Spiritual Meaning of EXODUS 32:30-35
Seventy weeks have been decreed upon thy people and upon thy city of holiness, to consummate the transgression, and to seal up sins, and to expiate iniquity, and to bring in the righteousness of the ages, and to seal up vision and prophet, and to anoint the holy of holies. In the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease; finally upon the bird of abominations shall be desolation; and even with the consummation and the decree, it shall drop upon the devastation (Daniel 9:24, 27).
And that the residue of the worship of that nation will come to an end together with the end of the present church in Europe, is foretold by the Lord in Matthew:--
Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass away until all these things come to pass (Matt. 24:34);
the subject treated of in this chapter is the consummation of the age, which is the end of this church, as can be seen shown in the introductions to Genesis, chapters 26 to 40.
. That Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin. That this signifies a complete estrangement and turning away, is evident from the signification of "sin," as being a turning away and estrangement from the Divine (n. 5229, 5474, 5841, 7589, 9346), here a complete turning away and estrangement, because it is called "a great sin." Turning away and estrangement from the Divine is complete when there is no longer received anything of truth and good from heaven, for the truth and good from heaven is the Divine with man. That with that nation there was no reception of truth and good from heaven, consequently that there was a complete turning away from the Divine, is described by these words in Isaiah:--Say to this people, Hearing hear ye, but understand not; and seeing see ye, but know not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and blot out their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and their heart should understand, and be converted, that they may be healed (Isa. 6:9, 10; John 12:37-40);
it is said, "lest they be converted that they may be healed," by which is signified that if they were to understand the internal things of the Word, of the church, and of worship, they would profane them (n. 10490).
. And now I will go up unto Jehovah. That this signifies the raising of the interiors to the Lord, is evident from the representation of Moses, as being the internal (n. 10468); and from the signification of "going up," as being a raising toward interior things (n. 3084, 4539, 4969, 5406, 5817, 6007), here a raising to the Lord, because it is said, "I will go up unto Jehovah," and by "Jehovah" in the Word is meant the Lord (n. 9373). How the case herein is can be seen from what has been shown concerning the raising of the internal things of the Word, of the church, and of worship into heaven or unto the Lord, from the external things with the Israelitish nation (n. 4311, 4444, 6304, 8588, 8788, 8806). . Perchance I shall make expiation for your sin. That this signifies a possibility by virtue of the Divine power of the Lord with those who have so completely turned themselves away, is evident from the signification of "to expiate," as being to cause that it be no longer reflected upon, thus that their worship be nevertheless accepted and heard. That "to expiate" also denotes the hearing and reception of all things of worship, (n. 9506); here therefore the possibility that it can be done with those who have turned themselves away. And from the signification of "sin," as being a complete turning away from the Divine (n. 10498). That these things are signified by these words is because the subject treated of in this chapter throughout is the turning away of the Israelitish nation from the Divine, and the possibility notwithstanding that a communication might be effected with heaven by means of the external things in which alone they were.[2] A few more words shall be said in order to make known how the case herein is. The church on earth is instituted for the sole end that there may be a communication of the world, or of the human race, with heaven, that is, through heaven with the Lord; for without the church there would be no communication; and without communication the human race would perish (n. 10452). But the communication of man with heaven is effected by means of the spiritual and celestial things with man, and not by means of worldly and bodily things without these; or what is the same, it is effected by means of internal things, and not by external things without these. And as the Israelitish nation were in external things without internal, and yet something of a church was to be instituted among them, it was therefore provided by the Lord that nevertheless communication with heaven might be effected by means of representatives, such as were the externals of worship with that nation. This communication, however, was effected miraculously (n. 10499).
[3] But in order that this might be done, two things were requisite; first, that the internal with them should be completely closed; and second, that they might be in a holy external when in worship. For when the internal has been completely closed, then the internal of the church and of worship is neither denied nor acknowledged, being as though it did not exist; and then there can be a holy external, and it can also be raised, because nothing opposes and stands in the way. For this reason also that nation was in full and complete ignorance about internal things, which belong to love and faith in the Lord and to eternal life thereby. But as soon as the Lord came into the world, and revealed Himself, and taught love and faith in Himself, then that nation, when they heard these things, began to deny them, and thus could no longer be kept in such ignorance as before. They were therefore then driven out of the land of Canaan, lest they should defile and profane internal things by denial in that land, where from the most ancient times all the places had been made representative of such things as belong to heaven and the church (n. 1585, 3686, 4447, 5136, 6516).
