GOD IN THE WHIRLWIND This chapter came as a turning point in Elihu’s talks to ‘Job’; as it so seems that there appeared some signs of an approaching storm; as though nature was preparing for the divine appearance to ‘Job’. Then, Elihu’s heart and mind set forth from the temporal events surrounding them, to an enjoyment of the divine presence; and a state of awe in the divinities and the heavenlies. Elihu resumes his talk about the great power and wisdom of God, using as an example the weather changes. If, concerning these things, on which we have no power, we submit to the will of God, Why would we not submit to Him as far as His control of our affairs are concerned? Here, Elihu demonstrates God’s hand in nature, and asks ‘Job’ to meditate in god’s works in the lightning, the clouds, the wind, the temperature, the cold, and all the rest of the fluctuating weather changes. 1- Thunder and lightning 1 – 5 2- Heavy rain and snow 6 – 12 3- ‘Job’ is unqualified to judge God’s care 14 – 22 4-God is exalted, great, and awesome 23 – 24 1- THUNDER AND LIGHTNING: “At this also my heart trembles, and leaps from its place” (Job 37: 1). With the first signs of the storm, Elihu, feeling the divine presence, felt an inner storm sweeping his heart. He felt disturbed, not out of worry or loss of peace, but out of awe before the greatness of the Creator; His heart, turning into a temple of the Lord, trembled before the glory of God. By saying: “At this”, he means: “At hearing the thunder of the divine greatness”; as probably, the whirlwind, through which God talked to ‘Job’ has already begun. 143 Although Elihu spoke in abundance about those natural phenomena – the storms, the thunder, the lightning, etc. as testifying to the greatness, might, and authority of God; Yet, Once the storm began, his inner being trembled. As it often happens that these phenomena terrify not only the wicked, but sometimes even the some of the righteous. It was said about Emperor Caligula, that he used to run and hide in a corner in His palace, or under a bed, when he heard the thunder or saw the lightning. After meditating in the light of the eternal city, he says: “At this my heart trembles”, as though he says: ‘I set forth outside myself in awe; and the mind, inspired by a spirit of new hope, deserted the old ways of thinking’. And it was well said: “and leaps from its place”; The human heart is the place of the pleasures of the present life; Yet once a divine inspiration comes to touch the heart, those pleasures are replaced by a love of eternity; hence the heart leaps from its place, with meditation in the eternities; forsaking the lowly things, and concentrating on thinking about the higher ones. Pope Gregory the Great I was told by a brother: [When my is mind taken up to that splendid level, I used to see it (my mind) looking at the sea of life, swimming in waves of light, smelling the odor of life, entering into a state of awe and great rejoice, getting covered with light, and boiling by love and joy, in an amazing shine … And at the time this gift was prevailing on my soul, Even if the whole creation turned into noise and disturbance, it would not be able to make my mind - being preoccupied with awe and marvel, and having lost everything that concern the body - fall from its place, or return to its former self]. Once you are in such a condition, you become captivated from your mind, to have Him alone, appear before your mind, in case it is capable of doing it; and if it is not, He would perpetually stay in memory. That way, man’s mind would always become 144 preoccupied with thinking about God and meditating in Him; a state called by our fathers ‘keeping the mind’; surpassed by nothing among the virtues and all works1. The spiritual elder “Listen; listen to the thunder of His voice, and the rumbling that comes from His mouth” (Job 37: 2). He says the word “listen” twice; and likens His voice and His words to the rumbling of thunder and the brightness of lightning; before which ‘Job’ and all those present, had to keep silent, and listen with their whole being. The storm stayed on until the Lord Himself spoke from heaven to ‘Job’. It often happens that God’s talk to His people or His believers is connected to the storm; according to the words of the Psalmist: “The God of glory thunders … The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh” (Psalm 29: 3, 8). “God is in the whirlwind”, not only in that of nature, but also in the whirlwind of the inner soul. He is there in our depths proclaiming Him through the whirlwinds that sweep our inner nature. The Word of God came into the soul to stir inside it an inner uprising against evil, to destroy by it the old man, and grant us the new man. It is certain that Adam and Eve used to anticipate the gentle voice of God walking in paradise. Yet, once they fell into sin, the voice of the Lord God became to them a cause of fear and terror; when they heard it, they hid from the face of the Lord (Genesis 3: 8). Because of our attachment to the earthly things, we now listen to the voice of God in the whirlwind and through the thunder: “The Lord thundered from heaven, And the Most High uttered His voice” (2 Samuel 22: 14). When the prophet Moses was given the law, it is said: “When the people witnessed the thunder and the lightning, the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, they were afraid .( 1 الرسالة الخمسون: 6 (ترجمة الأب سلیم دكاش الیسوعي، سلسلة الت ا رث الر وحي، بیروت 1992 145 and trembled and stood a distance” (Exodus 20: 18; 19: 16); The Psalmist says: “The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; The lightning lit up the world; The earth trembled and shook” (Psalm 77: 18; and see Psalm 97: 4; 135: 7); And it was said by the prophet: “When He utters His voice there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and He makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth, He makes lightning for the rain, and He brings out the wind from His storehouses” (Jeremiah 10: 13, 16). By saying this (Exodus 29: 18, 19), the Holy Book realized that creature are not capable of hearing the voice of the Creator; and hearing it, they almost die with fear. That is why, at the fullness of time, we were granted the grace of incarnation, so that mankind would not die if they hear His voice1. St. (Mar Ephram the Syrian While heavens stand trembling, and become naught with weakness before Your greatness; The womb received You, and carried Your glory. St. (Mar) Jacob El-Serougy It is befitting of us to notice that, the voice of God, is heard, not with joy, but with trembling. There is no doubt that, for every sinner who thinks only of earthly things, and who carries a heart that only contains lowly thoughts; the voice of God would be heard with trembling. But once he gets in touch with the inspiration of the divine grace, and realizes above anything else, that all his deeds would be punished by the eternal Judge; the voice of the Lord would turn to sweetness. Therefore we can understand by the thunder of His voice the strength of fear; and by the sweetness of His mouth the sweetness of comfort. Those who are filled with the Holy Spirit, He warns them against their earthly works, then comforts them with the hope for the heavelies; in order to make them rejoice in the certainty of the reward, as much as they were in fear, anticipating .