THEORIES AND FACTS In astonishment and bitterness, ‘Job’ confronts his friends, haughty with their human wisdom; who, instead of comforting him, they ridicule him; as though, in their sight, he became a laughingstock. Here, he cries out, saying, that the wisdom they claim to possess is not confined to them; He, as well, partakes of the human wisdom, granted to them by God; although he does not partake of the cruelty of their hearts. Nature itself testifies to God’s exalted care and authority, better than they do; His wisdom surpasses every human thought; and no man can comprehend nor limit God’s plan by his limited mind. In chapters 12 to 14, ‘Job’ answers Zophar in some detail; And as usual. After arguing with his friends, he, humbly and with love, addresses God with some admonishment! In the end of the first round, ‘Job’ firmly rebukes his friends for being overly proud of them, and accuses them of rejecting to confront the facts of life. In this chapter, he proclaims that he is aware of the generally well-known answers (3); yet what he needs from his friends is love and compassion. Job’s friends clarified their view concerning God’s policy; that, it is the wicked who suffer, and not the righteous; Whereas ‘Job’ proclaims that, contrary to what they think, it often happens that the wicked are the ones who become successful and secure (6). ‘Job’ proclaims that the wisdom they boast is not theirs alone; all those who have eyes could join the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, in seeing and acknowledging the works of God; and goes on saying that nature itself testifies to God, the Grantor of life (7 – 10). Here, ‘Job’ does not deny the traditional wisdom (11 – 12); although he reveals that, it sometimes fails to interpret what dwell on us (13 – 25). 1- Misjudging ‘Job’ 1 – 5 2- The wicked would not necessarily perish in this world 6 – 11 3- God’s wisdom and authority 12 – 25 1- MISJUDGING HIM: “Then ‘Job’ replied: ‘Doubtless you are the people, and wisdom will die with you’” (Job 12: 1, 2). Here, ‘Job’ rebukes his friends for being unwise: 1- Their cruelty was devoid of wisdom; a rebuke addressed to everyone who, with no limits, and in convenient and non-convenient times, feels superior and looks down on his brethren, especially at the time of their suffering. “The wise remain silent until the right moment, but a boasting fool misses the right moment” (Sirach 20: 7). 2- They imagine that they are the only people with wisdom; and that their judgment is perfect and superior, by which everyone is measured and condemned. The Holy Book warning us against falling into such false claims of counting ourselves wise, in haughtiness and pride, says: “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and shun evil” (Proverb 3: 7); “Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him” (proverb 26: 12); “A rich man may be wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who ha discernment sees through him” (Proverb 28: 11); and: 2 “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom, or the strong man boast of his strength, or the rich man boast of his riches” (Jeremiah 9: 23). Be, as advised by the apostle, ignorant in this world, to become wise; do not insist on defending your view, and do not volunteer to judge an issue; but keep on showing humility with simplicity and faith. Just be careful to keep everything sanctified, wise and of benefit, whenever you proclaim the law of God; and seek the advice of your spiritual guide in these matters1. St. John Cassian 3- Because they assumed that wisdom will die with them; that all mankind without them would be counted as ignorant; and that after their sun sets, the whole world would fall into the darkness of ignorance. It is really foolish to imagine that we are so indispensable, that our death would result in a great loss; As God is capable to set after us, those who are more efficient than us. The death of the wise and the good does not mean the death of wisdom and goodness! 4- Unbalanced behavior under the pretence of wisdom would turn even what is good into destruction and not into edification: “Do not be overly righteous , nor be overly wise – why should you destroy yourself?”(Ecclesiastes 7: 16). 5- Pope Gregory the Great and other fathers believe that Job’s friends represent the heretics who depend upon their human wisdom, and boast their mental, material, and social possibilities, in haughtiness and arrogance, disregarding the spiritual ecclesiastical thought. “Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” (1 Corinthians 1: 20). “Do not deceive yourselves. If anyone of you thinks he is wise by the standard of this age, he should become a fool so that he may become wise” I1 Corinthians 3: 18). “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom” (James 3: 13). ‘Job’ talks in astonishment, as though to say: Is the dignity of rational creation indeed connected to you alone? … Do you know God’s wisdom, concerning the wicked and the righteous? … Is it proper for men to know it? … Do you know that God tests the righteous, confirming His longsuffering on the sinners (Sirach 2: 5, 11). That is the reason why some prosper while others are tempted; as for some, longsuffering leads them to repentance (Ezekiel 33: 11); while for others, wrestling with temptation prepares them to get a crown (1 Corinthians 9: 25). If you understand this, you would no more judges the righteous who is going through temptation; and you would not count as righteous, the sinner who is prospering; But judge everyone according to his deeds. If you know this, it would not be befitting for you to utter in such a way in the judgment to come. The wisdom of God, on the contrary accompanies the one who seeks it; as it conforms to training on the knowledge of God and His law. By that, man would clearly see two things: the glory of God, and the power of the law given to us. Father Hesychius of Jerusalem 1 Institutes, 4:41. 3 The wicked and the heretics never fear to instruct those who are better than them; believing that everyone else is inferior to them. The holy church, on the other hand, calls every haughty in thought, and every proud, to renew him with the spirit of reason, through connecting together in equality. ‘Job’, a member in this holy church, having seen his friends, arrogantly uttering such big words of teaching, answered them saying: “Doubtless you are the people and wisdom will die with you” (2). Whoever assumes that he exalts above all humans in reason; whose mind is puffed with pride and haughtiness; who despises everyone, and admires himself; and who foolishly imagines that he is the only one with wisdom, is actually confining himself in his narrow self! Pope Gregory the Great Although the false apostles might have had a higher gift of eloquence than Paul; Yet that does not mean a thing, as long as the essence of preaching in him is well established; as their eloquence is nothing but a false appearance1! St. John Chrysostom The devil invented the heresies and dissensions to corrupt faith and truth, and to destroy unity; and being unable to keep us on the new dark path of fallacy, he draws us into a new realm of deception! He draws men away from the church herself; and with the assumption that they are approaching light, and getting away from the night of the world, he covers them with a new wave of darkness, while they are unaware of it! And although they are not abiding to the teachings of the Bible, to the system and the law of Christ, they still claim that they are in the light through the deceptive ways of the enemy; about whom the apostle says: that he may change himself into the likeness of an angel of light, and adorn his ministers like those of righteousness. They call night as day, death as salvation, despair as hope, betrayal as faithfulness, the antichrist as Christ; and suppress the truth by deception, through showing the truth in a false way. That is what happens, O brethren, when we turn away from the fountain of truth; when we look away from the Head, and not keep the teaching that comes from heaven2. St. Cyprian “But I have a mind as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know all these things?” (Job 12: 3). It is not with haughtiness that ‘Job’ says that to them; but he intends to keep them from falling into arrogance; as though the knowledge of divine secrets, especially those concerning God’s wisdom in caring for creation, and in His dealing with the wicked and the righteous, is confined to them alone; He is not inferior to them in knowledge; and there may probably be others with the same knowledge! His goal here is to suppress their pride, and not to boast his knowledge. In the Septuagint version it came as: “I have a heart as yours” (3 LXX). He says: I know, like you, how to think; and besides, “I have a (human) heart as yours”. Yet, while you have darkened your hearts, I made mine fruitful with God’s law. Although I have a heart like yours, yet I can see Him, whom You cannot see. That is why, I do not marvel to hear you mock me! 1 In 2 Cor. hom 23:3. 2 The Unity of the Catholic Church, 3. 