49. Thus far it has been shown that the Word in the natural sense, which is the sense of the Letter, is in its sanctity and in its fulness. Something shall now be said to show that the Word in that sense is also in its power. The greatness of the power of Divine Truth, and its nature, in the heavens and also on the earths, may be evident from what has been said in the work on HEAVEN AND HELL concerning the power of the angels of heaven Nos. 228-233. The power of Divine Truth is directed especially against falsities and evils, thus against the hells. These must be combated by means of truths from the sense of the Letter of the Word. Moreover, by means of the truths that are with a man, the Lord has the power of saving him; for by means of truths from the sense of the Letter of the Word, a man is reformed and regenerated. He is then taken out of hell and introduced into heaven. This power the Lord assumed even as to His Divine Human, after He had fulfilled all things of the Word even to its, ultimates. [2] Therefore, when He was about to fulfil what yet remained, by the passion of the cross, He said to the chief priest:
Hereafter shall ye see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven. Matt. xxvi 64; Mark xiv 62.
The Son of Man, is the Lord as to the Word; the clouds of heaven are the Word in the sense of the Letter; and sitting at the right hand of God means omnipotence through the Word; as also in Mark xvi 19.
In the Jewish Church the Nazirites represented the power of the Lord from the ultimates of truth. So also did Samson, of whom it is said that he was a Nazirite from his mother's womb; and that his power lay in his hair. Moreover, by Nazirite and Naziriteship is signified hair. [3] He himself made it clear that his strength lay in his hair when he said:
There hath not come a razor upon mine head: for I have been a Nazirite from my mother's womb: if I be shaven then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man. Judges xvi 17.
No one can know why the Naziriteship, by which is signified the hair, was instituted, and why Samson's strength was from his hair, unless he knows what is signified in the Word by the head. The head signifies heavenly wisdom which angels and men have from the Lord by means of Divine Truth. Consequently, the hair of the head signifies heavenly wisdom in ultimates, and also Divine Truth in ultimates. [4] Because this was signified by hair from correspondence with the heavens, it was therefore ordained as a law for the Nazirites,
That they should not shave the hair of their head, because it was the Naziriteship of God upon their head. Num. vi 1-21.
For the same reason it was also ordained
That the high priest and his son should not shave their head, lest they should die, and wrath should come upon the whole house of Israel. Lev. x 6.
[5] Since the hair, on account of this signification grounded in correspondence, was so holy, therefore the Son of Man, who is the Lord as to the Word, is described even to His hairs,
Which were white like wool, as white as snow. Rev. i 14. So also the Ancient of Days is described in Daniel, vii 9.
On this subject something may also be seen above, No. 35. In short the power of Divine Truth, or the Word, is in the sense of the Letter, because the Word in that sense is in its fulness; and because the angels of the Lord's two kingdoms and men are simultaneously in that sense.
This page is part of 
© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church