612. 'Noah was a righteous and blameless man among members of his own generation' means that he was such as could be endowed with charity. This is clear from the meaning of 'righteous' and 'blameless', 'righteous' having regard to the good of charity, and 'blameless' to the truth of charity; also from the fact that the essential element of that Church was charity, in the Lord's Divine mercy to be dealt with later on. That 'righteous' has regard to the good of charity and 'blameless' to the truth of charity is clear from the Word, as in Isaiah,
They will seek Me daily, and will desire the knowledge of My ways, as a nation that does righteousness and does not forsake the judgement of their God. They will ask of Me the judgments of righteousness, they will desire the approach of God. Isa 58:2.
Here 'judgement' stands for things that have to do with truth, and 'righteousness' for those that have to do with good. 'Doing judgement and righteousness' became so to speak a stock phrase for truth and good, as in Isa 56:1; Jer 22:3, 13, 15; 23:5; 33:15; Ezek 33:14, 16, 19. And the Lord said,
The righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Matt 13:43.
This stands for people who are endowed with charity. Also in reference to the close of the age the Lord said,
The angels will come out and separate the evil from the midst of the righteous. Matt 13:49.
Here also it stands for people who receive the good that stems from charity.
[2] 'Blameless' however means the truth that stems from charity. For truth can come from one of many other origins, but that which stems from the good of charity deriving from the Lord is called 'blameless' and 'a blameless man', as in David,
Who will sojourn in Your tent? Who will dwell on Your holy mountain? He who walks blameless and does righteousness and speaks truth in his heart. Ps 15:1, 2.
This describes a person who is blameless. In the same author,
With the holy You behave in a holy way, and with a blameless man (vir). You show Yourself blameless. Ps 18:15.
Here 'a blameless man' is one who is so by reason of what is holy, that is, good stemming from charity. In the same author,
Jehovah will withhold no good thing from those walking blamelessly. Ps 84:11.
[3] A 'blameless' person is one who is true by reason of good, that is, one who speaks and does what is true from charity. This is clear from the fact that so many times the words 'walking', 'way', and also 'upright' or 'uprightness', words used in connection with truth, are applied to someone who is blameless or to blamelessness, as in David,
I will instruct the blameless in the way how far he shall come towards me. I will walk in the blamelessness of my heart within my house. Ps 101:2.
And in verse 6 of the same Psalm,
He who walks in the way of the blameless will serve Me.
In the same author,
Blessed are the blameless in the way, walking in the law of Jehovah. Ps 119:1.
In the same author, Blamelessness and uprightness will protect me. Ps 25:21.In the same author,
Mark the blameless man, and behold the upright, for the latter end of that man is peace. Ps 37:37.From these quotations it is clear that someone who does what is good is called 'righteous', while someone who does truth deriving from it, which is the same as 'doing righteousness and judgement', is called 'blameless'. 'Holiness and righteousness' belongs on the celestial side of faith, 'blamelessness and judgement' on the derivative spiritual side.
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