4 Father Hesychius of Jerusalem “But I have a mind as well as you: I am not inferior to you” (3).Who could deny the extent of greatness of the righteous ‘Job’, and his experience that surpasses that of his friends? Now, to correct their haughtiness, he confirms that he is not inferior to them; yet, to keep himself from uttering the wrong thing, He refrains from saying that he is more exalted than them! Pope Gregory the Great How beautiful it is, for man to feel fellowship with humanity in enjoying the mind, the emotions, and the heart; Everyone according to God’s gift, for the glory of God and the edification of man and that of the congregation. But what separates one from another, is to sanctify of what God provided him by the work of the Holy Spirit of God, and to flare the flame of His gifts with faithfulness and diligence according to God’s will. This sanctification does not happen against our will; and is not enjoyed, except by the humble! God granted the rational nature the grace of the freedom of will ; and gave to man the ability to decide what he wants, in order that goodness may dwell in our life; not by force nor against our will, but according to our free choice. Our enjoyment of free will leads us to discover obvious facts in the nature of things. If man abuses this freedom of will, he, according to the words of the apostle, “invents ways of doing evil” (Romans 1: 30). Everyone of God is counted as a brother; whereas he, who refuses to partake of the good work, is acting with his complete free will1. St. Gregory of Nyssa I pray to God to grant us the grace of humility that rids us of a multitude of ailments, and keeps us from several temptations2. Father Dortheos of Gazza Whoever is aware of the weakness of human nature, would gain the experience of God’s strength. Father Maximus the Confessor “I have become a laughing stock to my friends, though I called upon god and He answered me-- a mere laughingstock, though righteous and blameless” (Job 12: 4). Instead of seriously supporting he, ‘Job’ found out that his friends are treating him with scorn, and are treading upon him, as though he became their laughingstock! They came to comfort him and to give him their counsel; but their way of counseling turned into bitter criticism, that caused him more hurt. ‘Job’ could have endured that from gloating enemies, but not from dear friends. In this, ‘Job’ was a symbol of the Lord Christ, about whom it is said: “If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; If a foes were raising himself against me, I could hide from him. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend” (Psalm 55: 12, 13); and: “If someone asks Him: ‘what are these wounds on Your body?’ He will answer: ‘The wounds I was given at the house of My friends’” (Zechariah 13: 6). What made his wounds worse, was that, beside being his friends, they were religious elders and rulers of the people, from whom, he hoped to pray for him to God, who would have listened to them; and of whom he hoped to hear words of comfort instead of those extremely painful rebukes. But that was always the portion . 1 نشید الأناشید للقدیس غریغوریوس أسقف نیصص، تعریب الدكتور جورج نوّار، عظة 2 . 2 تعریب الأرشیمندریت افرلم كریاكوس: القدیس دوروثاؤس: التعالیم الروحیة, مقال 2 5 of the prophets, the apostles, and all the righteous men of God, to become the laughingstock of even those who are close to them! The greater the love of God, the saints acquire, the more they endure for His sake1! St. Augustine Yes, “the righteous and the blameless would be a laughingstock”; not to everyone, but of the unrighteous (Wisdom 5: 3); not of the rational, but of the drunkards; not of elders, but of the kids; ridiculed by the sinner (Jeremiah 20: 7, 8); they “sowed in their tears and sufferings” (Psalm 126: 5-6). The sinner would never think of the coming fruits, and of that the righteous would cross over from tears to joy, from suffering to exalted honor, and that “the sorrows of the righteous are but for a limited time” (see 2 Corinthians 4: 17-18). Father Hesychius of Jerusalem While the wicked rebuke the righteous, they turn those whom they rebuke into witnesses against them. The moaning soul, confined in prayers, would hear the voice of the Most High; because the ridicule of his fellow creatures, would make the one whose innocence makes him foreigner to his fellow creatures, a (friend) of God. It is the wisdom of the righteous that makes them seek, not the apparent, but the hidden; and that make them love the truth as it is, avoiding the vain haughtiness. They practice the good works, not for the joy of bearing the evil pride; they do not avenge the harm done against them; counting every insult for the sake of truth, a gain. Yet such simplicity of the righteous, makes them a laughingstock to the wicked of this world; those who count the goodness of purity as ignorance, and practicing all the laws of the truth, as weakness. As far as the divine hidden Judge is concerned, this man of innocence is seen as shining with virtues, and full of splendor, reflected by the worthiness of his life. This man, who does not feel comfortable when honored; … does not feel depressed when despised; … trains his body on chastity; … rejoices when reviled; … is compassionate from the heart toward the afflicted; … rejoices with the success of others as though it is his own success; … elaborately watches the expenses of the holy word in the heart; … when tested, is found of no experience in giving a double response; … is a lamp giving light inside, and is mocked for not giving it outside; … To the inside, he glitters with the flame of love; while to the outside, he shines, yet with no splendor of vain glory; … and, although he shines, he, who glitters with virtue, is counted as despised. So was the young David, who was overlooked by his own father, when he was reluctant to introduce him together with his seven brothers to the prophet Samuel, to get the gift of anointment. And when he was asked by the prophet whether those were all the sons he has, he answered disrespectfully: “There is still the youngest, but he is tending the sheep” (1 Samuel 16: 11). And when he was brought and was chosen, he was rewarded by the words: “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16: 7). So was the prominent preacher St. Paul, when, underestimating the glory of his apostleship before the people, he says: “As apostles of Christ we could have been 1 Patience, 17. 6 a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children” (see 1 Thessalonian 2: 6-7). Pope Gregory the Great “Men at ease have contempt for misfortune, as the fate of those whose feet are slipping” (Job 12: 5). As though ‘Job’ says that the one whose feet slip; even though he used to be a shining lamp before, he is looked upon now as a quenched lamp that we tread upon with our feet. It embitters Job’s soul; to see those at ease and fulfilled, despise the tempted, the sufferers, and the hungry. “In the appointed time, he would be ready to die by the strikes of a stranger, and would watch his house destroyed by the wicked” (5 LXX). What is meant by “the appointed time”? It is the time designated by God, who changes the hours and times, and moves everyone here and there, according to His will, God knows the limits of those under temptation, and to what extent they can endure it. He appoints; the time when the righteous would die by the strikes of the enemies; namely, are abused by the wicked; He decides the means they would abuse them, and yet live their life at ease. For the righteous, on the other hand, He chooses for them how to persevere (James 5: 11); and to endure grief on earth. God does not haphazardly allow the wicked to destroy the houses of the righteous, whom He would never forsake, nor allow for them to endure more than what they can. … They will not be really harmed, if their present dwelling places and earthly tents are destroyed (2 Corinthians 5: 1-2). That is then what we believe; that even if we are to experience some temporary destruction, yet we will obviously ultimately win, and receive the reward for our perseverance; And instead of our earthly dwelling, we shall inherit a heavenly dwelling place, where we would live among the angels and archangels. Father Hesychius of Jerusalem Because the lamp despised on earth, will glitter in heaven, it is added: “In the appointed time”; The Psalmist says: “I choose the appointed time; It is I who judge uprightly” (Psalm 75: 2); The Truth proclaims in the gospel: “The right time for Me has not yet come” (John 7: 6); and Peter says: “He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything”(Acts 3: 21). Pope Gregory the Great St. Aphrahat, the Persian, tells us about how some wise man got offended because of the cruel persecution the Christians were enduring, without any interference of God to save them; And how he responded to him, using Some living examples from the Old Testament, to show that God allows for His beloved, to pass through affliction; Then to be glorified in the appointed time. It happened one day that someone, claimed to be wise among the Jews, asked me, saying: [Jesus, who is called your Teacher, proclaimed that if one of you has faith even as little as a mustard seed, and say to this mountain, to move from here and be cast in the sea, it would obey him (Matthew 17; 19; 21: 22); And, “There is nothing impossible for you”, It is obvious that, among your entire people, to whom this is written: there is not one single individual, to whose prayer God would listen and bring an end to this persecution you are facing1! 1 Demonstrations, 21: 1. 