of blood;
and that they would not become holy through charity and faith;
and thus that they would be holy
although they lived in hatred, revenge, robbery, cruelty, and the like.
These evils are called "evils of falsity,"
because they take their origin from principles of falsity.
. . . the evils of falsity are as many
as are the falsities of faith and of worship.
These evils condemn,
yet not so much as do the evils which originate in evil.
The evils which originate in evil
are those which are from the desire rising up
from the love of self and of the world.
And I will harden Pharaoh's heart.
(Exodus 7:3)
That this signifies obstinacy from the evil of falsity,
is evident from the signification of "hardening,"
as being obstinacy;
that it denotes from the evil of falsity,
is signified by the "heart of Pharaoh" . . ..
The evil of falsity is that which takes its origin
from principles of falsity, such as, for example,
that men would become holy through external things,
as in the case of the Israelites and Jews
through sacrifices, washings, sprinkling of blood;
and that they would not become holy through charity and faith;
and thus that they would be holy
although they lived in hatred, revenge, robbery, cruelty, and the like.
These evils are called "evils of falsity,"
because they take their origin from principles of falsity.
. . . the evils of falsity are as many
as are the falsities of faith and of worship.
These evils condemn,
yet not so much as do the evils which originate in evil.
The evils which originate in evil
are those which are from the desire rising up
from the love of self and of the world.
Portions: I Kings 14 - 16
The other events of Jeroboam's reign,
his wars and how he ruled,
are written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel.
He reigned for twenty-two years
and then rested with his fathers.
And Nadab his son succeeded him as king.
As for the other events of Rehoboam's reign,
and all he did,
are they not written in the book
of the annals of the kings of Judah?
There was continual warfare
between Rehoboam and Jeroboam.
And Rehobam rested with his fathers
and was buried with them in the City of David.
His mother's name was Naamah;
she was an Ammonite.
And Abijah (some texts say Abijam) his son
succeeded him as king.
(I Kings 14:19-20,29-31)
In the eighteenth year of the reign
of Jeroboam son of Nebat,
Abijah became king of Judah,
and he reigned in Jerusalem three years.
His mother's name was Maacah
daughter of Abishalom.
He committed all the sins
his father had done before him . . .
As for the other events of Abijahs reign,
and all he did,
are they not written in the book
of the annals of the kings of Judah?
In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel,
Asa became king of Judah,
and he reigned in Jerusalem forty-one years.
His grandmother's name was Maacah
daughter of Abishalom.
Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord,
as his father David had done.
Then Asa rested with his fathers
and was buried with them in the city of his father David.
And Jehoshaphat his son
succeeded him as king.
Nadab son of Jeroboam became king of Israel
in the second year of Asa king of Judah,
and he reigned over Israel two years.
He did evil in the eyes of the Lord,
walking in the ways of his father and in his sin,
which he caused Israel to commit.
Baasha killed Nadab in the third year
of Asa king of Judah
and succeeded him as king.
There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel
throughout their reigns.
In the third year of Asa king of Judah,
Baasha son of Ahijah became king
of all Israel in Tirzah,
and he he reigned twenty-four years.
He did evil in the eyes of the Lord,
walking in the ways of Jeroboam and in his sin,
which he had caused Israel to commit.
(I Kings 15:1-3,7;9-11,24;25-26;28,32)
As for the other events of Baasha's reign,
what he did and his achievements,
are they not written in the book
of the annals of the kings of Israel?
Baasha rested with his fathers
and was buried in Tirzah.
And Elah his son succeeded him as king.
In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah,
Elah son of Baasha became king of Israel,
and he reigned in Tirzah two years.
Zimri came in,
struck him down and killed him
in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah.
then he succeeded him as king.
In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah,
Zimri reigned in Tirzah seven days.
Then the people of Israel were split into two factions;
half supported Tibni son of Ginath for king,
and the other half support Omri.
But Omri's followers proved stronger
than those of Tibni son of Ginath.
So Tibni died and Omri became king.
In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah,
Omri became king of Israel,
and he reigned twelve years,
six of them in Tirzah.
But Omri did evil in the eyes of the Lord
and sinned more than all those before him.
Omri rested with his fathers
and was buried in Samaria.
And Ahab his son succeeded him as king.
In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah,
Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel,
and he reigned in Samaria over Israel twenty-two years.
Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord
than any of those before him.
