9415. Come up to Me into the mountain, and be thou there. That this signifies the Lord’s presence with them through an intermediate, is evident from the signification of “coming up,” as being elevation toward higher, that is, more interior, things (see n. 3084, 4539, 4969, 5406, 5817, 6007), and consequently conjunction with them (n. 8760, 9373). That it denotes the presence of the Lord, is because it is said, “Come up to Me into the mountain, and be thou there;” for by Jehovah, to whom he was to go up, is meant the Lord (see above, n. 9414); and by “Mount Sinai” is signified the Word which is from the Lord, thus in which is the the Lord, (n. 8399, 8753, 8793, 8805), consequently also heaven; for the Word is the Divine truth that proceeds from the Lord; and heaven is the receptacle of truth Divine, thus of the Lord Himself, as has been frequently shown above. From this it is plain that by “coming up to Jehovah into the mountain” is signified the presence of the Lord. That “with the people through an intermediate” is signified, is because Moses now represents the people as their head, thus as what mediates, as was said just above (n. 9414).

[2] It is said “the presence of the Lord with them through an intermediate,” because the Lord makes Himself present with man, but not man with the Lord. For all the good of love and truth of faith come from the Lord; and nothing whatever of good and of truth comes from man. Wherefore the presence of the Lord is with those who admit Him; that is, with those who in faith and love receive the truth Divine which is from Him. That the Lord comes to these, and not they to Him, the Lord Himself teaches in John:

He that loveth Me keepeth My word, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him (John 14:23).

He that abideth in Me, and I in Him, the same beareth much fruit; for without Me ye can do nothing (John 15:5).

A man can receive nothing except it be given him from heaven (John 3:27).