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年度之门

原作者: Rev. Emily Jane Lemole (机器翻译成: 中文)

年度之门

艾米丽·简·莱莫雷牧师的讲道

读物:

以赛亚书26:1-442:5-8

马太福音7:7-14

启示录22:14

天堂的秘密2851

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我对那年的大门的那位男子说:“给我一盏灯,让我可以安全地踏入未知之地。”

他回答说:“进到黑暗中,把手伸到上帝的手中。那将比光明和安全比已知的方法对您更好。”

于是我走了出去,找到了上帝的手,高兴地走进了深夜。他带领我走向山丘,在孤独的东方度过了新的一天。

由Minnie Louise Haskins

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我们站在年度之门,从许多方面来说都是通往未知世界的门槛。 “给我一点光,我可以安全地踏入未知之地。”

我们从《圣经》和有关门的著作中读了许多段落。闸门在内部和外部之间建立了联系。他们提出了一个选择-是打开还是关闭它-进入还是离开。

封闭的大门使我们犹豫不决。在这个苏菲语中,大门为我们所说的话提供了沉思和反思:

在您讲话之前,让您的话语通过三个门。

在第一道门问自己,“是真的吗?”

在第二个询问中,“有必要吗?”

在第三道门问:“好吗?”

如何最好地度过这个新年?有通常的解决方案–减肥,变得更健康,更有条理,并与亲人在一起花费更多的时间。但是,更深层次的决议或意图正在呼唤新的起点,新的起点。第一-将上帝置于我们生活的中心-将主耶稣基督视为我们这一天的开始,中间和结束。一个好习惯是每天数次祈祷-提高我们的观点-优先事项。即使是抬头和暂停的身体动作,也可以将烦恼,不满的情绪转变为矫正的时刻–这是我们大惊小怪的大部分事情的转折。

亚种鉴定是一个很好的提醒。在永恒的主持下-重要的是什么?不是大多数让我们担心和困扰的事情。从长远来看,以上帝为中心,真正重要的事情显而易见,而没有减少的事情。

那么,我们如何将自己的手放在上帝的手中?我们如何向所有善良,真实,明智,善良与和平的人敞开心??我们如何关闭自私,不友善,怨恨,感恩和暴力的大门?

通过我们每天所做的事情。

Fr说:“我们做任何事情的方式就是我们做一切的方式。”方济各会牧师理查德·罗尔(Richard Rohr)。

我们要注意什么并给我们时间?我们爱什么?

新年似乎是盘点的好时机,这是对去年的反思,与其说我们已经成为成就者,不如说是我们取得的成就。对我们来说最重要的是什么?我们的重点是什么?或就像瑞典堡会问的那样,我们爱什么?因为我们就是我们所爱的!

我们了解到我们每个人都有两个大门。通往天堂的大门被天使包围,通往美好与真实。

地狱之门被恶魔包围,导致了邪恶和虚假。

这些门在我们里面。我们可以选择,什么决定我们的选择?我们爱什么!

每年,每周,每天,每时每刻,我们都可以自由选择自己是谁,给我们带来快乐的地方,如何度过宝贵的时间–我们所爱和所爱。

而且请记住,如果我们不诚实地喜欢我们在库存中看到的东西,我们可以悔改!回转!改变我们的方向!改变主意!改变我们的爱!

瑞典堡描述了我们所看不见的东西-我们的精神同伴-我们所保留的公司,并且在很大程度上没有意识到。像客人一样,他们也应邀而来。

我们被精神上的客人包围,受到我们的精神状态的邀请:天使和善良的灵魂通过天门而来;邪恶或邪恶的灵魂从地狱之门传来。我的高中拉丁语老师曾经称这些人为“地下室男孩”。

今天谈论邪恶,内gui,悔改或地狱已经过时了。这些术语已经过时,令人不舒服,我们真的不想提醒他们。但是从瑞典堡的一切教导来看,这些都是精神现实。

邪恶在我们的世界(如果人们阅读报纸和看电视)中还活得很好,并且在我们每个人中,都有一定的内省!当我们诚实地意识到自己的意图和情感时,我们就会知道这一点!

邪恶与双胞胎一样,是与上帝对立的一切,自私,不诚实,贪婪,卑鄙和残忍。但是邪恶也会以欺骗性的面容出现-我们可以证明我们的怨恨,我们的无情和我们的宽容立场是合理的。罪意味着失去印记,印记就是上帝。所有使我们远离上帝的事物都使我们怀念那个标记!

内–一种非常必要的情绪,它使我们想要悔改–而不是沉迷,而是要我们悔改–说服我们改变方向!

恶魔–这些是我们被告知要与之斗争的最真实的精神伴侣,最终是为我们的精神生活而战。我们处于平衡状态。我们在两个大门之间。

一句古老的佛教谚语说:每个人都被赋予通往天门的钥匙;相同的钥匙打开了地狱之门。”钥匙就是我们所爱。

我们做出的每一个决定要么喂食我们的粪便(我们永生的意志),要么喂食我们的“遗体”-那是珍贵的宝藏,是我们自出生前所经历的所有美好事物的仓库。遗留权是我们与生俱来的权利,我们从中汲取灵感,并以真诚的思想和良好的行为将其永久添加。

由于大多数新年决议的首要重点是减肥(如果需要的话,我也不反对),让我们尝试使用该概念进行精神减肥–减轻负面情绪的负担,批评的不良习惯,投诉,八卦,刺激,烦恼,容易冒犯,愤怒–我们知道的清单还在不断增加。减肥的饮食是良好的思想,诚实的行为,真实的意图。关闭坏消息,打开好消息。支持鼓励他人的充满希望的乐观主义;寻求无回报的善举。

