163. Internal Meaning of Ezekiel, Chapter 40

1 Respecting a new church from the Lord, after the Jewish church has been destroyed. (12)

2-5 What its quality will be. (12)

6-23 things of doctrine in respect to celestial good and truth; (12)

24-34 all things of it in respect to spiritual good and truth; (12)

35-49 all things of it in respect to external good and truth. (12)

On a natural level, there are a variety of things that can cause shame. We might be ashamed of physical weakness or ugliness; we might be ashamed of a lack of education or a menial job; we might be ashamed of a dirty house or a misbehaving child. On a deeper level we would be ashamed to have people know our dark thoughts and unspoken desires. All of these have to do with our failings, our sense of not being good enough. And so it is in the Bible, where "shame" represents a knowledge and acknowledgement of our own evil, its hold on us and the delight we take in it.