Doctrine of the Lord #48
48. Because a person’s life varies in accordance with his state, therefore by spirit is meant the varying life’s affection in a person. For example:
1. The life of wisdom:
(Bezalel was filled) with the spirit of wisdom, understanding, and knowledge.... (Exodus 31:3).
You shall speak to all the wise of heart, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom.... (Exodus 28:3)
Joshua was filled with the spirit of wisdom (Deuteronomy 34:9).
Nebuchadnezzar said of Daniel that an excellent spirit, of knowledge, understanding and wisdom was found in him (Daniel 5:12, 14).
The erring in spirit will know understanding.... (Isaiah 29:24)
[2] 2. The arousal of life:
Jehovah has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes. (Jeremiah 51:11)
Jehovah stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel...and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. (Haggai 1:14)
...I am putting (into the king of Assyria) a spirit..., that he may hear a rumor and return to his own land. (Isaiah 37:7)
...Jehovah...hardened (the) spirit (of the king of Sihon).... (Deuteronomy 2:30)
What has come up upon your spirit shall never be.... (Ezekiel 20:32)
[3] 3. Liberty of life: The four creatures, which were cherubim, seen by the prophet went “wherever they had a spirit to go” (Ezekiel 1:12, 20).
[4] 4. Life in a state of fear, distress, and anger:
...that every heart may melt, and all hands be feeble, and every spirit shrink.... (Ezekiel 21:7)
...my spirit was faint within me, my heart within me is stunned.... (Psalms 143:4, cf. 142:3)
My spirit has been consumed! (Psalms 143:7)
As for me, Daniel, my spirit grieved.... (Daniel 7:15)
(Pharaoh’s) spirit was troubled. (Genesis 41:8)
(Nebuchadnezzar said,) “...my spirit is troubled....” (Daniel 2:3)
I went bitterly in the wrath of my spirit. (Ezekiel 3:14)
[5] 5. Life in a state of various evil affections:
“...provided there is no deceit in his spirit.” (Psalms 32:2)
Jehovah has mingled a spirit of perversity in her midst. (Isaiah 19:14)
...said (He)...to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit.... (Ezekiel 13:3)
The prophet is a fool, the man of the spirit is insane. (Hosea 9:7)
Be observant by your spirit, and do not deal treacherously. (Malachi 2:16)
...the spirit of harlotry has caused them to stray.... (Hosea 4:12)
...a spirit of harlotry is in their midst.... (Hosea 5:4)
When a spirit of jealousy comes upon him.... (Numbers 5:14)
...a man who is a wanderer in spirit, and he prattles falsehood.... (Micah 2:11)
...a generation...whose spirit was not steadfast with God. (Psalms 78:8)
...poured out on (them) a spirit of drowsiness.... (Isaiah 29:10)
Conceive chaff, bring forth stubble; as for your spirit, fire shall shall devour you. (Isaiah 33:11)
[6] 6. Hellish life:
I will...cause...the unclean spirit to depart from the land. (Zechariah 13:2)
When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places.... And then he...attaches to himself seven worse spirits than himself, and they enter and dwell there. (Matthew 12:43-45)
...Babylon...has become a dwelling place of...a foul spirit.... (Revelation 18:2)
[7] 7. In addition, the spirits of hell themselves who torment mankind: Matthew 8:16, 10:1, 12:43-45; Mark 1:23-27, 9:17-29; Luke 4:33, 36, 6:17-18, 7:21, 8:2, 29, 9:39, 42, 55, 11:24-26, 13:11; Revelation 13:15, 16:13-14.
Published by the General Church of the New Jerusalem, 1100 Cathedral Road, Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania 19009, U.S.A. A translation of Doctrina Novae Hierosolymae de Domino, by Emanuel Swedenborg, 1688-1772. Translated from the Original Latin by N. Bruce Rogers. ISBN 9780945003687, Library of Congress Control Number: 2013954074.
Isaiah 8
1
Moreover the LORD said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen concerning Maher-shalal-hash-baz.
2
And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.
3
And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the LORD to me, Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz.
4
For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria.
5
The LORD spake also unto me again, saying,
6
Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son;
7
Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks:
8
And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.
9
Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces.
10
Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.
11
For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying,
12
Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall Say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.
13
Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
14
And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
15
And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.
16
Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
17
And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.
18
Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.
19
And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?
20
To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
21
And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward.
22
And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.