7 Listening to his blasphemy against the Way, I got really confused! And being sure that he does not know the right interpretation of the words he quotes, I, in my turn, asked him, quoting from the law and the prophets, saying: Do you believe in God’s words to Israel: “When they are in the land of their enemies,I will not reject them or abhor them so as to destroy them utterly and break my covenant with them” (Leveticus 26: 44). And, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior” (Isaiah 43: 2-3). Do not you have among your entire people, one single righteous and good man, to pass through the sea, the rivers, and not be swept over by their waters, or to walk through the fire, and not be set ablaze by its flames?! I will reject your explanation, the same way you rejected mine, of the words you asked me about1! Jacob was persecuted, and Esau was the persecutor; and yet, Jacob gained the blessings and the birth right; whereas Esau was denied both2. Joseph was persecuted by his brothers; and yet, he was glorified; his brothers prostrated before him; and all his dreams and vision were realized. Joseph, the persecuted, was a symbol of Jesus, the persecuted. Joseph was given a multicolored robe by his father; and Jesus was clothed with a body from the Virgin Mary. Joseph was beloved by his father more than his brothers; and Jesus was beloved by His Father. Joseph saw visions, and dreamt dreams, that were all realized in Jesus. Joseph was a shepherd together with his brothers; and Jesus is the Head Shepherd. Joseph was sent by his father to visit his brothers, who, seeing him coming, they plotted to kill him. And when Jesus was sent by God the Father to visit His brothers, they said: “This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and take His inheritance” (Matthew 21: 38). Joseph’s brothers cast him in a pit; and Jesus’ brothers cast Him down to dwell among the dead. Joseph ascended from the pit; and Jesus resurrected from among the dead3. Moses was also persecuted like Jesus. Moses, when born, was hidden lest his persecutors would kill him; and Jesus when born, was taken to Egypt lest Herod His persecutor would kill him. Moses, was born in the days they were casting the newborn children in the river; and when Jesus was born, they killed the children of Bethlehem and its neighborhood. To Moses God said: “All the men who wanted to kill you are dead” (Exodus 4: 19); and to Joseph, the carpenter, while he was in Egypt, was told by an angel: “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead” (Matthew 2: 20). Moses took his people away from the bondage of Pharaoh; and Jesus saved His people from that of the devil. 1 Demonstrations, 21: 2. 2 Demonstrations, 21: 9. 3 Demonstrations, 21: 9. 8 Moses was raised in the house of Pharaoh in Egypt; so was Jesus, when Joseph the carpenter took Him there. Joshua the son of Nun was persecuted by the wicked peoples; and Jesus was persecuted by the ignorant people. Joshua the son of Nun took the inheritance from his persecutors, and gave it to his people; and our Savior Jesus took the inheritance from His persecutors and granted it to us – the Gentiles1. Joshua the son of Nun prayed to God to hold the sun and the moon still, until he defeated the peoples who persecuted him; and our Savior Jesus caused the sun to set in the middle of the day, to put to shame the people who persecuted and crucified Him. Joshua the son of Nun distributed the inheritance among his people; and our Savior Jesus promised to give the peoples the land of life2. These memories, beloved brother, concerning Jesus, as well as the righteous, who were persecuted, I am writing to you, to put at ease the hearts of those who are persecuted today for the sake of Jesus; to whom He wrote, saying: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first…. Because you do not belong to this world, as I do not belong to this world, the world hates you” (John 15: 19, 20; 17: 14) 3. St. (Mar) Aphrahat, the Persian 2- THE WICKED WOULD NOT NECESSARILY PERISH IN THIS WORLD: “THE TENTS OF MARAUDERS ARE UNDISTURBED, AND THOSE WHO PROVOKE GOD ARE SECURE – THOSE WHO CARRY THEIR GOD IN THEIR HANDS” (JOB 12: 6). We should not marvel when we see the wicked live in prosperity; seem successful and in need of nothing; and when we see them mock the believers under temptation, who suffer affliction. They are like weeds in wintertime, that mock the trees, when bared of leaves, and seem lifeless, as though fruitless, and only fit for use as fuel for fire! As everything has an appointed time by God, when springtime comes, the weeds will soon dry up, and probably replaced by other weeds; while the trees that looked dry before, will be laden with beautiful leaves and fruits. So ‘Job’ looked at his friends who made him their laughingstock; and told them that ‘Everything for God has its appointed time’. Objecting to the principle adopted by his friends, that the prosperity of the wicked would never last long in this world, and that they would soon face setbacks, he confirms to them that God has His own wisdom in dealing with people; and may choose to postpone the reward or the punishment to the other world. That is why he says that although the marauders keep practicing blasphemy, violence, and persecution against others, they are still successful, and their tents are still undisturbed. He probably means by this the Sabeans and the Chaldeans who have marauded his possessions. 1 Demonstrations, 21: 10. 2 Demonstrations, 21: 11. 3 Demonstrations, 21:21. 9 It is not uncommon to see the thieves, arrogantly disregarding their relationship with God, take away the possessions of others through betrayal and force, not fearing any harm that would come on them. I wish no one would misunderstand the longsuffering of God, nor would fail to put the coming judgment into his consideration. I wish no one would assume that the Just Judge would ever let the deeds of the wicked go unpunished. I wish everyone would learn a lesson from the plagues that came over Pharaoh (Exodus 14: 4), over Nebuchadnezar (Jeremiah 5: 57); over Jesabel (2 Kings 9: 7-10), over the Amalekites ( Baruch 3: 27-28); over the sons of Korah (Numbers 16: 310; over the group of Dathan (Numbers 26: 9-10); and over Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19: 24-25); etc. What came upon all those wicked peoples, who despised the longsuffering of God, make us meditate and fear the punishment they had. Father Hesychius of Jerusalem St. Augustine, to put our heart at ease, often tells us that, if the wheat is found mixed with the chaff in this world; Yet it would do the wheat no harm, nor cause it to lose its crown; because the time will eventually come when it will be separated from the wheat and burned with fire. This chaff would not cause those who are the wheat of the Lord to perish; Even though they are few if compared to the others, yet they are still a great multitude of God’s elect, “gathered from the four winds, from one end of heavens to the other” (Matthew 24: 31); who will cry out to the Lord, saying: “Help,Lord, for the godly are no more, the faithful have vanished from among men” (Psalm 12: 1); And the Lord will answer them, saying: “He, who stands firm to the end (when evil will be chained) will be saved” (Matthew 24: 13) 1. St. Augustine It is not for us to judge, and to separate the wheat from the tares, nor the vessels that are for honor from those that are for . Yet, it is also befitting for us to rest assured that the wheat would never be neglected by God because of the tares; nor the vessels for honor would lose their dignity because those for ; as it is said by the apostles: “God knows His own”. The wheat would not perish for the sake of the tares (See Matthew 3; 12); nor, for the sake of the bad fish in the net, no good fish would be taken in the baskets (Matthew 13; 48) … He has predestined us before we were even born, and promised us, saying: “For those God foreknew He also predestined, … And those He predestined He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, he also glorified” (Romans 8: 30) 2. He also says: [Even when the seeds are hidden among the chaff, they are still known by the owner of the field. Anyone who is a seed among the chaff should not fear, as the eyes of the One who winnows us would not be deceived3]. St. Augustine “Ask the beasts of the field, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you” (Job 12; 7). ‘Job’ reveals that what his three friends boasted as wisdom is nothing but natural knowledge, known by all creation, even by the beasts of the field, and the birds of the air. 1 Ep. 93:33. 2 On Ps. 89. 3 On Ps. 50. 10 He says: Ask even those animals who cannot speak; Even though they may lack the language, yet they can tell by some natural way that they know their Creator, and are aware of their Maker and the Secret of their existence. Now, ask the beasts of the field: ‘By whose orders, Balaam’s donkey talked’ (Numbers 22; 26); and ask the birds of the air: Who ordered the ravens to feed Elijah?’ (1 Kings 17: 4-6). Father Hesychius of Jerusalem If you are in the night, watching the dazzling beauty of the stars, you can see the Artist who designed them and adorned the sky with these roses! And if in the early morning, watching the wonders of the day, you may, through the seen objects, reach the unseen ones. I wish that the splendor of these seen things, would lead us to comprehend the unseen One, who is above every earthly beauty; And that the magnificence of these limited sensed things would lift us up to realize the exaltation of the eternal, the limitless, whose might surpasses the possibilities of our brains and hearts1. Did the day come to an end? Well! Give thanks to Him, who provided us with the sun to help us in our day’s work; and who provides us with the fire to illuminate the night, and to fulfill our other needs in life. I wish that the night would inspire us to pray! When you look at the sky, and see the beauty of the stars; pray to the Lord of all the things seen, who “in wisdom made them all” (Psalm 104: 24). And when you see all nature, deep in sleep; Once again, prostrate yourself before Him, who, even against our own will, relieves us from the burden of continuous labor; and, through a short period of rest, brings us back to our active self! Do not let the whole night be dedicated to sleep; do not allow half your days to go without benefit, in lazy unconsciousness. But divide the night-time between sleep and prayers. And let your light sleep be training for piety; as our dreams during the night are reflections of our thoughts during the day2. St. Basil the Great “Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you” (Job 12: 8). All the irrational creatures testify how the big fish devour the small; and how the strong wild beasts feed on the weak; which would not happen, if it was not for the sin that came into being; but “the wolf would live with the lamb” (Isaiah 11: 6). “Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you” (8). Yet the earth would not tell you about the essence of Him, who formed and shaped them like a Potter; and not only the earth, but also the sun, the heavens, and even the heaven of heavens, would not be able to proclaim that! St. Cyril of Jerusalem “Let the fish of the sea inform you” (8), who ordered the great fish to swallow Jonah (Jonah 2: 1 etc.). Father Hesychius of Jerusalem There are migratory fish that migrate when the time come to reproduce, as though by a collective order, and a specific decree; some from a sea, and some from another, governed by a common law. We see them hastening like flood, through the Bosphorus toward the Black Sea! Who ordered them to move? Who is their 1 Hexamaeron 1:11. 2 Cf. Reg. Brev. 32. 11 leader? Where are the instruction declared in the public places, to fix the time of travel? And yet, you can tell for sure that there is a divine power that controls everything, and every detail. Here we notice how the fish do not oppose the law of God; while we, humans would not keep His commandments! Do not despise the fish, on account of that they are mute, and are not able to talk. Have fear to be less rational than they are; when you do not keep the commandments of your Creator. Listen to the fish, they may lack the ability to talk; Yet their behavior will tell you that maintaining their race is the force motivating them to start that exhaustive and long migrations. It may lack the comprehension, yet there is a natural law, deep in their instinct that motivate them to do it … and that say to them: Come, let us go to the Black Sea, where the sun is less intense, and the water conditions are more convenient to produce the young and raise them! And once they achieve their goal, they intend to reverse their course; as though they are saying: The Black Sea is a little shallow, prone to violent storms that turn its water turbid, and lacks the natural refuge against the wild currents; besides being too cold in winter. Having made use of its convenient summer conditions, the fish would hasten to return to the warmth of the deep waters, and to find rest in the quiet gulfs, away from the mighty winds of the north. I have watched all that, and marveled at the comprehensive wisdom of God. If the irrational animals submit to embedded instinct, by which they know how to manage their life; And if the fish know how to chose and what to avoid; What would we say, we who are honored with the rational nature, are taught the divine law, are called by the divine promises, and are fulfilled by the Holy Spirit? Should we manage our affairs with less wisdom than the irrational fish?! Could fish manage to avoid certain things before they happen; while we, on the contrary, do not care, and waste our whole life in carnal pleasures? Fish travel incredible distances in the sea, searching for the most convenient conditions for their life; while we live in such laziness and slothfulness! No one should give excuses of ignorance; as we possess a natural power of mind that tells us how to discern between what is good and what is bad1! St. Basil the Great “Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?” (Job 12: 9). Every rational, or even irrational being, can realize that God is his Creator, and that He is the One who sustains him. “In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind” (Job 12: 10). Why do young ravens call Him? (Psalm 147: 9). Why do lions seek their food from God?” (Psalm 104: 9). If these creature put their Creator in their consideration; how much more is it befitting for us, whom He brought into existence?! Do not we know that “the Spirits of all men” are in God’s hand?! Who from the beginning, has breathed in them the breath of life (Genesis 2: 7); as demonstrated in the prophetic song of David, saying: “When You take away their breath, they die and return to the dust” (Psalm 104: 29). Father Hesychius of Jerusalem Hexamaeeron 1 ترجمة الأب ج. عقیقي الیسوعي. 7:4 12 The hand refers to the power … He grants the soul the power to give life to the body; and on another aspect, He gives her the ability to gain the comprehension of eternity. Pope Gregory the Great No creature can refer its existence to itself. You alone do not owe Your existence to anyone. All of us, and all creation – did not exist before its creation. The cause of our existence is the will of God1. Our existence is not a fruit of the worthiness of our works, but is a grace from our Creator2. As to the rational creation; goodness in them, it is not there by nature, but is a good gift from their Creator … The Creator granted them the mind, and gave them the freedom to act through a freedom of will; in order that any goodness in them would be counted as though it is their own3! No one, whether a Jew or a Gentile, is devoid of that law which is in mankind by nature. God granted man all the feelings and senses by which he could strive to stay and grow in virtue; and planted in him the gift of mind, by which he could realize what to do and what to avoid. He granted all that to everyone with no exception4. The scholar Origen “Does not the ear test words, as the tongue test food?” (Job 12: 11). It is befitting for the ear not to believe everything it hears, but to discern between the truth and the vanity; the way the tongue discerns between the sweet and the bitter. If the ear and the tongue are committed to discern what they receive, whether by hearing or by tasting; Is it not befitting for man to embrace the spirit of discernment to separate the true teachings from the false ones (1 Corinthians 10: 15; 11: 13)? Here, he does not talk about the ear of the body, but that of the spirit. By the carnal ear we can hear the sound of words, whereas by the inner ears, we can discern the thoughts and the sense of words. The tongue as well, can taste the food, as far as the pleasure it gives; whereas the (tongue) of the Spirit can discern its benefit. Father Hesychius of Jerusalem The mind (nous) discerns the words … If God has given us the tongue to taste the food, He has also given us the mind to make our decisions, and the time to seek the understanding. St. John Chrysostom There is only one judge to supervise what enters; namely, the ability of the mind to discern. But through befitting ways, the five senses are kept distinct, and through them, God performs wonders. The eye cannot hear; the ear cannot see, the tongue cannot smell, nor the nose can taste. Although all these work through the power of one mind; Yet no individual sense can practice but the one single job designated to it by the Creator. It is up to us to gather all these outer carnal arrangements, together inside in a spiritual way. 1 In 1 Sam.,Homily 2. 2 Comm. in Ep. ad Rom. 4:5 [See Drewery]. 3 De Principiis 2:9:2 [See Drewery]. 4 Comm. in Ep. ad Rom. 3:6. 