8176. 'And you are to be silent' means that by their own powers they will achieve [absolutely] nothing. This is clear from the meaning of 'being silent' as resting content and, since temptations are the subject, refusing to think or believe that they achieve anything by their own powers, regarding which matter see what has been stated and shown above in 8172, 8175. Even so this does not mean that they should stay their hands and wait for immediate influx; rather they should fight as though they acted from themselves, but nevertheless should acknowledge and believe that they act from the Lord, see 1712, 1937, 1947, 2882, 2883, 2891.

2890. The evil spirits residing with a person through whom he communicates with hell see him as no more than their vile slave, for they pour into him their own desires and persuasions, and thereby lead him wherever they wish. But the angels through whom a person communicates with heaven see him as a brother and instill into him affections for what is good and true, and thereby lead him in freedom not where they wish but where the Lord pleases. This shows the nature of both types of freedom, and that it is slavery to be led by the devil but freedom to be led by the Lord.