保罗在给腓立比人的信中写道,想想这些事情。

“无论什么是真实的,无论什么东西都是高尚的,无论什么东西都是正义的,无论什么东西都是纯正的,无论什么东西都是可爱的,或者什么东西值得报道,如果有什么美德,或者有什么值得称赞的冥想的话。” 腓立比书4:8

灵魂健康的这种转变所需要的锻炼是属灵的锻炼,这种锻炼使抽象成为现实,实现了我们所说的信念。也许今年我们可以接受精神锻炼:

- 冥想

-祷告

-Lectio Devina –缓慢而有目的地阅读圣经和其他圣书。

我的一位亲爱的朋友习惯于思考哪种精神影响她,然后要求上帝在那儿散发有害的影响。而且,她已经发展了一种在一切美好事物发生时感谢主的习惯。

我们可以打开天堂之门。天使可以随时冲进来,只要我们爱上善良,真善美,主与彼此之间,就可以使大门摆动开。这些选择打开了这些大门。

我们每个人都需要提醒,以帮助我们做出正确的选择。我们忘记得如此之快,而被我们时代的喧嚣分心。我们将电视,广播,计算机,电话和i-pads连接到一起-一种世俗文化,沉浸在自然而非灵性的环境中。但是,让我们转向神和天堂之门,这是不自然的。这是不自然的。这是精神上的。以下是一些对我有所帮助的提醒。

安排时间与耶和华约见:每天早晨和上床睡觉之前,都是为耶和华预留的两个常用时间。感到生气时,抬起您的思想和视野,并在门口向天使寻求帮助。尝试从我们女儿的一位朋友那里学到的一句话:祝福并释放!要努力在每个人和万物中看到上帝。

让丑陋的状态过去吧-祝福你的敌人,记住那些不同意或不喜欢我们的人可能是我们最好的属灵老师。我们可以看到我们对他们的反应,通常是反映出使我们恼火的行为的反应。有人告诉我们,爱我们的敌人以及我们的邻居。

我们需要注意我们的想法。

从古代吠陀经:

“注意你的想法,它们变成了文字。

留心您的话语,它们成为行动。

看着你的动作,它们成为习惯。

注意你的习惯,他们会成为角色。

看着你的角色,这就是你的命运。”

最重要的是检测我们喜欢的东西,因为这将确定我们徘徊的那扇门,然后进入。

进入新年时,我们有了圣餐是多么吉祥。有什么更好的开始方式,首先寻求天国-将最重要的事情放在首位?

这是乔伊斯·鲁普姐妹的美丽祈祷:

神秘的奥秘

等待门槛

在这个新的一年里

你打开大门

向我招手:

(你说)“来吧!来!

不要警惕等待着你的事情

当您进入未知地形时,

不要怀疑你的能力

从喜悦和悲伤中成长。

因为我和你在一起

我将成为您的向导。

我将成为您的保护者

您将永远不会孤单。”

新年的守护者

我抛开了我的恐惧,担忧,担忧,

我向神秘,美丽向我敞开心life,

好客的问题,

到无尽的机会

在我的关系中发现你

以及所有无声的奇迹

那会吸引我到你的心。

我欢迎您的光临

并带着希望走进新的一年。

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“走进黑暗,把手伸向上帝的手中。”

当我们站在新年之门时,我们将握着他的手–我们将遵循谁的灵感,谁的影响力将决定我们成为谁,这确实很重要。

诗篇118:19-20

“向我敞开义门。

我会通过他们,

我会赞美主。

这是主的门,

义人必借此进入。”

阿们!

来自斯威登堡的著作

 

属天的奥秘#2851

学习本章节

  
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2851. “你的种必得着仇敌的城门” 表仁与信必在先前恶与假所占据的地方取而代之. 这从 “得着”, “种”, “城门” 和 “仇敌” 的含义清楚可知: “得着” (inheriting) 是指从主接受生命 (参看2658节), 在此是指取而代之, 因为当仁与信存在于先前恶与假所占据的地方时, 主的生命就会进入那里; “种” 是指仁与信 (参看1025, 1447, 1610, 1941节); “城门” 的含义将在下文予以解释; “仇敌” 是指恶与假, 或也可说, 那些处于恶与假之人, 就圣言的内义而言, 这些人由 “仇敌” 和 “敌人” 来表示.

关于 “城门” 的含义. 总的来说, 每个人都有两扇门: 一扇朝地狱打开, 并向由此而来的恶与假敞开; 地狱的恶魔和恶灵就在这扇门内. 另一扇朝天堂打开, 并向由此而来的善与真敞开; 天使便在这扇门内. 因此, 一扇门通往地狱, 一扇门通往天堂. 地狱之门向那些沉浸于恶与假之人敞开, 天上的光只能从头顶上四围的缝隙透进来, 使他们能思考和推理. 但天堂之门向那些沉浸于由此而来的善与真之人敞开.