13 One wisdom dwells in someone less than in another … Yet, while there is no differences between them, Through it we can practice a diversity of things: One man may be given a gift of wisdom, another a gift of knowledge, another a gift of tongues, and another a gift of healing …. The righteous ‘Job’ condemns the lack of experience of his friends, and the rudeness of him, who is puffed up claiming that he has acquired the wisdom; as knowing something about God is something, while understanding what you know is something else. Pope Gregory the Great There is no single virtue that we can acquire on our own, unless we are helped by the divine grace. In the Holy Book we see that ‘discernment’ is counted among the gifts of the Holy Spirit; As according to the apostle Paul: “To one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the same Spirit, … and to another discerning of spirits …” (1 Corinthians 12: 8-10). So you see that discernment is not an earthly gift, nor it is a simple matter, but is a great gift given by the divine grace. If man1 does not zealously seek it, he will certainly become as though in the darkness of the night, he would not only fall into pits of vain lusts, but would err even in simple things. Discernment instructs man how to walk along the royal path; How not to go to extremes in virtue; namely, neither to exaggerate, and to go boldly and rudely beyond the limits of moderation; nor to fall into slothfulness. That is the discernment expressed in the Holy Book as the “eye” or the “lamp of the body”, in the words of the Savior: “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness” (Matthew 6: 22-23); because it discerns all the thoughts and works, sees everything, and watch what is going to happen. If the eye of man is “evil”; namely, not supported by the voice of wisdom and knowledge, deceived by some faults and arrogance (in worship), our whole body would be full of darkness. Our minds and our works would be in the darkness of wickedness and disturbances; as according to the words of the Savior: “If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6: 23). Nobody can doubt that, when the judgment of things in the heart is wrong; namely, when the heart is full of ignorance, all our thoughts and works, which are the fruit of discernment and meditation, would be in the darkness of the great sin2. Father Moses 3- GOD’SWISDOM AND AUTHORITY: “Is not wisdom with the aged and understanding with the length of days?” (Job 12: 12). No body can deny that some men enjoy wisdom gained through the experience of years and the length of days “How attractive is wisdom of the aged, and understanding and counsel in the venerable” (Sirach 25: 7). Yet, despite having the wisdom and the understanding, they may not be able to put them to effect; But God, on the other hand, has the complete wisdom and might. 1 الحدیث في المناظ ا رت عن الرهبان وقد استبدلت كلمة " ا رهب" ب "إنسان". 2 Cassian: Conferences, 1:1-2. 14 “Job’ probably intends to proclaim to them that they hastened to judge him, because they saw him fall into many temptations; It was befitting for them to wait for some time in true wisdom, to see what is beyond those temptations! St. John Chrysostom says on Job’s tongue: [When we know so much, we probably assume that we know all! Yes I know that the wicked are punished; but you can see, that despite my righteousness, I am punished as well. Moreover, do you need much time to understand that there are many similar precedents to my situation? Do not you see in the Holy Book, how many people of the old, who have got such depth of experience, have gone through similar grief and afflictions? Hence the saying of someone: “Be ready to listen to every godly discourse” (Sirach 7: 35); and: “Do not slight the discourse of the sages; … Do not ignore the discourse of the aged, for them themselves learned from their parents” (Sirach 8: 8-9). In case God intends to grant it to you, you are then in no need of time! “Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding with the length of days” (12). Because wisdom is acquired by men through study and experience; For God, this is not the case, as wisdom is in His Person; and He instructs its lessons. Father Hesychius of Jerusalem These words confirm the roots of wisdom. With the length of days and practice, wisdom will normally get stronger. But as there are many aged, who were not given the wisdom, it would be befitting to refer it to God, “To whom belong wisdom and power, counsel and the understanding are His” Pope Gregory the Great “To God belong wisdom and power, counsel and understanding are His” (Job 12: 13). God, who is alone the whole wisdom. Being the Almighty, beside being aware of everything, He is also capable of consummating His will. There is no comparison between the wisdom of the elders and that of God! “Give me the wisdom that sits by Your throne, and do not reject me from among Your servants” (Wisdom 9: 4). “For even one who is perfect among human beings will be regarded as nothing without the wisdom that comes from You” (Wisdom 9: 6). “With You is wisdom; She who knows Your work, and was present when You made the world; She understands what is pleasing in Your sight, and what is right according to Your commandments” (Wisdom 9: 9). “To Him belong wisdom and power, counsel and understanding are His” (13). ‘Job’ did not talk without presenting a testimony by the seen creation to support his words, and to proclaim the wisdom of God and His great might. Father Hesychius of Jerusalem The work of God the Father that covers all existence, is glorified and becomes very great, when every man makes progress, and reaches the highest grade of growth through the fellowship with Christ, who is the “Wisdom”, the “Knowledge”, and the “Holiness”. This is realized when man is sanctified, purified, and reaches the highest level of perfection through the fellowship of the Holy Spirit; to become more worthy of gaining the grace of wisdom and knowledge; that all the filth of uncleanness and ignorance are be taken away from him, to reach that perfection with purity; and the life he gained from God would be worthy of God, who intends for it to be pure and perfect. By that, the creature would be worthy of this (holy) life, and would become 15 (in the likeness of the Creator); because by this way intended for him by his Creator, man may gain from Him the power to exist eternally. God cares for the soul, (the center of the talents, the emotions, and the feelings), in every man, to gain, amid the life of his body, prudence and knowledge, and a befitting level of cleverness,; so that his senses would be able to discern both good and evil (Hebrew 5; 14). The scholar Origen “If He tears down, no one can rebuild; if He shuts someone in, no one can open up” (Job 12: 14). Whoever acquires God would enjoy His wisdom and power working in him; Whereas he, who resists God’s wisdom by his own human wisdom, would only get foolishness, and God would allow for his life his life to be ruined, and would not be rebuilt. Here, ‘Job’ takes us back to the time when the tower of Babel was built, when man leaned upon his wisdom and power, and thought that he can resist God. Those people assumed that they were capable of building a tower that can reach heaven, but they failed and got their energy scattered. We also have the devastation of Sodom and Gomorrah to testify to the futility of resisting God. God may “shut in” by allowing for an infirmity, a catastrophe, or even death, when man enters the grave and never comes out. When the wicked are shut in hell, which can bring them up from there?! When man insists on shutting his heart on practicing sin, and would not open it up to receive God’s grace and support, Sin would remain a prisoner of his heart, reins on it, and guides it; As it happened with Pharaoh, who refused by his heart to listen to the voice of God through the plagues, He brought on him and his land. Because, despite his deceitful promises, he persisted in his heart on violence and rejection of God’s work, the Lord said: “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart” (Exodus 7: 3); through letting him be a prisoner of his evil and wickedness. Pope Gregory the Great presents to us the example of ‘Esau’ whose heart became “shut in” by his own will, and by his evil slothfulness, that led him to sell his birthright for a meal of stew, saying: “I am about to die, what good is the birthright to me?” (Genesis 25: 32). He despised his birthright, never repented, and shut his heart on his evil. His father intended to open that door up to give him his blessing before he dies (Genesis 27: 4), but God rejected that son who did not repent, and allowed for the father, against his own will, to give his blessing to the younger son. And when Esau burst out with a loud and bitter cry, from a soul that was neither humble nor contrite, his repentance was counted as naught, and failed to draw the grace of God to open up his heart. God the Almighty ruins the heart of man, when He forsakes it, and builds it when He fills it. He ruins man’s soul by withdrawing from it; and when He leaves the heart to itself, it ends up to nothing, and even to destruction. When it so happens that the listener’s heart is not filled with the grace of the Almighty, because of his sins; In vain, would be the preacher’s counsel; Every mouth for him would be as though mute, if God does not utter His voice inside the heart, inspiring the words that the ear hears. According to David: “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builder's labor in vain” (Psalm 127: 1); and to Solomon: “Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what He has made crooked?” (Ecclesiastes 7: 13). Although Cain has enjoyed hearing God’s advices, he could not change. Because of the sin inside his evil heart, God forsook him, after addressing his words to him to bear witness against him. 16 It is well said: “If He shuts someone in, no one can open up” (14). When man practices sin in every way, what is he doing but making himself a prison for his conscience? Feeling iniquity deep in his soul, would probably apply pressure on him, even if no one accuses him; And being, by the allowance of God, forsaken in the blindness of his evil heart, he would be as though, has shut himself in, and will not find a place to escape, nor would be even