(I Kings 16:5-6;10,15;21-23,25,28;29-30)
his wars and how he ruled,
are written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel.
He reigned for twenty-two years
and then rested with his fathers.
And Nadab his son succeeded him as king.
As for the other events of Rehoboam's reign,
and all he did,
are they not written in the book
of the annals of the kings of Judah?
There was continual warfare
between Rehoboam and Jeroboam.
And Rehobam rested with his fathers
and was buried with them in the City of David.
His mother's name was Naamah;
she was an Ammonite.
And Abijah (some texts say Abijam) his son
succeeded him as king.
(I Kings 14:19-20,29-31)
In the eighteenth year of the reign
of Jeroboam son of Nebat,
Abijah became king of Judah,
and he reigned in Jerusalem three years.
His mother's name was Maacah
daughter of Abishalom.
He committed all the sins
his father had done before him . . .
As for the other events of Abijahs reign,
and all he did,
are they not written in the book
of the annals of the kings of Judah?
In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel,
Asa became king of Judah,
and he reigned in Jerusalem forty-one years.
His grandmother's name was Maacah
daughter of Abishalom.
Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord,
as his father David had done.
Then Asa rested with his fathers
and was buried with them in the city of his father David.
And Jehoshaphat his son
succeeded him as king.
Nadab son of Jeroboam became king of Israel
in the second year of Asa king of Judah,
and he reigned over Israel two years.
He did evil in the eyes of the Lord,
walking in the ways of his father and in his sin,
which he caused Israel to commit.
Baasha killed Nadab in the third year
of Asa king of Judah
and succeeded him as king.
There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel
throughout their reigns.
In the third year of Asa king of Judah,
Baasha son of Ahijah became king
of all Israel in Tirzah,
and he he reigned twenty-four years.
He did evil in the eyes of the Lord,
walking in the ways of Jeroboam and in his sin,
which he had caused Israel to commit.
(I Kings 15:1-3,7;9-11,24;25-26;28,32)
As for the other events of Baasha's reign,
what he did and his achievements,
are they not written in the book
of the annals of the kings of Israel?
Baasha rested with his fathers
and was buried in Tirzah.
And Elah his son succeeded him as king.
In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah,
Elah son of Baasha became king of Israel,
and he reigned in Tirzah two years.
Zimri came in,
struck him down and killed him
in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah.
then he succeeded him as king.
In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah,
Zimri reigned in Tirzah seven days.
Then the people of Israel were split into two factions;
half supported Tibni son of Ginath for king,
and the other half support Omri.
But Omri's followers proved stronger
than those of Tibni son of Ginath.
So Tibni died and Omri became king.
In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah,
Omri became king of Israel,
and he reigned twelve years,
six of them in Tirzah.
But Omri did evil in the eyes of the Lord
and sinned more than all those before him.
Omri rested with his fathers
and was buried in Samaria.
And Ahab his son succeeded him as king.
In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah,
Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel,
and he reigned in Samaria over Israel twenty-two years.
Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord
than any of those before him.
(I Kings 16:5-6;10,15;21-23,25,28;29-30)
Monday, September 02, 2013
AC 7264-7265 - vastation
AC 7264 - 7265
The subject treated of in the internal sense in what follows
is the vastation, and at last the damnation,
of those who are in falsities and evils.
The process of their devastation is described
by the eleven plagues
brought on the Egyptians and their land.
In this chapter the subject treated of in the internal sense
is the first three degrees of vastation.
The first stage -
when the utter illusions giving rise to falsities
began to reign among them -
is described by the serpent
into which Aaron's rod was turned.
The second stage -
when actual truths among them were made into falsities,
and falsities into truths -
is described by the blood
which the waters were turned into.
The third stage -
when from falsities
they reasoned against the truths and forms of good
that were of the Church -
is described by the frogs out of the river.
The subject treated of in the internal sense in what follows
is the vastation, and at last the damnation,
of those who are in falsities and evils.
The process of their devastation is described
by the eleven plagues
brought on the Egyptians and their land.
In this chapter the subject treated of in the internal sense
is the first three degrees of vastation.
The first stage -
when the utter illusions giving rise to falsities
began to reign among them -
is described by the serpent
into which Aaron's rod was turned.
The second stage -
when actual truths among them were made into falsities,
and falsities into truths -
is described by the blood
which the waters were turned into.
The third stage -
when from falsities
they reasoned against the truths and forms of good
that were of the Church -
is described by the frogs out of the river.