引入人理性心智的路径有两条: 善与真沿着较高或内在路径从主进入; 而恶与假沿着较低或外在路径从地狱偷偷上来. 理性心智则在中间, 这两条路径都到此会合. 在圣言中, 理性心智因其里面的善与真而被比作一座城, 也如此被称呼. 由于它好比一座城, 也被如此称呼, 故它有城门, 经上经常描述城门被仇敌, 就是恶魔与恶灵围困和攻击, 但却被主的天使, 就是主所保卫. 地狱来的恶魔与恶灵及其恶与假只能到较低或较外在的城门, 根本无法进入城内. 若他们真能进入城内, 也就是进入理性心智, 那么所有人就全都完了. 他们若真到了那一步, 以至于在他们自己看来, 他们似乎通过攻击占领了那城, 这时, 它就会关闭. 因此, 除了如前所述, 有少量的光透过四围的缝隙进入外, 善与真不再从天上流入它里面. 正因如此, 这种人不再拥有任何仁, 也不再拥有任何信, 而是将良善置于邪恶, 将真理置于虚假. 也正因如此, 他们不再具有真正的理性, 尽管他们自己觉得有理性 (1914, 1944节). 他们由此被称为死人, 尽管他们自以为他们比谁都有活力 (81, 290节末尾). 这些事确实如此, 因为天堂之门向他们关闭了. 天堂之门向他们关闭的事实在来世是非常明显的, 并被觉察到. 而另一方面, 天堂之门则向那些处于善与真之人敞开.

关于 “仇敌的城门”, 尤其本节所提到的. 对世人来说, 这城门就存在于他的属世心智中. 当人完全属世, 或尚未重生时, 那城门就被恶与假所占据; 或也可说, 恶魔与恶灵, 连同恶欲与谬念就流入它里面 (参看687, 697, 1692节). 但当人变得属灵, 或正在重生时, 那么恶与假, 或也可说, 恶魔与恶灵就从那城门, 也就是属世心智被驱离; 然后, 善与真, 或仁与信取而代之; 这些事物 (即仁与信) 就是 “你的种必得着仇敌的城门” 所表示的. 这一切尤其会发生在正经历重生的每个人身上, 同样发生在来世那些进入主国度的人身上; 并且还总体上发生, 也就是发生在由许多个体组成的教会中.

这种转变由以色列人逐出迦南地的各个民族来代表. 就字义而言, 逐出这些民族就是 “你的种必得着仇敌的城门” 所表示的; 但就内义而言, 所表示的则是刚才所说的这些事. 这也解释了为何在古代, 人们在祝福那些即将步入婚姻的人时, 习惯说这句话. 这从拉班对他妹子利百加的祝福明显看出来, 那时, 她正要离去, 到与其订婚的以撒那里去:

我们的妹子啊, 愿你作千万人的母! 愿你的种得着那仇恨你之人的城门! (创世记 24:60)

在圣言中, “仇敌的城门” 或那些仇恨之人的城门就表示这类事物. 这从以下经文可以看出来, 以赛亚书:

我必以饥荒治死你的根, 我必杀戮你所余剩的人. 门哪, 应当哀号! 城啊, 应当呼喊! 非利士, 你们众人啊, 你都熔化了! 因为有烟从北方出来. (以赛亚书 14:30-31)

“以饥荒治死你的根, 杀戮所余剩的人” 表拿走主从内在所储存起来的良善与真理. “所余剩的人” 表这类良善与真理 (参看468, 530, 560-562, 661, 798, 1050, 1738, 1906, 2284节). “门” 表进入内层或理性心智的地方. “城” 表那心智, 或也可说, 表它里面的良善与真理 (402, 2268, 2449, 2451, 2712节); “非利士” 表信之认知的记忆知识, 或也可说, 表那些拥有这些认知的记忆知识, 却没有信之良善的人 (1197, 1198节). “北方出来的烟” 表来自地狱的虚假, “烟” 表由邪恶产生的虚假 (1861节).

同一先知书:

荒凉的城拆毁了, 各家关门闭户, 使人都不得进去. 在街上因酒有呼喊之声, 一切喜乐变为凄凉, 地上的欢乐都遭放逐. 城中剩下的只是荒凉, 城门拆毁净尽. 因为这样它必在地的中间, 在万民之中. (以赛亚书 24:10-13)

“荒凉的城拆毁了” 表丧失真理的人类心智. “各家关门闭户” 表没有良善, “家” 表良善 (参看2233节). “在街上因酒有呼喊之声” 表虚假的状态, “呼喊” 论及虚假 (2240节). “酒” 表真理, 由于真理荡然无存, 故才会有呼喊之声 (1071, 1798节). “街” 表通向真理的事物 (2336节). “变为凄凉的喜乐” 论及真理, “遭放逐的地上欢乐” 讼及良善. 所有这一切表明 “城中剩下的只是荒凉, 城门拆毁净尽” 这句话是什么意思. 当只有恶与假掌权时, 经上就说城门被 “拆毁” 了.

耶利米哀歌:

锡安的路径, 因无人来守圣节就悲伤. 她的城门凄凉, 她的祭司叹息, 她的处女受艰难, 自己也愁苦. 她的对头成了首领, 她的仇敌亨通. 因耶和华为她许多的罪过使她受苦, 她的孩童在敌人面前沦为俘虏. (耶利米哀歌 1:4-5)

“锡安的路径就悲伤” 表那里不再有出自良善的任何真理, “路径” 表真理 (参看189, 627, 2333节). “城门凄凉” 表所有入口都被虚假占据. “对头成了首领” 表邪恶掌权.

同一先知书:

耶和华使锡安女子的堡垒和城墙都悲哀; 它们一同衰败. 她的门都陷入地内, 主将她的门闩毁坏折断. 她的君王和首领落在没有律法的列族中; 她的先知不得见耶和华的异象. 你的仇敌都向你张口. 他们嗤笑, 又切齿说, 我们吞灭她, 这真是我们所盼望的日子临到了! 我们等到了, 我们看到了! (耶利米哀歌 2:8-9, 16)

“门都陷入地内” 表被恶与假所占据的属世心智. “她的君王和首领落在列族中” 表真理被浸没于邪恶中, “君王” 表总的真理 (参看1672, 1728, 2015, 2069节), “首领” 表首要的真理 (1482, 2089节), “列族” 表邪恶 (1259, 1260, 1849, 1868, 2588节).