worthy of finding such a place. It often happens that someone longs to forsake an evil habit; Yet, because he, for so long, is burdened down to earth, he shuts his evil habit in its prison, and would never be able to get out of himself. Pope Gregory the Great From Psalm 127: 1, we may learn that, not because it is God who builds, man may slothfully sit. He has to work as much as his human possibilities permit; then God would take away all obstacles, until the work is done with success. It is befitting for man, to, truly and faithfully, lean on God, for the consummation of his work, and not on any human; according to the words of the apostle Paul: “I planted the seed; Apollo's watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants, nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow” (1 Corinthians 3: 6-7). By the same way, we can say, that everything depends, not on man’s will, or on his strife, but on the mercies of God1. The scholar Origen We cannot run along the way of God, except borne on the wings of the Spirit2. By the help of God, we do the good we practice3. No one is stronger than him, who enjoys the heavenly help; and no one is weaker than him, who is deprived of it4. Let us become stronger than all, following the example of Paul, Peter, James, and John; as, without God’s help, we shall not be able to resist the least seduction5! Let us fear nothing; as, in order to overcome the devil, we should know that our cleverness will not benefit us; and that everything is of the grace of God 6. Those who are punished are for the sake of justice; and those who are rewarded, are for the sake of grace. Even if they practice a thousand good things, their enjoyment of the kingdom and heaven will be for the sake of those little good things, for the freedom of grace; to be raised to an un-measurable level7. St. John Chrysostom “If He holds back the waters, there is drought; if He lets them loose, they overwhelm the land” (Job 12: 15). The rain is in God’s hand; if He holds it back; the earth will dry up, and lose its fruition. And if He lets them too loose, the crops of the earth will be corrupted, and the buildings will collapse. Here, he is probably referring to the great flood in Noah’s days that wiped out all life on earth. 1 Commentary on Rom 9:16. 2 In Mat, In Gen. PG 57: 30 ; 53: 228. 3 In Mat PG 57: 303. 4 In Paralyt. PG 51: 54. 5 In Mat PG 58: 720. 6 In Act PG 60: 124. 7 In Mat PG 58: 720. 17 If He shuts heaven up, who will open it? And if He open the gates of the great flood, who will shut it up? Who can increase the rain, and who can hold it back from flowing enough; except the one who controls the universe with His measures and weights1?! St, Gregory the Nezenzian + “Waters” may be understood as (knowledge for preaching); as it is written: “The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a flowing brook” (Proverbs 18: 4). When the words of preaching are held back, the hearts that would be flourished with hope in eternity, would dry up, and would remain in the barrenness of despair, because of their love of temporal things. Or the term “waters” may refer to the gift of the Holy Spirit, according to the words of the Truth in the gospel, saying: “Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him”, then adds: “By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive” (John 7: 38, 39). The Holy Spirit, if held back from the mind of the listener, his senses would instantly dry up, after being freshly green! Pope Gregory the Great Pope Gregory the Great also says: [On his way to Damascus, provided with letters from the high priest against Christ, Paul got fulfilled with the grace of the Holy Spirit, and his intention to shed blood was instantly transformed to readiness to receive the strikes and scourges for the sake of Christ, that he intended to bring on the Christians. He, who was before striving to deliver the saints of God to death, was rejoicing for the hope of presenting the sacrifice of his body, for the sake of the life of those saints. He, who was cold with cruelty, was transformed into the warmth of compassion. He, who was before a blasphemer and a persecutor, became a humble and a compassionate preacher. He, who used to count slaying Christ in His disciples a great achievement, now holds Christ fast to become his life; and believes that “to die is gain” (Philippians 1: 21). “When He lets waters loose, they overwhelm the land” (15). This is what happened in Paul’s mind, in the moment he received the grace of the Holy Spirit; when the hardness of his stubbornness and cruelty was (overwhelmed) by gentleness and compassion!]. The first water on earth brought forth life; So no wonder that that the water of Baptism brings forth life as well. As in the beginning, the Spirit of God hovered over the water (Genesis 1:2), the Spirit of the Holy One still hovers over the holy water, or rather over the water that receives holiness from Him, to recreate the one who is baptized. The water, that was the preliminary element of creation, got the secret of sanctification by the Spirit (through supplications) to receive the possibility to sanctify2. The scholar Tertullian The new creation is consummated through the water and Spirit, in the same way the world was created, when the Spirit of God hovered over the waters in the beginning3. St. Clement of Alexandria “To Him belong strength and prudence; the deceived and deceiver are His” (Job 12: 16). 1 Second Theological Oration, 28. 2 De Baptismo 2. 3 Ecol. Proph 7. 18 To Him are the might and strength; and He is the source of wisdom and prudence. He cares for everyone, even for the simple who are deceived by others, and the wicked who deceive their brethren; using everything to realize His divine plan; as both the deceived and the deceiver are in His hands; and He is glorified in all; Although He never stand vanity and deceit. In the end, the believers will sing and praise, saying: “Hellelujah! For our God Almighty reigns, let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory” (Revelation 19: 6). In case anyone gets strength and authority, or received understanding and prudence, all that are from God; He who gives in abundance to those who ask for it; He would obviously take them back when He chooses to do so. For this we have the example of Nebuchadnezar, to whom Daniel said: “You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth” (Daniel 4: 22). And when he became haughty and puffed up with pride, he did not only lose his kinghood and authority, but he lost knowledge and prudence as well; was driven out from among men, lived like wild animals, and ate grass like cattle (Daniel 4: 23, 24). Why did this happen to him?! That Daniel clearly explained to him, saying: “Seven times will pass by for you, until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdom of men and gives them to anyone He wishes” (Daniel 4: 25). Once Nebuchadnezar realized that, he got back his spirit and his kinghood, when “he praised the Most High, and honored and glorified Him who lives forever” (Daniel 4: 34-37). Father Hesychius of Jerusalem “He leads counselors away stripped, and makes fool of judges” (Job 12: 17). It is only the individuals who are under the authority of the Almighty, but even the nations and peoples. He often allows for the fools, who think of themselves as wise counselors, to fall in captivity, lose their honor, wealth, freedom, and even their humanity! Even the judges, known for their exalted counsel, would sometimes become fools; as it happened to ‘Ahithophel’ (2 Samuel 16,17), who became like what his name indicates; namely, (the one with ignorance and foolishness). And as is said by Isaiah: “The officials of Zoan have become fools; the leaders of Memphis are deceived, the cornerstones of her peoples have led Egypt astray” (Isaiah 19: 13). It often happens that the elders with long experience and wisdom lose their prudence. The factor of time that brought them over to wisdom, would, because of the weakness that comes with age, eventually bring them back to a condition almost similar to childhood. He sometimes leads counselors to a foolish end; when they do goodness for ulterior motive, and seek temporary reward! If the only-begotten Son of God, became Man, to preach the eternal truth; to be accordingly called: “A wonderful Counselor” (Isaiah 9: 6); we may also interpret ‘the counselors” as the (preachers) who provide their listeners with the counsel of life. But when a counselor preaches the eternal truth to acquire temporary benefits, he wills certainly “end up stripped” (17). Pope Gregory the Great The thought of “vain glory” is the worst kind of thoughts! It usually comes to those walking in the life of righteousness; when man, starting to glorify his strife, and to enjoy the commendation of others, imagines that the demons are terrified from him, on account of his ability to heal the infirm, and of the multitudes crowding around him to touch the fringe of his robe; He ultimately 19 imagines that the congregation will eventually approach to ordain him a priest; and that, when he shows some reluctance, they will shackle him and take him by force to ordain him! After flaring in him such false hopes, the devil would create the chance for other attacks by the demon of pride, and even by the demon of adultery; against the one, who some moments ago looked at himself as a