[4] For the same reason, in so far as at this day they are acquainted with internal things, and confirm themselves intellectually against them, and deny them, so far they can no longer be in a holy external, because denial not only closes up the internal, but also takes away what is holy from the external, thus that which is communicative with heaven. The case is similar with Christians who from the Word or from the doctrine of the church are acquainted with internal things, and yet at heart deny them, as is the case when they live evilly, and think in themselves what is evil, however much their externals may seem to be in devotion and piety while they are engaged in worship.
. And Moses returned unto Jehovah. That this signifies conjunction, is evident from the signification of "returning unto Jehovah," as being conjunction. The reason why conjunction is here signified by" returning unto Jehovah," is that by "going up unto Jehovah" (n. 10499) is signified the raising of the internal to the Lord. . And said, I beseech Thee, this people hath sinned a great sin. That this signifies that although this nation has completely turned away and removed itself from the Divine, is evident from the signification of "sinning a great sin," as being to completely turn away and estrange itself from the Divine (n. 10498). It is said "although it has turned itself away" for the sake of the connection of the subject in the internal sense, for those who are in this sense do not attend to the letter, but to the sense of the things in their order. . And have made them gods of gold. That this signifies, and they worship infernal delight, is evident from the signification of "making them gold," as being worship; and from the signification of "gold," as being the delight of external loves, thus infernal delight (n. 10402). Mention is made in the Word of four kinds of idols, namely, idols of stone, of wood, of silver, and of gold Idols of stone signify worship from falsities of doctrine; those of wood signify worship from evils of doctrine; those of silver signify worship of falsity both in doctrine and in life; and those of gold signify worship of evil both in doctrine and in life. Consequently idols of gold signified worship the worst of all. They who were in this worship not only falsified truths, but also adulterated goods; for evils they called goods, and the derivative falsities they called truths. All those are in such worship who are in the love of self and yet believe the Word, for they apply the sense of the letter of the Word in favor of all the things which they think and do, thus in favor of the worship of self. . And now, if Thou wilt forgive their sin. That this signifies that nevertheless this turning away from the Divine will not hinder, is evident from the signification of "sin," as being a turning away from the Divine (n. 10498, 10502); and from the signification of "forgiving" it, as being nevertheless not to hinder the internal things of the Word, of the church, and of worship, from being raised from their externals, thus effecting communication with the heavens. For when this communication is nevertheless effected, the turning away is not attended to, and that which is not attended to is said to be "forgiven." . And if not, blot me I pray out of Thy book which Thou hast written. That this signifies the internal of the Word, of the church, and of worship, that it will not perish, is evident from the representation of Moses, who says these things, as being the internal of the Word, of the church, and of worship (n. 10468); from the signification of "which Thou hast written," as being that which is there from the Lord; for by the "book" is signified that which is in the internal; and by "writing," when said with respect to Jehovah, that is, the Lord, as being that which is there from the Lord; and from the signification of "being blotted out of it," as being to perish; but here not to perish, because it is replied "he who hath sinned against Me, him will I blot out of My book," by which is signified that the internal of the Word, of the church, and of worship will not perish; but that those will perish who turn themselves away from the Divine, thus who are in things external without what is internal.[2] That the book which Jehovah wrote, which in the following verse is called "My book," or the book of Jehovah, and elsewhere the "book of life," denotes what is internal, is because the internal of man is in heaven, thus where the Lord is, and consequently those things which are in his internal are out of heaven from the Lord, all which are Divine celestial and spiritual things. These can be received by the internal of man, but not by his external separate from the internal, because the external is in the world, and is formed to receive the natural things which are in the world, and which without influx through internal things have no heavenly life, and consequently are called dead.
[3] From all this it can be seen what is meant in the Word by the "book of life," and who they are who are said to be "written in this book," namely, those who are in the life of truth and good, thus who do the Divine commandments from love and faith. For a life according to these commandments opens the internal man and forms him, and what is written therein is written by the Lord, and remains to eternity. These are meant by "those who are written in the book of life," in the following passages:--
At that time Thy people shall be rescued, everyone that shall be found written in the book (Dan. 12:1).
He that overcometh shall be clothed in white garments; and I will not blot his name out of the book of life (Rev. 3:5).
None shall enter into the New Jerusalem, except those who are written in the Lamb‘s book of life (Rev. 21:27).
