December
8

Isaiah 60:7. “All the flock of Kedar shall be brought together unto thee; to thee the rams of Nebaioth shall minister….”

For the children from Luke 2

15. And it came to pass, that after the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the men, the shepherds, said one to another, Let us now go even to Bethlehem, and see this saying that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.

16. And they came in haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe laid in the manger.

17. And when they had seen, they made known abroad the saying that was spoken to them concerning this little Child.

18. And all who heard marveled at those things which were spoken to them by the shepherds.

19. But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering [them] in her heart.

20. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all things which they had heard and seen, as it was spoken to them.

Readings from the Heavenly Doctrine

AE 706:12. Since a “sign” means certification that they might believe that the Savior of the world was born, it is said that “they should find Him lying in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes.” But that this was an certification no one can know until it is known what is meant by a “manger” and by “swaddling clothes.” “A manger” means the doctrine of truth from the Word, because “horses” signify the understanding of the Word; and thus a manger, as a feeding place for horses, signifies the doctrine of truth from the Word.

AC 2830:9 Here the Lord’s Divine Human is treated of; the “flock of Kedar” is Divine celestial things, and the “rams of Nebaioth,” Divine spiritual things. From all this it is now evident that a “ram” in the internal sense signifies the Lord’s Divine spiritual, and hence the spiritual in men, or what is the same, those of the human race who are spiritual.

AC 10042:9. What is specifically signified by the sacrifice and the burnt-offering from a ram… is evident from the passages in the Word where sacrifices and burnt-offerings from a ram are described, and where a ram is mentioned. From these it is plain that by a “ram” is signified the good of innocence and of charity in the internal man; and by the sacrifice and burnt-offering from a ram, the purification and regeneration of the internal man, thus the implantation of the good of innocence and charity in it.

That this is signified by a “ram” is evident from…Isaiah 60:7… where the subject treated of is the Lord and His heaven and church. “The flocks of Arabia” are all the goods of the internal man; “the rams of Nebaioth” are the goods of innocence and of charity there.

AE 391:9. This treats of the Lord’s coming, and it is said of the Lord Himself. “All the flocks of Arabia that are to be brought together” and “the rams of Nebaioth that are to minister” signify all spiritual goods, external and internal. “Flocks” signify external goods, and “rams” internal goods, and “Arabia” and “Nebaioth” spiritual things….

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