216. As government from good, which is the kind of government that exists in the Lord's celestial kingdom, is called righteousness; and government from truth, which is the kind of government that exists in the Lord's spiritual kingdom, is called judgment, so the terms "righteousness and judgment" are used in the Word when heaven and the church are treated of, "righteousness" signifying celestial good, and "judgment" spiritual good, which good, as has been said above, is in its essence truth, as in the following passages:
Of peace there shall be no end upon the throne of David and upon His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it in judgment and in righteousness from henceforth and even to eternity (Isaiah 9:7).
By "David" here the Lord is meant;# and by "His kingdom" heaven, as is evident from the following passage:
I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and He shall reign as King, and shall deal intelligently and shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land (Jer. 23:5). Jehovah is exalted, for He dwelleth on high; He hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness (Isaiah 33:5). "Zion" also means heaven and the church.## I, Jehovah, doing judgment and righteousness on the earth, for in these things I delight (Jer. 9:24). I will betroth thee unto Me forever, and I will betroth thee unto Me in righteousness and judgment (Hosea 2:19). O Jehovah, in the heavens Thy righteousness is like the mountains of God, and Thy judgments are like the great deep (Psalm 36:5, 6). They ask of Me the judgments of righteousness, they long for an approach unto God (Isaiah 58:2). So in other places. # By "David" in the prophetic parts of the Word, the Lord is meant (n. 1888, 9954). ## In the Word "Zion" means the church, and specifically the celestial church (n. 2362, 9055).
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