摩西书:

从远方地极来的一族, 必将你围困在你各城门内, 在你的全地内; 因此你的仇敌必围困你. (申命记 28:49; 52, 53)

这些灾祸就在摩西向那百姓所预言的咒诅当中, 因他们不守诫命和律例. “从远方地极来的一族” 在内义上表示恶与假, 或那些沉浸于恶与假之人. “围困在各城门内” 表切断通向善与真的一切途径.

那鸿书:

看哪, 你的人民在你中间简直是妇人; 你国土的门户都向仇敌敞开着; 你的门闩被火焚烧. 你要打水预备受困, 要坚固你的堡垒, 踹土和泥, 修补砖窑. (那鸿书 3:13-14)

“你国土的门户都向仇敌敞开着” 表邪恶占据了良善理应所在的地方. 士师记:

大道无人行走, 他们沿小路行走, 沿弯曲的道行走, 以色列的农村消失了. 他选择新神, 交战的事就临到城门; 以色列四万人中岂能见盾牌枪矛呢? (士师记 5:6-8)

这是底波拉和巴拉的预言, “交战的事就临到城门” 表对良善与真理的攻击.

诗篇:

坐在城门口的谈论我, 酒徒也以我为歌曲. (诗篇 69:12)

“坐在城门口的” 表邪恶与虚假, 也表那些来自地狱的人. 以西结书:

他在神的异象中, 带我到朝北的内城门的门口. 他在那里看见以色列家所行的大可憎的事. 他还领我到耶和华殿朝北的城门的门口; 他在那里也看见了可憎的事. (以西结书 8:3, 6, 14-15)

“朝北的内城门的门口” 表内在虚假所在地方. “耶和华殿朝北的城门的门口” 表内在邪恶所在地方. 邪恶与虚假是内在的, 这类恶灵和恶魔就居于这内在区域 (参看2121-2124节).

诗篇:

看哪, 儿女是耶和华所赐的产业, 腹中的胎儿是祂的赏赐. 少年时所生的儿女, 好像勇士手中的箭. 箭袋装满了箭的人是有福的, 他们在城门口和仇敌说话的时候, 必不至于羞愧. (诗篇 127:3-5)

“在城门口和仇敌说话” 表不惧怕邪恶与虚假, 因而不惧怕地狱. 以赛亚书:

到那日, 万军之耶和华必作在位上行审判者公平之灵, 并城门口打退仇敌者的力量. 这些人也因酒迷迷忽忽, 因浓酒东倒西歪. (以赛亚书 28:5-7)

同一先知书:

用一句话就定人罪的必被剪除, 为城门口责备人的设下网罗; 用虚无的事转脸不顾义人. (以赛亚书 29:20-21)

又:

以拦带着箭袋, 还有坐战车的和马兵; 吉珥揭开盾牌. 你嘉美的谷遍满战车和马兵, 都摆在城门前列阵, 那日, 他就仰望林库内的军器. (以赛亚书 22:6-8)

耶利米书:

犹大悲哀, 其城门衰败, 他们坐在地上哀悼, 耶路撒冷的哀声上达; 他们的贵胄打发家僮打水, 他们来到池边, 见没有水. (耶利米书 14:2-3)

耶利米哀歌:

老年人在城门口断绝; 少年人不再奏乐. (耶利米哀歌 5:14)

由上述经文可以看出 “仇敌的城门” 表示什么, 也就是说, 表示地狱, 或不断攻击善与真的地狱灵. 如前所述, 他们在人身上的座位就在他的属世心智中. 但当人具有这样的秉性, 即他允许良善与真理, 因而允许天使进入时, 主就会将这些地狱灵从那座位上赶走. 一旦他们被赶走, 天堂之门, 或天堂本身就被打开了. 这门也在圣言各处被提及, 如以赛亚书:

在犹大地人必唱这歌: 我们有坚固的城. 耶和华要将救恩定为城墙, 为外郭. 你敞开城门, 使守信的正义民族得以进入. (以赛亚书 26:1-2)

同一先知书:

耶和华对祂所膏的古列如此说, 我搀扶他的右手, 使列族降服在他面前. 我也要放松列王的腰带, 使门户在他面前敞开, 使城门不得关闭. 我必在你前面行, 修直崎岖之地. 我必打破铜门, 砍断铁闩. (以赛亚书 45:1-2)

又:

外邦人必建筑你的城墙, 他们的王必服事你. 他们必时常打开你的城门, 昼夜不关; 你地上不再听见强暴的事, 境内不再听见荒凉毁灭的事. 你必称你的墙为‘拯救’, 称你的门为‘赞美’. (以赛亚书 60:10-11, 18)

又:

你们要过去, 从城门过去; 预备百姓的路; 你们要修平, 修平大道; 你对锡安的女子说, 看哪, 你的救恩来到. (以赛亚书 62:10-12)

弥迦书:

他们直闯过城门, 从城门出去. 他们的王在他们前面行, 耶和华在他们起头. (弥迦书 2:13)

诗篇:

众城门哪, 你们要抬起头来! 永久的门户, 你们要被举起! 那荣耀的王将要进来. 荣耀的王是谁呢? 就是强而有力的耶和华, 在战场上大有能力的耶和华. 众城门哪, 你们要抬起头来! 永久的门户, 你们要把头抬起! (诗篇 24:7-10)

又:

耶路撒冷啊, 你要颂赞耶和华! 锡安哪, 你要赞美你的神! 因为祂坚固了你的门闩, 赐福给你中间的儿女. (诗篇 147:12-13)

