When the Bible speaks of "Jehovah," it is representing love itself, the inmost love that is the essence of the Lord. That divine love is one, whole and complete in itself, and Jehovah also is one, a name applied only to the Lord. The divine love expresses itself in the form of wisdom. Love, then, is the essence of God -- His inmost. Wisdom -- the loving understanding of how to put love into action -- is slightly more external, giving love a way to express itself. Wisdom, however, is expressed in a great variety of thoughts and ideas, what the Writings collectively call divine truth. There are also many imaginary gods, and sometimes angels and people can be called gods (the Lord said Moses would be as a god to Aaron). So when the Bible calls the Lord "God," it is in most cases referring to divine truth. In other cases, "God" has reference to what is called the divine human. The case there is this: As human beings, we cannot engage the Lord directly as divine love. It is too powerful and too pure. Instead, we have to approach Him by understanding Him through divine truth. Divine truth, then, is the Lord in human form, a form we can approach and understand. Thus "God" is also used in reference to this human aspect, because it is an expression of truth.

357. Of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed. This symbolizes an affection for truth springing from goodness, producing intelligence in those people who will be part of the New Heaven and of the Lord's New Church.

In the highest sense Levi symbolizes love and mercy; in the spiritual sense, charity in practice, which constitutes goodness of life; and in the natural sense, association and conjunction. The name Levi also comes from a word meaning to attach, which in the Word symbolizes a conjunction by love. Here, however, Levi symbolizes a love or affection for truth and the resulting intelligence, because he comes after Simeon and is the middle one in this series.

Since this is what Levi represents, therefore that tribe became the priesthood (Numbers 3:1-51, Deuteronomy 21:5, and elsewhere).

That the tribe of Levi symbolizes a love of truth, which is the fundamental love that causes a church to be a church, and at the same time the resulting intelligence, can be seen from the following passages:

...Jehovah... has chosen (the sons of Levi) to minister to Him and to bless in (His) name. (Deuteronomy 21:5)

To bless in the name of Jehovah is to teach, and only those people can do this who possess an affection for truth and the resulting intelligence.

...they guard Your Word and keep Your covenant. They shall teach Jacob Your judgments, and Israel Your law. (Deuteronomy 33:8-11)

The Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple..., and He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; and He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver... (Malachi 3:1-4)

To purify the sons of Levi is to purify people who have an affection for truth.

Because intelligence causes that affection to blossom, therefore the rod of Levi, with the name of Aaron written on it, blossomed with almonds (Numbers 17:2-11).