Portions: I Kings 11 - 13
King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women
besides Pharaoh's daughter -
Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites.
They were from the nations about which
the Lord had told the Israelites,
"You must not intermarry with them,
because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods."
Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love.
So the Lord said to Solomon,
"Since this is your attitude
and you have not kept My covenant
and My decrees, which I commanded you,
I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you
and give it to one of your subordinates."
About that time Jeroboam was going out of Jerusalem,
and Ahijah the prophet of Shiloh met him on the way,
wearing a new cloak.
The two of them were alone out in the country,
and Ahijah took hold of the new cloak he was wearing
and tore it into twelve pieces.
Then he said to Jeroboam,
"Take ten pieces for yourself,
for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel says:
'See, I am going to tear the kingdom out of Solomon's hand
and give you ten tribes.
. . . If you did whatever I command you
and walk in My ways
and do what is right in My eyes
by keeping My statues and commands,
as David my servant did,
I will be with you."
Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.
Then he rested with his fathers
and was buried in the city of David his father.
And Rehoboam his son succeeded him as king.
(I Kings 11:1-2,11,29-31,38,42-43)
But this word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God:
"Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah,
to the whole house of Judah and Benjamin,
and to the rest of the people,
'This is what the Lord says:
Do not go up to fight against your brothers, the Israelites.
Go home, every one of you,
for this is My doing.'"
so they obeyed the word of the Lord
and went home again, as the Lord had ordered.
Jeroboam built shrines on high places
and appointed priests from all sorts of people,
even though they were not Levites.
(I Kings 12:22-24,31)
When King Jeroboam heard
what the man of God cried out against the altar at Bethel,
he stretched out his hand from the altar and said,
"Seize him!" But the hand he stretched out toward the man
shriveled up, so that he cold not pull it back.
Also the altar was split apart
and its ashed poured out
according to the sign given by the man of God
by the word of the Lord.
Even after this, Jeroboam did not change his evil ways,
but once more appointed priests for the high places
from all sorts of people.
Anyone who wanted to become a priest
he consecrated for the high places.
This was the sin of the house of Jeroboam
that led to its downfall and to its destruction
from the face of the earth.
(I Kings 13:4-5,33-34)
besides Pharaoh's daughter -
Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites.
They were from the nations about which
the Lord had told the Israelites,
"You must not intermarry with them,
because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods."
Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love.
So the Lord said to Solomon,
"Since this is your attitude
and you have not kept My covenant
and My decrees, which I commanded you,
I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you
and give it to one of your subordinates."
About that time Jeroboam was going out of Jerusalem,
and Ahijah the prophet of Shiloh met him on the way,
wearing a new cloak.
The two of them were alone out in the country,
and Ahijah took hold of the new cloak he was wearing
and tore it into twelve pieces.
Then he said to Jeroboam,
"Take ten pieces for yourself,
for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel says:
'See, I am going to tear the kingdom out of Solomon's hand
and give you ten tribes.
. . . If you did whatever I command you
and walk in My ways
and do what is right in My eyes
by keeping My statues and commands,
as David my servant did,
I will be with you."
Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.
Then he rested with his fathers
and was buried in the city of David his father.
And Rehoboam his son succeeded him as king.
(I Kings 11:1-2,11,29-31,38,42-43)
But this word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God:
"Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah,
to the whole house of Judah and Benjamin,
and to the rest of the people,
'This is what the Lord says:
Do not go up to fight against your brothers, the Israelites.
Go home, every one of you,
for this is My doing.'"
so they obeyed the word of the Lord
and went home again, as the Lord had ordered.
Jeroboam built shrines on high places
and appointed priests from all sorts of people,
even though they were not Levites.
(I Kings 12:22-24,31)
When King Jeroboam heard
what the man of God cried out against the altar at Bethel,
he stretched out his hand from the altar and said,
"Seize him!" But the hand he stretched out toward the man
shriveled up, so that he cold not pull it back.
Also the altar was split apart
and its ashed poured out
according to the sign given by the man of God
by the word of the Lord.
Even after this, Jeroboam did not change his evil ways,
but once more appointed priests for the high places
from all sorts of people.
Anyone who wanted to become a priest
he consecrated for the high places.
This was the sin of the house of Jeroboam
that led to its downfall and to its destruction
from the face of the earth.
(I Kings 13:4-5,33-34)
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