由上述经文明显可知, “天堂之门” 就是天使与人同在的地方, 也就是善与真从主所流入的地方. 因此, 如前所述, 有两扇门. 对于这两扇门, 主在马太福音中如此说:

你们要进窄门. 因为引到灭亡的, 那门阔, 那路宽, 由它进去的人也多; 引到生命的, 那门窄, 那路狭小, 找着的人也少. (马太福音 7:12-14; 路加福音 13:23-24)

此外, 在以西结书和约翰的启示录, 经上大量论述了新耶路撒冷的门和新圣殿的门, 这些门无非表示进入天堂的入口 (参看以西结书 40:6-49; 43:1-2, 4; 44:1-3; 46:1-9, 12; 48:31-34; 启示录 21:12-13, 21, 25; 22:14; 以赛亚书 54:11-12). 因此, 耶路撒冷被称为 “人民的城门” (弥迦书 1:9; 俄巴底亚书 13: 0节).

  
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Thanks to our friends at swedenborgwork.com for their permission to use this translation on the New Christian Bible Study site. ( 衷心感谢”史威登堡著作中文网”许可我们使用该中文译文)

来自斯威登堡的著作

 

Arcana Coelestia#9954

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9954. 'And you shall anoint them' means a representative sign of the Lord in respect of the good of love. This is clear from the meaning of 'anointing' as consecrating to serve as a representative sign, dealt with in 9474. The reason why to serve as a representative sign of the Lord in respect of the good of love is meant, or what amounts to the same thing, to serve as a representative sign of the good of love that comes from the Lord, is that 'oil', which was used to carry out anointing, means the good of love, 886, 4582, 4638, 9780. It is of interest to know what is implied in all this, since anointing has remained in practice from ancient times down to the present day (monarchs are anointed), and anointing is held to be holy today in just the same way as it was in former times. It was among the ancients - in whose times every act of worship involved the use of representative signs, that is to say, of such things as served to represent realities of a more internal nature, which are those of faith and love derived from the Lord and offered back to Him, thus which are Divine - that the practice of anointing came in; it came in because 'the oil' that was used to carry out the anointing was a sign of the good of love. For the ancients knew that the good of love was the essential reality which gives life to everything constituting the Church and worship. That good is the Essential Being (Esse) of life; for the Divine flows in by way of the good of love with a person and composes his life - heavenly life when truths are received within good. From this it is evident what anointing represented, and that because of its representation objects which had been anointed were called holy and also held to be holy. Such objects served the Church to represent Divine and heavenly realities, and in the highest sense the Lord Himself, who is Good itself, thus to represent the good of love which comes from Him, and also the truth of faith, to the extent that this has life from the good of love. This now explains why in ancient times they anointed stones set up as pillars, and also weapons of war, such as shields; later on the altar and all its vessels, as well as the tent of meeting and everything in it; and in addition those who were to serve in the priestly office, and their garments, also prophets, and at length kings, who were therefore called Jehovah's Anointed. It also became a common practice to anoint oneself and others to bear witness to gladness of mind and goodwill.

[2] 1. They anointed stones set up as pillars

This is clear in the Book of Genesis,

In the morning Jacob rose up early, and took the stone which he had placed as his headrest, and placed it as a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. Genesis 28:18.

The reason why stones were anointed in this manner was that truths were meant by 'stones', and truths devoid of good do not have the life of heaven, that is, life from the Divine, within them. When therefore stones had been anointed with oil they represented truths oiled with good, and in the highest sense Divine Truth emanating from the Lord's Divine Good, and so represented the Lord Himself, who was consequently called The Stone of Israel, 6426.

Truths are meant by 'stones', see 643, 1298, 3720, 3769, 3771, 3773, 3789, 3798, 6426, 8941, 9476.

They are in like manner meant by 'pillars', 3727, 4580, 9388, 9389.

'Anointing pillars' means causing truths to be oiled with good, thus to be the truths of good, and so to exist as good, 3728, 4090, 4582.

The fact that stones set up as pillars were held to be holy is clear in the same chapter of Genesis, where it says,

Jacob called the name of that place Bethel, and said, If I come back in peace to my father's house, this stone which I have placed as a pillar will be God's house. Genesis 28:19, 21-22.

Bethel is [a name meaning] God's house, and God's house is the Church, also heaven, and in the highest sense it is the Lord Himself, 3720.

[3] 2. They anointed weapons of war, such as shields

This is clear in Isaiah,

Rise up, O princes, anoint the shield. Isaiah 21:5.

And in the second Book of Samuel,

The shield of heroes was defiled, the shield of Saul was not anointed with oil. 2 Samuel 1:21.

The reason why weapons of war were anointed was that they were a sign of truths engaged in conflict against falsities, truths oiled with good being what prevail over them, but not truths devoid of good. When weapons of war had been anointed therefore they represented truths emanating from good that comes from the Lord, thus truths which the Lord Himself, when present with people, employs to fight on their behalf against falsities arising from evil, that is, against the hells. Regarding 'weapons of war', that they mean truths engaged in conflict against falsities, see 1788, 2686. For in the Word 'war' means spiritual conflict, 1664, 2686, 8273, 8295, and 'enemies' the hells, in general evils and falsities, 2851, 8289, 9314.

[4] 3. They anointed the altar and all its vessels, also the tent of meeting and everything in it

This is clear in Moses,

Jehovah said to Moses, You shall anoint the altar and sanctify it. Exodus 29:36.

In the same author,

You shall make the holy anointing oil, 1 with which you shall anoint the tent of meeting, and the ark of the Testimony, and the table and all its vessels, and the lampstand and all its vessels, and the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt offering and all its vessels, and the laver and its base. Thus you shall sanctify them, that they may be most holy. Everyone who touches them will make himself holy. Exodus 30:25-29.

