269. 5836. The purpose of the heave offering is that the evil spirit may be taken out of their midst, that he may no longer come and arouse evil. [See WE 5837-38, concluding the explanation of Exod. 35:24.
[See also WE 5855, explaining Exod. 36:3.] 5856. A state of non-freedom is never pleasing, for it takes away all that is delightful. This can be made quite clear by the love between married partners. Whatever is not shared by both in mutual love is not delightful and pleasant. And if there is even the least element of compulsion on the part of one or the other, or what appears as compulsion, to that degree the pleasantness becomes less; therefore it is the mutual love between the partners that makes what is called freedom, since acting from love is acting from freedom.* From this we may infer regarding the heavenly marriage, which is the Kingdom of God the Messiah, that one who is without the love for God the Messiah above all things can never be given eternal happiness. Forcing anyone can never be joined with happiness, because it is not from the love of God the Messiah above all things. * In the original this sentence is emphasized by the word "Obs." written twice in the margin.
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