Spiritual Meaning of Judgement

Spiritual Meaning of

Judgement

By judgment in the Word is signified Divine truth, consequently doctrine and life according to doctrine.

[2] That judgment denotes Divine truth and the intelligence thence derived, consequently that it denotes doctrine and life according to doctrine, is evident from many passages in the Word; as from the following:--

The vineyard of Jehovah Zebaoth is the house of Israel. He looked for judgment but behold an abscess; for righteousness, but behold a cry (Isa. 5:7);

To look for judgment denotes intelligence from Divine truth, and a life according to the commandments. Again:--

He sat upon a throne in truth, in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment (Isa. 16:5);

speaking of the coming of the Lord; the throne upon which He was to sit denotes the Divine truth proceeding from Him, and hence the spiritual kingdom (AC 2129, 5313, 6397, 8625, 9039); to judge judgment denotes to teach Divine truth, and to seek judgment denotes its reception with man.

[3] Again:--

In that day shall Jehovah be for a diadem of ornament to the remains of the people; and for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth upon judgment (Isa. 28:5, 6);

a diadem of ornament, when said of Jehovah, that is, the Lord, denotes Divine intelligence (AC 9828); and the spirit of judgment denotes wisdom from Divine truth (AC 9818); he that sitteth upon judgment denotes one who instructs about Divine truth, that is, teaches it. Again:--

Jehovah hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness (Isa. 33:5);

Zion denotes the celestial church; being filled with judgment denotes intelligence from Divine truth, and being filled with righteousness denotes wisdom from Divine good.

[4] Again:--

Who hath directed the Spirit of Jehovah? With whom took He counsel, that he might make Him intelligent, and instruct Him in the way of judgment, and teach Him knowledge, and shew Him the way of intelligence? (Isa. 40:13, 14);

the Spirit of Jehovah denotes the Divine truth (AC 9818); that instructing Him in the way of judgment denotes to render Him knowing, intelligent, and wise, is plain. In Jeremiah:--

The stork in heaven knoweth her appointed times, but the people of Jehovah know not the judgment of Jehovah. How say ye, We are wise, and the law of Jehovah is with us? (Jer. 8:7, 8);

here not to know the judgment of Jehovah denotes not to know Divine truth, from which is wisdom; therefore it is said, how say ye, We are wise?

[5] Again:--

Woe to him that buildeth his house without righteousness, and his chambers without judgment (Jer. 22:13);

to build chambers without judgment denotes to be imbued with things not true. In Hosea:--

I will betroth thee to Me forever in righteousness and in judgment, and I will betroth thee to Me in truth (Hosea 2:19, 20);

to betroth in judgment denotes to conjoin by means of Divine truth, thus by means of faith and a life of faith. In Amos:--

Let judgment flow like water, and righteousness as a mighty torrent (Amos 5:24).

Ye turn judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood (Amos 6:12);

where also judgment denotes intelligence from Divine truth, and the consequent life.

[6] In Zephaniah:

In the morning will Jehovah give His judgment for light (Zeph. 3:5);

to give judgment for light denotes to reveal Divine truth. Again:--

All the ways of Jehovah are judgment (Deut. 32:4).

Thy truth, O Jehovah, reacheth unto the skies; Thy righteousness is like the mountains of God; Thy judgments are a great deep (Ps. 36:5, 6).

Jehovah shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday (Ps. 37:6).

Hear my voice according to Thy mercy; ). O Jehovah, quicken me according to Thy judgments (Ps. 119:149).

In these passages judgment, and judgments, denote Divine truth.

[7] In Luke:--

Woe unto you Pharisees, ye pass by judgment and the love of God; these ought ye to do (Luke 11:42);

to pass by the judgment of God denotes to pass by Divine truth; and to pass by the love of God denotes to pass by Divine good, and the life from both. As life also is meant, it is said these things ought ye to do. In Isaiah:--

Jehovah Zebaoth shall be exalted in judgment, and God shall be sanctified in righteousness (Isa. 5:16).

Upon the throne of David, to establish the kingdom in judgment and in righteousness, from henceforth and even forever (Isa. 9:7).

Bring forth counsel, do ye judgment; make thy shadow like the night in the midst of the noonday (Isa. 16:3);

to do judgment denotes to act according to Divine truth.

[8] Again:--

I will raise unto David a righteous branch, and He shall do judgment and righteousness in the earth (Jer. 23:5; 33:15).

If a man be righteous, and do judgment and righteousness, and walk in My statutes, and keep My judgments, to do the truth; he is righteous, he shall surely live (Ezek. 18:5, 9).

Seek ye Jehovah, all ye meek of the earth, who have done His judgment (Zeph. 2:3);

to do the judgment of God denotes to do the Divine truth, that is, to do according to it. In Isaiah:--

I have put My Spirit upon Him, He shall bring forth judgment to the nations. He shall not extinguish, nor break, till He have set Judgment in the earth (Isa. 42:1, 4);

speaking of the Lord; to bring forth judgment to the nations, and to set judgment In the earth, denotes to teach Divine truth, and set it up In the church.

[9] Again:--

A law shall go forth from Me, and I will raise up My judgment for a light of the peoples (Isa. 51:4);

where judgment denotes Divine truth, for a light of the peoples denotes for enlightenment. In John:--

For judgment I am come into this world, that those who see not may see; and that those who see may become blind (John 9:39);

to come into the world for judgment denotes to reveal Divine truth, which causes those to see who are wise from the Lord, and those to be blind who are wise from themselves, thus who pass for being learned.

[10] Again:--

Swear by the living Jehovah in truth, in judgment, and righteousness (Jer. 4:2).

There is none that judgeth judgment for health; thou hast no medicines for recovery (Jer. 30:13).

Righteousness and judgment are the support of Thy throne; mercy and truth are before Thy faces (Ps. 89:14);

where righteousness denotes the good which is of mercy; and judgment the truth which is of faith; wherefore it is said, mercy and truth. In Ezekiel:--

Jerusalem hath changed My judgments into wickedness more than the nations, and My statutes more than the lands; therefore I will do judgments on thee in the eyes of the nations, and I will scatter all thy remains (Ezek. 5:6-8, 10, 15);

to change judgments denotes the truths which are of the civil state (that these are signified by judgments, when statutes also are mentioned, (AC 8972); but doing judgments denotes to judge either to death, which is damnation; or to life, which is salvation. Salvation or damnation is also signified by judgment, where the day of judgment, or hour of judgment, is mentioned (Matt. 11:22, 24; 12:36, 41, 42; Luke 10:14; 11:31, 32; John 5:28, 29; Rev. 14:7; 18:10); the same is also signified by judgment, where the office of a judge is treated of (Matt. 5:21, 22; 7:1, 2; 23:14, 33; John 5:24, 26, 27; 7:24; 8:15, 16; 12:31, 47, 48; Luke 6:37; 12:13, 14, 56, 57; 19:21, 22, 27; 20:47; 22:30; Mark 12:40; Isa. 41:1; 3:14; Jer. 25:31; 48:21; Joel 3:12; Ps. 7:8, 9; 9:4, 7, 8; Lev. 19:15; Deut. 1:16, 17; 25:1; Rev. 17:1; 18:10; 20:12, 13).

from AC 9857

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Author: E. Swedenborg (1688-1772).

Design: I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002.