In the same author,

You shall take the oil of anointing, and anoint the dwelling-place and all that is in it, and sanctify it and all its vessels, that it may be holy. You shall also anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its vessels, and make the altar holy, that the altar may be most holy; and you shall anoint the laver and its base, and sanctify it. Exodus 40:9-11.

In the same author,

Moses anointed the dwelling-place and everything that was in it. After this he sprinkled some of the oil over the altar and all its vessels, and the laver and its shaft, to sanctify them. Leviticus 8:10-12; Numbers 7:1.

[5] The reason why the altar had to be anointed, also the dwelling-place and everything there, was that they might represent the Divine and holy things of heaven and of the Church, consequently the holy things of worship. They could not have represented these things unless they had been consecrated to do so by something such as served to represent the good of love. For the Divine comes in through the good of love, and through this good is present in heaven and in the Church, and therefore also in worship. Without that good the Divine cannot come in or be present, only what composes the human self, and with that self hell, and with hell evil and falsity; for the human self is nothing else. From this it is evident why anointing was effected by the use of oil; for 'oil' in the representative sense is the good of love, see 886, 4582, 4638, 9780; the altar was the chief representative of the Lord, and consequently of worship springing from the good of love, 2777, 2811, 4489, 4541, 8935, 8940, 9388, 9389, 9714; and the dwelling-place with the ark in it was the chief representative of heaven in which the Lord was present, 9457, 9481, 9485, 9594, 9596, 9632, 9784. As regards the human self or proprium, that it consists of nothing but evil and falsity, thus nothing but hell, 210, 215, 694, 874-876, 987, 1047, 3812 (end), 5660, 8480, 8941, 8944; and in the measure that what composes the human self is removed, the Lord can be present, 1023, 1044, 4007 (end).

[6] 4. They anointed those who were to serve in the priestly office, and their garments

This is clear in Moses,

Take the oil of anointing, and you shall pour it over Aaron's head, and you shall anoint him. Exodus 29:7; 30:30.

In the same author,

Clothe Aaron with the holy garments, 2 and you shall anoint him and make him holy, that he may serve Me in the priestly office. And you shall anoint his sons, as you anointed the father; and it shall be, that their anointing may make them an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations. 3 Exodus 40:13-15.

In the same author,

Moses poured some of the oil over Aaron's head, and anointed him, to make him holy. Then he took some of the oil of anointing and some of the blood which was on the altar, and sprinkled it over Aaron, over his garments, over his sons, and over the garments of his sons with him, and sanctified Aaron, his garments, his sons also, and the garments of his sons with him. Leviticus 8:12, 30.

[7] The reason why Aaron had to be anointed, and his sons had to be anointed, also their actual garments, was that they might represent the Lord in respect of Divine Good, and in respect of Divine Truth emanating from that Good, Aaron representing the Lord in respect of that Divine Good and his sons in respect of the emanating Divine Truth, and in general that the priesthood might represent the Lord in respect of all the work of salvation. They had to be anointed in their garments, Exodus 29:29, because Aaron's garments represented the Lord's spiritual kingdom lying adjacent to His celestial kingdom. The celestial kingdom is where the good of love to the Lord derived from the Lord reigns, so that the flow of the Divine into the spiritual kingdom is accomplished by way of the good of love. This was why being consecrated to serve as a representative sign was accomplished by the use of oil, which in the spiritual sense is the good of love.

Aaron represented the Lord in respect of Divine Good, see 9806.

His sons represented the Lord in respect of Divine Truth emanating from Divine Good, 9807.

The priestly office in general represented the Lord in respect of all the work of salvation, 9809.

Aaron's garments represented the Lord's spiritual kingdom lying adjacent to His celestial kingdom, 9814.

His sons' garments represented the things that emanate from there, 9946, 9950.

The good of love to the Lord reigns in the celestial kingdom, see the places referred to in 9277.

[8] Since being consecrated to serve as a representative sign was accomplished by means of anointing, and since Aaron and his sons represented the Lord and what comes from Him, the holy things of the children of Israel - that is, the gifts which they presented to Jehovah, called 'heave offerings' - were given to Aaron and his sons; and they are spoken of as 'the anointing' and also as 'for the anointing', 4 meaning the representation or for the representation of the Lord, and what comes from Him, as is clear from the following in Moses,

The breast of the wave offering, and the flank of the heave offering I have received from the children of Israel, from the sacrifices of peace offerings; I have given them to Aaron and his sons. This is the anointing of Aaron and the anointing of his sons from the fire offerings to Jehovah, which I decreed to give them, on the day they were anointed, 5 from among the children of Israel. Leviticus 7:34-36.

And elsewhere in the same author,

Jehovah spoke to Aaron, Behold, I have given you charge of My heave offerings, even all the holy things of the children of Israel; I have given them to you for the anointing, and to your sons, as a statute forever. Every offering of theirs, even every minchah of theirs, even every sacrifice of sin offering and guilt offering, every wave offering of the children of Israel, all the best 6 of pure oil, and all the best 6 of the new wine and the grain, their firstfruits which they will give to Jehovah I have given to you. Also every devoted thing in Israel, everything opening the womb, thus every heave offering of holy things [shall be yours]. You shall not have an inheritance in their land, nor shall any portion be yours in their midst. I am your portion and your inheritance in the midst of the children of Israel. Numbers 18:8-20.

From these quotations it is evident that 'the anointing' means the representation, for it was through being anointed that they were consecrated to serve as a representative sign, a sign which meant that everything in heaven and the Church is made holy through the good of love which comes from the Lord, and that the good of love is the Lord as He is present with them. This explains why it says that Jehovah is his 7 'portion and inheritance'.

