according to the truths they reveal, we are lead to do good to our neighbour,
and to love the Lord with a greater degree of understanding than has been
possible before.
We read from True Christian Religion 244: “The things in the literal sense
of the Word are apparent to every man because they present themselves
directly to the eye; but the things that lie hidden in the spiritual sense are
apparent only to those who love truths because they are truths, and do goods
because they are goods. To them the treasure that the literal sense covers and
guards lies open.”
The Word has been written in the way it was so that its very form and
structure would protect it from those whose intention is evil, and who would
seek to use it to gain power over other. Such people, because they seek evil,
cannot see the wonderful truths in the Word. But, for those who turn to the
Word for comfort and guidance in ways to improve their life, the Lord opens
their eyes and enlightens them, so that for them the Word overflows with His
love.
The way the Word speaks to some people and not to others is illustrated
by the story of king Saul. Before Saul, the children of Israel had always been
governed by some leader, such as Moses, or Samuel, to whom God spoke
directly – and in the case of when the Ten Commandments were given to
Moses, so openly that all the people gathered around the mountain heard it
for themselves. But the children of Israel as a group were becoming more and
more interested in evil, and they no longer wished to be governed by a prophet,
but demanded to have a king so that they could be like the other nations.
The Lord agreed, and selected Saul to be the first king of Israel. At first
it seemed to work out very well. Saul was handsome, brave and a natural
leader. He depended on the counsel given to him by the prophet Samuel,
and the nation prospered. Eventually Saul became disobedient, and Samuel
was instructed to tell him that none of Saul’s sons would be king after him as
punishment.
Saul then tried to kill David, whom he perceived would be the Lord’s
choice to be the next king. His pursuit of David caused him to leave his
kingdom unprotected and open to attack by the Philistines. And finally, when
he returned to face the Philistine attack, he found that the Lord would no
longer speak to him through prophets, or through dreams, or in any other way,
that he was left alone. Without the Lord’s help, he lost the battle, his three sons,
and his own life. (See 1SA 25ff)
The important question we have to ask ourselves in this context is: Did
the Lord actually stop guiding Saul, or was that just the appearance? Wouldn’t
it be more correct to say that Saul had stopped listening to what the Lord had
to say?
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