I saw that the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the book, according to their works. And if anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:12, 15).
All shall adore the beast whose names are not written in the Lamb’s book of life (Rev. 13:8; 17:8);
besides in other places.
[4] Be it known that all things that have been written in the internal man have been written by the Lord, and that the things there written make the very spiritual and celestial life of man; also that each and all things that have been written there, have been written on the love (n. 2474, 8620, 9386).
. And Jehovah said unto Moses, He that hath sinned against Me, him will I blot out of My book. That this signifies the reply, that those will perish who turn themselves away from the Divine, is evident from the signification of "Jehovah said unto Moses," as being the reply; from the signification of "sinning against Jehovah," as being to turn one‘s self away from the Divine (n. 10498); and from the signification of "being blotted out of the book of Jehovah," as being not to appear in heaven, thus to perish in respect to the spiritual life. That this is signified by "being blotted out of the book of Jehovah," is because those who are in things external separate from what is internal cannot receive anything from heaven; for it is the internal which receives from heaven, and the external without the internal does not receive from any other source than hell. That heaven with man is in his internal, and that the internal is the book of life, and that what is in the internal is out of heaven from the Lord, (n. 10505). . And now go, lead the people unto that which I said to thee. That this signifies that this nation is to represent the church, and not that the church is in it, is evident from the signification of "leading the people unto the land of Canaan," as being to cause that there be a church, for by the "land of Canaan" is signified the church, and in the spiritual sense by "leading the people unto it" is signified to institute the church among them; for that nation was led into that land to the end that it might become a church; but here it denotes merely to represent it, because it is said, "lead the people unto that which," and not "unto the land." That with the Israelitish and Jewish nation there was not a church, but only the representative of a church, (n. 4281, 4288, 4311, 4500, 4899, 4912, 6304, 7048, 9320); and that the "land of Canaan" denotes the church, (n. 3686, 3705, 4447, 5136, 6516); and that consequently "land" or "earth" in the Word denotes the church, (n. 9325). . Behold Mine angel shall go before thee. That this signifies that nevertheless Divine truth will lead, is evident from the signification of "the angel of Jehovah," as being in the supreme sense the Lord as to the Divine Human, and in the relative sense the Divine which is of the Lord with the angels in the heavens (n. 1925, 2821, 4085, 6831, 9303); and that consequently it signifies Divine truth (n. 8192). And from the signification of "going before thee," as being to lead. . And in the day of My visitation I will visit their sin upon them. That this signifies their last state in particular and in general, when is the Judgment, is evident from the signification of "the day of visitation," as being the last state of the church in particular and in general (n. 2242, 6588); and from the signification of "visiting sin," as being to be judged and condemned. It is said "in particular and in general," because the day of visitation to everyone, thus in particular, is when he comes into the other life, which is when he dies, and it is also to the church in general when the church ceases to be. Then all are explored in respect to their quality, and are separated, those who are in evils being cast down into hell, and those who are in goods being raised into heaven. This however is not effected on earth, but in the other life. But how the exploration is accomplished there, and how the separation, and also how the condemnation and the casting down into hell, and the raising into heaven, shall of the Lord’s Divine mercy be told elsewhere. . And Jehovah smote the people. That this signifies the devastation of truth and of good with the Israelitish nation, is evident from the signification of "smiting," as being to destroy (n. 6761), and in the spiritual sense "to destroy" denotes to deprive some one of the truths and goods of faith and love, which in the Word is called "desolation" and "vastation." The reason why devastation is here signified by "smiting," is that in this chapter the subject treated of is the closing of the internal with the Israelitish nation; and the closing of the internal is devastation in respect to truth and good. . Because they had made the calf. That this signifies on account of the worship from infernal love, is evident from the signification of "the calf," as being the delight of the love of self (n. 10407); consequently "to make a calf" denotes worship from the delight of this love, or what is the same, worship from this love. That this love is infernal love has been frequently shown. That by "making the calf" is signified worship, is because "to make it" involves all those things which are said concerning the adoration and worship of it in (verses 4, 5, and 6) of this chapter. . Which Aaron made. That this signifies that this comes from the external things which alone they loved, is evident from the representation of Aaron, as being the external of the Word, of the church, and of worship (n. 10397, 10468, 10480); and when the external only is loved, then the external is said to "make it," but there is meant the nation which loves external things only.