[9] 5. They also anointed prophets

This is clear in the first Book of Kings,

Jehovah said to Elijah, Anoint Hazael as king over the Syrians, and anoint Jehu as king over Israel, and anoint Elisha as prophet in place of you. 1 Kings 19:15-16.

And in Isaiah,

The Spirit of the Lord Jehovih is upon Me, therefore Jehovah has anointed Me to bring good tidings to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the broken in heart, to preach liberty to the captives. Isaiah 61:1.

The reason why prophets were anointed was that prophets represented the Lord in respect of teachings that present Divine Truth, thus in respect of the Word since this consists of teachings that present Divine Truth. Regarding prophets, that they represented the Word, see 3652, 7269, Elijah and Elisha in particular, 2762, 5247 (end), 9372. And - as the Lord Himself teaches in Luke 4:18-21 - the Lord in respect of His Divine Human is the One who is being represented, and so is the One who 'He whom Jehovah has anointed' is used to mean.

[10] 6. Afterwards they anointed kings, and these were called Jehovah's Anointed

This is clear from a large number of places in the Word, such as 1 Samuel 10:1; 15:1, 17; 16:3, 6, 12; 24:6, 10; 26:9, 11, 16, 23; 2 Samuel 1:16; 2:4, 7; 5:3; 19:21; 1 Kings 1:34, 45; 19:15-16; 2 Kings 9:3; 11:12; 23:30; Lamentations 4:20; Habakkuk 3:13; Psalms 2:2, 6; 20:6; 28:8; 45:7; 84:9; 89:20, 38, 51; 132:17; and elsewhere. The reason why they anointed kings was in order that they might represent the Lord in respect of judgement based on Divine Truth. Consequently truths that are God's are meant in the Word by 'kings', see 1672, 2015, 2069, 3009, 3670, 4575, 4581, 4966, 5044, 5068, 6148.

[11] Kings were called Jehovah's Anointed, and therefore it was utterly forbidden to do them harm, because 'Jehovah's Anointed' is used to mean the Lord's Divine Human, though in the sense of the letter the title is applied to a king who had been anointed with oil. While He was in the world the Lord was Divine Truth itself as to His Humanity, and Divine Good itself as to that Essential Being (Esse) constituting the life within Him, the equivalent of which in people is called the soul from the father; for He was conceived from Jehovah. In the Word Jehovah is the Divine Good of Divine Love, and that Good is the Essential Being (Esse) of every human life. Consequently the Lord alone was 'Jehovah's Anointed' in all that He was and in all that He did (ipsa essentia et ipso actu); for Divine Good was within Him, and Divine Truth emanating from that Good was within His Humanity while He was in the world, see the places referred to in 9194, 9315(end). Earthly kings were not Jehovah's Anointed, but served to represent the Lord, who alone was Jehovah's Anointed; and this was why, because they had been anointed, it was utterly forbidden to do harm to earthly kings. But the anointing of earthly kings was accomplished by the use of oil, whereas the anointing of the Lord in respect of His Divine Human was accomplished by means of the actual Divine Good of Divine Love which oil represented. This is why He was called Messiah and Christ, Messiah meaning the Anointed in Hebrew, and Christ meaning the like in Greek, John 1:41; 4:25.

[12] From all this it becomes clear that where the term 'Jehovah's Anointed' is used in the Word the Lord is meant, as in Isaiah,

The Spirit of the Lord Jehovih is upon Me, therefore Jehovah has anointed Me to bring good tidings to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the broken in heart, to preach liberty to the captives. Isaiah 61:1.

The truth that the Lord in respect of His Divine Human is the One whom Jehovah had anointed is clear in Luke, where the Lord declares it explicitly in the following words,

The book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Jesus, and He unrolled the book, and found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me. He has sent Me to bring good tidings to the poor, to heal the crushed at heart, 8 to preach good tidings of forgiveness to the bound, and of sight to the blind, to release the wounded with forgiveness, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. After this He rolled up the book, gave it to the minister, and sat down. The eyes however of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. He began to say to them, Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your ears. Luke 4:17-21.

[13] In Daniel,

Know therefore and perceive that from the going forth of the Word to restore and to build Jerusalem until the Messiah, the Prince, there will be seven weeks. Daniel 9:25.

'Building Jerusalem' means establishing the Church, 'Jerusalem' being the Church, 3654. 'The Messiah, the Prince', or the Anointed One, is the Lord in respect of the Divine Human. In the same prophet,

Seventy weeks have been decreed to seal up vision and prophet, and to anoint the Holy of Holies. Daniel 9:24.

'Sealing up vision and prophet' means drawing to a close those things that have been declared in the Word regarding the Lord and fulfilling them. 'Anointing the Holy of Holies' refers to the Lord's Divine Human in which the Divine Good of Divine Love, or Jehovah, was present.

[14] 'Jehovah's Anointed' is again used to mean the Lord in the following places: In David,

The kings of the earth have set themselves, and the masters of the earth have taken counsel together, against Jehovah and against His Anointed. I have anointed My king over Zion, the mountain of My holiness. Psalms 2:2, 6.

'The kings of the earth' are falsities, and 'the masters' evils, that come from the hells, against which the Lord fought while He was in the world, and which He overcame and subdued. 'Jehovah's Anointed' is the Lord in respect of His Divine Human, for from this Human He fought them. 'Zion, the mountain of holiness' over which, it says, the Anointed will be king, is the celestial kingdom, which is governed by the good of love. This kingdom is the inmost part of heaven and the inmost of the Church.

[15] In the same author,

I have found My servant David; with the oil of holiness I have anointed him. Psalms 89:20.