saint and a reverend priest1! The demon of pride often leads to a very sorrowful fall of the soul, when he counsels it to stop looking at God as its helper, to refer to itself everything good, and to start puffing itself before the brethren, counting them as ignorant, because they do not acknowledge his exalted status! Pride would be then followed by anger, murmur, and protest that lead to frustration, loss of good judgment, and imagining the existence of several demons going around in the air2! It is hard to escape from the thought of vain glory; because anything you do to drive it away can lead to a new motive to it. Besides, demons do not always resist every sound thought, but sometimes encourage us to have them, with the intention to use them later to deceive us! St. Oghris “He looses the sash of kings, and ties a loincloth around their waist” (Job 12; 18). God sometimes allow for those of authority like kings to lose every honor, through loosening their sashes, so that their swords would fall off their waists, and their crowns off their heads. Here, he probably refers to going down to the level of slaves, who were not allowed to have sashes around their waists. “He leads priests away stripped, and overthrows the mighty” (Job 12: 19). Having talked about the wise like counselors and judges, those of experience like elders, and those of authority like kings; Now he talks about those who think of themselves as righteous; namely, the priests; who, in their hypocrisy, assume that they are untouchable, on account of that they are God’s ministers, who work for His people. Yet God has no partiality, and may even allow for the captivation of His priests, and for letting they lose their honor, authority and wealth, which they used to cherish! Finally he refers to the mighty who would soon become weak! It often happened that mighty men of war fall captive to weak men; and mighty armies are defeated before weaker ones! Thus, it is not befitting for anyone to lean upon his temporal power, nor upon his personal wisdom, understanding, authority, and social or religious status! The priest’s greatest asset is the righteousness of his subordinates. A good preacher has the right to say to his disciples: “For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when He comes? Is it not you?” (1 Thessalonians 2: 19). But, when the priests disregard the life of those on whom they are responsible, and have no fruition in their progress before the Lord; they become in disgrace, and would have no glory before the just Judge, whom they do not seek in the life of their flock, through their persistent preaching. . 1 إلى أناتولیس عن الأفكار الثمانیة، 8 2 Praktikos 13,14. 20 He said well: “He overthrows the mighty”. He justly forsakes their hearts, when they do not look forward to the inner reward; He casts them away, when they deceive themselves by rejoicing in the temporal glory instead of the eternal one. Pope Gregory the Great The fault is not in the authority itself, but it is in the vain greed. Establishing authority is from God; and he, who uses it, would be an ambassador of God, being His minister for goodness (Romans 13: 4). Work in itself is no sin, but it would be the fault of the one who execute it … We should discern between the good and the bad use of authority. St. Ambrose “He silences the lips of trusted advisers, and takes away the discernment of elders” (Job 12: 20). Those of eloquence in speech, philosophy, and personal charisma, sometimes stand mute, with no word in their mouth, because they insulted the One who granted prudence, and the talent of word! When the priest does not practice the goodness he preaches; God will silence his lips, that he would not dare utter what he does not practice. It was said by the prophet: “What right have you to recite My laws or take my covenant on your lips?” (Psalm 50: 16); and: “Do not snatch the word of truth from my mouth” (Psalm 119: 43). It is obvious that the Almighty gives the word of truth to those who practice it, and takes it away from those who do not. The Truth says in the gospel: “For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in In him” (Matthew 12: 33, 34). St. John says: “They are from the world, and therefore speak from the viewpoint the world” (1 John 4: 5). And it is well said by ‘Job’: “He silences the lips of trusted advisers; and takes away the discernment of elders” (20). Pope Gregory the Great “A bishop must be above reproach” (1 Timothy 3: 2; Titus 1: 7) … As this phrase includes all virtues, it looks as though the apostle is asking for the impossible! As, if every sin or a vain word deserves reproach; who, in this whole world, would be with no sin or above reproach?! Yet, he, who is to be chosen as an overseer of the church, should be of a higher caliber than the sheep of his flock! In order to be commended and described as a ‘good man’ a preacher is committed, beside the eloquence of speech, to be blameless in his behavior; As a teacher, whose words are not supported by his acts, would lose his effect on his listeners. St. Eronemus “above reproach” … includes all virtues. In case someone knows that he has a certain sin, it is not well for him to seek a certain job for which he is not well qualified. He would be in need of a counselor, rather than to give counsel. He, who takes over a guiding role, should be of more splendor than any shining star; his life should be blameless, that all would look up to him to follow his example. St. John Chrysostom Pope Gregory the Great believes that this phrase applies to the Jews whose lips uttered the truth before the incarnation of the Word; as they believed that He would come, and even proclaimed His coming. Yet, their lips changed after He came, and denied Him. When He was already there among them, He, whose coming they 21 proclaimed, they cast away the teachings of their fathers, and did not walk according to what they prophesied. “He pours contempt on nobles and disarms the mighty” (Job 12: 21). Having insulted their Creator, the nobles bring contempt upon themselves; “He who pours contempt on nobles made them wanders in a trackless waste” (Psalm 107: 40). Because the Jewish people lived according to the law, when no one of the entire Gentile world knew anything about the commandment of God, the former were called ‘the nobles of faith’, while the later fell in the pit of non-faith. Yet, when the Jews denied the secret of incarnation of our Lord, while the Gentile world believed in it, “the nobles fell into contempt”, while the others gained the freedom of the true faith. Having foreseen that a long time before it happened, the prophet Jeremiah said: “The Lord is like an enemy, He has swallowed up Israel. He has swallowed up all her palaces, and destroyed her strongholds” (Lamentations 2: 5). Pope Gregory the Great When God rejected Israel, He poured His grace upon the Gentiles. The call to the Gentiles to receive the grace of God by Jesus Christ, previously preached by the prophets, started by the fall of Israel1. We, Christians, say that the Jews despite their previous enjoyment of the favor and love of God, more than any other people, Yet, that divine privileges have been transferred to us, once the Lord Jesus moved the authority working among the Jews to the believers of the Gentiles2. The scholar Origen “He uncovers deep things out of darkness and brings the shadow of death to light” (Job 12: 22). Having fallen into rebellion, death became a companion of the early man as close to him as his shadow and even closer; nothing terrified him like death. The apostle Paul called it “the last enemy” or the most violent enemy to confront man. But the death of the Lord Christ on the cross has destroyed the authority of death in its den; when, by death He destroyed the death, and granted us the power of the eternal life and the resurrection. Because the Lord Christ wiped out the term ‘death’ from the dictionary of our thought, and replaced it with the expression “the shadow of death”, “the sleep”, or “ the departure”; We sing saying, “There will be no more death forYour servants, but departure” ; And say, together with the apostle Paul: “Where, O death is your sting? Where, O Hades, is your victory?” (1 Corinthians 15: 55). The lord turned death in the life of believers into a shadow without being, when He shone with His light on the graves and exposed the weakness of the shadow of death! When the Lord uncovered the darkness, and the Sun of Righteousness shone on us, we realized that there is no place for us in the kingdom of darkness. God exposes the plots designed in the darkness, and the evil done in secret. When the king of Aram thought that there was a traitor among his men, he was told by one of his officers: “Elisha the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom” (2 Kings 6: 12). 1 In Jer. hom. 3. 2 Contra Cels. 5:50. 22 “He uncovers deep things out of darkness” (22). What are the deep things? The hidden things, the thoughts not revealed in the splendor of the day. That is why ‘Job’ speaks about the darkness; And the Lord Christ Himself uses the same words to confirm Job’s statement, when He says to His disciples: “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known” (Matthew 10: 26); Then adds: “What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roof” (Matthew 10: 27). “And brings the shadow of death to light” (22). The shadow of death is the sin. The same way the shadow reveals the body making the shadow, “The sting of death is sin” (1 Corinthians 10: 56); it is its distinguishing feature! Anyway, by this shadow of death, God discloses His hidden mystery (Romans 16: 25; Colossians 1: 26) to mankind; and proclaims His righteousness (Psalm 98: 2; Romans 1: 17); And in the same way He reveals the sin (Ephesians 4: 22), and does not allow it to remain hidden. Once we know its ugliness, and how it corrupts the soul, we all tend to escape from it. That is why the Lord Christ said about the Jewish people: “If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin” (John 15: 22). They are now aware of its uncleanness and evil smell, compared to righteousness and beauty that was not known before. Father Hesychius of Jerusalem Pope Gregory the Great sees in the shadow of death a reference to the cruelty of the law, that stated that every sinner is worthy of the death of the body. But once the Savior came, He took away the death of the body as a punishment of the sinner; and concentrated our attention on the activity of sin on our souls. “He makes nations great, and destroys them; He enlarges nations, and disperses them” (Job 12: 23). God is the Controller of the whole history; He at times allowed some nations to grow and have authority, to realize a certain goal to chastise His people; As it happened to Babylon, that while being a small country, it defeated the mighty Assyria, replaced it, and captivated Judah. But once Babylon became haughty before God, it collapsed within moments, to be occupied by Mady and Persia; And after being a head, it became a tail, and even disappeared from existence. God does not lead the nations astray, but, being unwilling to return to faith in Him, He allows them to head by themselves to oblivion through their own evil ways; As to the dispersed nations, intending to say to God: “Disperse them”, ‘Job’, at the same time, wishes for them to hasten to light (see Isaiah 60: 3). That is why, when Simeon the elder carried the infant Jesus on his arms, he said: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many” (Luke 2: 34). Father Hesychius of Jerusalem “He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason; He sends them wandering through a trackless waste” (Job 12: 24). Who are the leaders of the earth who lose their reason, but the children of Abraham, according to the flesh, who have spiritually withdrawn from their son hood to him through denying the Savior of the world, and rejecting the One in whose day their father Abraham rejoiced, many generations before His coming? That denial turned their life into a barren wilderness, where their hearts are not fulfilled with the waters of the Holy Spirit that turns the wilderness into a divine paradise. 23 By referring to the leaders “of the earth” (24), he means the Jewish people, whose leaders; namely, the priests, the scribes, and the Pharisees; according to the words of the apostle Paul “Put their minds in the earthly things”. Father Hesychius of Jerusalem Having no more an altar, a temple, or priests; and consequently, no more sacrifice offerings, they feel that their sin is abiding in them, and that there is no way of getting forgiveness1. The scholar Origen The Samaritans and the Galileans believed in Christ to put the Jews to shame. Yet the Samaritans were in this concern, better than the Galileans; because they believed in Him through the words of the woman and His teachings; whereas the Galileans believed in Him through His miracle of turning the water into wine, that took place in Jerusalem2. St. John Chrysostom “They grope in darkness with no light; he makes them stagger like drunkards” (Job 12: 25). Those who were great leaders of people, with military might and awesome authority, soon lost everything, and became weak and humiliated, as is said by the Psalmist: “Valiant men lie plundered, …not one of the warriors can lift his hand” (Psalm 76: 5); they became like “wandering in a trackless waste” (25), groping in darkness, and helplessly staggering like drunkards. ‘Job’ talks about the Almighty God, who has the whole history in His hands, and who can turn its events to the account of His Kingdom. No power can resist Him or stand before His face. Why? Because, according to the Lord Himself, “they loved darkness instead of light”. It is certain that those who practice evil would stagger like drunkards; and like drunkards, they become unable to discern something from another, or between evil and goodness! Father Hecechiusof Jerusalem O, Jews, when you come to Jerusalem and fid it desolate, and turned into dust and ashes, do not weep like children! Do not grieve! But seek for yourselves a city in heaven instead of that one on earth. Lift your eyes high up; there you will find the free Jerusalem, which is our mother (Galatians 4: 26). Do not grieve for the absence of the temple here, and do not despair for having no priest; as there in heaven, you will find an altar and the priests of the coming goods in the order of Melchizedeck, in procession before God. It is the will of God’s love and mercy to take away from you the earthly inheritance, to give you the chance to seek the heavenly one3. The scholar Origen 1 In Num. Num. 10:2; Michael Green: Evangelism in the Early Church, p. 111. 2 Homilies on St. John, 35:2. 3 In Jos. hom. 17:1. 24 AN INSPIRATION FROM THE BOOK OF JOB 12 YOU GRANTED ME THE WISDOM TO GLORIFY YOU AND NOT TO SEARCH YOUR WORKS Glory to You, O Grantor of the mind, the heart, and all the human talents. I have no right to feel haughty over Your creation -- my fellow brethren. With Your amazing wisdom, You distribute Your gifts among men. Grant me a holy mind, and a heart to accommodate You. Sanctify my whole being; Sanctify my mind and heart. O my Lord, by Your Spirit, lift up my mind, to honor every fellow man. Fulfill my heart, and let it be wide enough to accommodate everyone. O my Lord, how often my soul gets embittered by the ridicule of my beloved1 For them I have become a laughingstock! Yet, when I look at You, and I see You wounded in the house of Your beloved; My soul rejoices and glorifies You, because You allowed for me to partake of Your passion! I realize how through Your wisdom, You allowed for my beloved to wound me! Now I receive those wounds as a crown of glory that I do not deserve! Amid the bitterness of my soul, I seek Your comforting hand. And I realize that every ridicule that dwells upon me is allowed by You. By Your amazing love, You intend for me to partake of the ridicules You have endured. I see how the darkness cannot stand the light. I see how the corruption assumes that it can destroy non-corruption. I see how the fallen Satan wrongly assumes that he is one with authority. Glory to You, who turns my sufferings into a joyful praise. To see the advance payment of heaven proclaimed in my depths. To realize, O lord, how amazing Your plan for me is. Then I rejoice in the ridicule of my brethren. As when they ridicule me; and I see myself in exalted glory by the heavenly creatures. Then, those temporary moment would surely soon pass. And I would cross over through You, to the bosom of Your Father. Then I would enjoy the fellowship of the heavenly glory. Winter, with its snow would pass, and the spring of eternity with its splendor, would dwell. My God, You granted humanity the wisdom and prudence to glorify You. The whole creation, the seen and unseen, testify to Your wisdom, love, and care. All testify to Your unsearchable wisdom., and glorify You. Grant me to prostrate myself at Your feet. With all my heart I praise You, for what I know, and what I still do not know about You. Indeed, I stand confused before Your wisdom! I see how the wicked and thieves, who think of themselves as kings and gods; Live a prosperous and successful life ! While Your children moan, as though Your heavenly anger has dwelt upon them! Who can fathom Your wisdom, O Almighty God? Behold, the whole nature preaches to me, saying: 25 ‘Submit to your heavenly Father who loves you and cares for you’. ‘Your whole life is in His hands’. ‘For your sake, He brought us into existence. And behold, He is preparing for you a place in His divine bosom’. ‘Do not lean on your personal experience alone’ ‘It is Your Creator, who grants you the wisdom’ ‘And reveals to you the understanding of His secrets’ ‘Submit to Him; Your humility will lift you up high’ ‘Do not resist or struggle’ ‘Can creation resist its Creator?’ ‘Who gave you the mouth to speak, the ear to hear, and the hand to touch?’ ‘Who granted you the heart, the mind, the wisdom, and the prudence?’ ‘He loves you; all your life and your talents are gifts from Him’ O my God, Who can support me, but You? When kings, emperors, and rulers, felt haughty, they were filled with disgrace! When great nations and peoples felt haughty, they fell before weak ones. O my God, grant me the spirit of discernment, to walk like a son of Yours. Glory to You, who loved me even before I ever existed. Abolish my ignorance and foolishness; and grant me the wisdom You have. Scatter my darkness; and grant me Your exalted light. Bring my death to death; and grant me Your glorified resurrection. Expose the devil and his hosts, and cast them beneath my feet. When You grant me Yourself, I would need nothing!
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