By 'David' here the Lord is meant, as also elsewhere, see 1888. 'The oil of holiness' with which Jehovah anointed Him is the Divine Good of Divine Love, 886, 4582, 4638. The fact that the Lord is the One who is meant in this verse by 'David' is evident from other verses before and after it, for among much else they say,

You spoke in a vision regarding Your Holy One, I will set His hand in the sea, and His right hand in the rivers. He will cry to Me, You are My Father. I will also make Him the Firstborn, supreme over the kings of the earth. I will establish His seed forever, and His throne as the days of the heavens. Psalms 89:19, 25-29.

[16] The like occurs elsewhere in the same author,

In Zion I will make the horn of David to spring forth, I will make ready a lamp for My Anointed; His enemies I will clothe with shame, and upon Himself His crown will flourish. Psalms 132:17-18.

Here also the Lord is meant by 'David', as is evident from previous verses in the Psalm which say,

Behold, we heard of Him in Ephrathah, we found Him in the fields of the wood. We will enter His dwelling-places, we will bow down at His footstool. Your priests will be clothed with righteousness, and Your holy ones will shout for joy. For Your servant David's sake do not turn away the face of Your Anointed. Psalms 132:6-10.

From these verses it becomes clear that the Lord in respect of His Divine Human is meant by 'David, Jehovah's Anointed'.

[17] In Jeremiah,

They pursued us over the mountains, they lay in wait for us in the wilderness. The Breath 8 of our nostrils, Jehovah's Anointed, was caught in their pits, of whom we had said, In His shadow we shall live among the nations. Lamentations 4:19-20.

Here also 'Jehovah's Anointed' is used to mean the Lord, for the subject is the assault made on Divine Truth by falsities and evils, meant by their pursuing over the mountains and lying in wait in the wilderness. 'The Breath of nostrils' is real heavenly life which comes from the Lord, 9818.

[18] From all this it may now be recognized why it was utterly forbidden to do harm to Jehovah's Anointed, as is again evident from the Word, for example in the first Book of Samuel,

David said, Jehovah forbid me that I should do this thing to my master, Jehovah's Anointed, and raise 10 my hand against him, since he is Jehovah's Anointed. 1 Samuel 24:6, 10.

And in another place,

David said to Abishai, Do not destroy him, for who can raise 11 a hand against Jehovah's Anointed and be innocent? 1 Samuel 26:9.

In the second Book of Samuel,

David said to him who said he had killed Saul, Your blood is on your own head, because you have said, I have killed Jehovah's Anointed. 2 Samuel 1:16.

And in another place,

Abishai said, Shall not Shimei be killed on account of this, that he cursed Jehovah's Anointed? 2 Samuel 19:21.

Shimei was therefore put to death by Solomon's command, see 1 Kings 2:36-end.

[19] 7. It became a common practice to anoint oneself and others, to bear witness to gladness of mind and goodwill

This is clear in the following places: In Daniel,

I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. I did not eat pleasant bread, and flesh and wine did not come to my mouth, and I did not anoint myself at all, until the three whole weeks were completed. Daniel 10:2-3.

In Matthew,

When you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to people to be fasting, but to your Father in secret. Matthew 6:17-18.

'Fasting' means being in mourning. In Amos,

... who drink from bowls of wine, and anoint themselves with the best of oils, but feel no grief over the ruin of Joseph. Amos 6:6.

In Ezekiel,

I washed you with water, and washed away the blood from upon you, 12 and anointed you with oil. Ezekiel 16:9.

This refers to Jerusalem, by which the Church is meant. In Micah,

You will tread olives but not anoint yourself with oil. Micah 6:15.

In Moses,

You will have olive trees within all your borders, but you will not anoint yourself with oil, because your olive will be shaken off. Deuteronomy 28:40.

In Isaiah,

To give them beauty 13 for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning. Isaiah 61:3.

In David,

Your God has anointed you with the oil of gladness more than your companions. Psalms 45:7.

In the same author,

You spread a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You make my head fat with oil. Psalms 23:5.

In the same author,

You will exalt my horn like that of a unicorn; I will grow old with green oil. 14 Psalms 92:10.

In the same author,

Wine gladdens the human heart, to cheer the face with oil. Psalms 104:15.

In Mark,

The disciples went out and anointed many sick people with oil, and healed them. Mark 6:13.

In Luke,

Jesus said to Simon, I entered your house, and you did not anoint My head with oil; but this woman has anointed My feet with ointment. Luke 7:44, 46.

[20] From all this it is evident that it became the practice to anoint themselves and others with oil. They did so not with 'the holy oil' with which priests, kings, the altar, and the tabernacle were anointed, but with ordinary oil because this oil was a sign of the gladness and bliss that belong to the good of love. 'The holy oil' however was a sign of Divine Good, about which it says, It shall not be poured on human flesh, and as to the composition of it, you shall not make any other like it; it shall be holy to you. The man who prepares any other like it, or who puts any of it on a foreigner, shall be cut off from his people. Exodus 30:32-33, 38.

脚注:

1. literally, the oil of anointing of holiness

2. literally, garments of holiness

3. literally, that for them their anointing may be for the priesthood of an age, into their generations

4. The Hebrew word behind the Latin rendered the anointing in the two quotations that follow is said to have two meanings - 1) Ointment or holy oil, and 2) Consecrated portion.

5. literally, on the day He (or he) anointed them

6. literally, fat

7. i.e. Aaron's

8. or the contrite in heart

10. literally, send

11. literally, will have sent

12. literally, your bloods

13. literally, a turban or some other attractive headdress

14. i.e. first-press oil

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Society for the permission to use this translation.