(19- 1 تفسیر خروج ( 18 :20 146 the punishment alone. This is according to the words of the apostle Paul: “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father’” (Romans 8: 15) … As you can see, the trembling of reform has turned into strength, by which to punish their sins by remorse, and ascend even to the level of practicing judgment; to receive this strength from God, by which they used to be terrified on His hands. Pope Gregory the Great The Psalmist says: “The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars, Yes the Lord splinters the cedars of Lebanon” (Psalm 29: 5); The Lord’s voice in the thunder may break the cedars; the whirlwind may sometimes uproot even the mighty cedars of Lebanon, break up their high and haughty tops, and bring them down to the ground. These trees refer to the haughty souls with their self-esteem, to whom the voice of the incarnate Word of God came to bring them up to the life of humility through the grief of repentance “God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty” (1 Corinthians 1: 27); so that they may likewise enjoy the Mighty One, who took up for their sake the form of weakness. “The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars”. By repentance, and when they see how He chose the lowly of this world, to manifest in them His divine power; they will stand in shame, those who glorify themselves by the honor of their temporal origin. St. Augustine “He sends it forth under the whole heaven, His lightning to the end of the earth” (Job 37: 3). God’s talk, like lightning is set forth under the whole earth; in the blink of an eye, everyone feels His compassion, and hears His voice. “To the end of the earth”, came in Hebrew as “To the wings of the earth”; likening the whole earth to a bird that, hearing 147 the voice of the Lord, and enjoying His light, would stretch its wings to fly toward heaven. Although God’s talk is personally directed to the individual believer, Yet as a lover of the His creation, He talks publicly under the whole heaven; for both the heavenly and the earthly creatures in its four corners to hear His voice and realize His secrets. In His talk He cares for the righteous, great in faith, as well as for the sinners, to purify them of all the least of their weaknesses. As though He says: that He who ordains the high things would not forget the tiny little things;. He, who is present everywhere, not limited to one place, nor partially cares for one place, equally cares for everything, and equally ordains everything He cares even for the least of our weaknesses. His light reaches the farthest corner of the earth under heaven. After watching the exalted works of those who stand before Him, he turns His attention to the ways and works of the sinners, and covers them with the light of His grace. Even though He may not demonstrate amazing signs in the life of His believers, yet he would always work in them, and would never forsake them. The end of the earth will certainly become the end of sinners; many of whom, through binding to carnal lusts, forget God; yet by the grace of God working in them, late in their life, they happen to return to God. Pope Gregory the Great St. (Mar) Jacob El-Serougy believes that the thunder that accompanied the divine presence, as Moses was being delivered the law, refers to the voice of the trumpet that precedes the procession of the Groom to the wedding. It is as though the goal of the law or the divine commandment is our joyful union in matrimony with the heavenly Groom. He blew in the mist as though in the trumpet, producing thunder that split the earth with its sound. That is how awesome the system of that wedding was; The Groom entering into His secret place, preceded by the sound of the trumpet. 148 All creation trembled at that awesome displays; because their lord came down to Saini in the mist. On the top of the mountain of Sinai, the thunder cried out: “The King is here!”. The trumpets were blown, calling the earth to gather together because “The Lord is there1!” (St. (Mar) Jacob El-Serougy) “After it a voice roars; He thunders with His majestic voice; and He does not restrain them when His voice is heard” (Job 37: 4). “After it”; namely, after the thunder and lightning; That is how God, with His exaltation, works toward man; thundering with His voice, and shining with His lightning; to let him enjoy His divine promises, or respond to His chastisements. “He does not restrain them when His voice is heard”. He probably means that He does not restrain His lightning, by which He shines on the heart and mind of man; nor restrain the rain until the earth is fulfilled with the water of His divine grace; and the wilderness turns into a joyful paradise, bearing the fruits of the Spirit. Some believe that, although man watches the appearance of lightning, and hears the sound of thunder, Yet it would be very difficult for him to predict accurately the consequences of these phenomena, to fix where they happen, or to follow up the way along which they move. In a similar way, although the Word of God, gets in touch with the believer, opens his eyes to see the love of God, and his ears to hear His divine promises; Yet, they remain far more exalted, and beyond the comprehension of the human mind, “He does not restrain them when His voice is heard”. Namely, once man hears the sound of God’s thunder, he cannot hold the lightning or restrain it, to get to know its place or to what extent it reaches, etc. 1 المیمر 2 على نزول العلي على جبل سیناء وسرّ الكنیسة ( ا رجع نص الدكتور بهنام سوني). 149 You, who is stung with the sin of death; It is now up to you! … Look up at the cross and live! Because if you do not, you will certainly die; … Fall on it like the dead man on the bones of Elisha (2 Kings 13: 21);… Listen to His voice like Lazarus from his tomb; … Do not cut off the hope of your life; as your hope abides in Him; … A dead man would not shy away from leaning upon the One who would bring him to life; … It is not to the benefit of the wounded to keep himself from the healer… A sinner should keep on seeking the mercies, even if he does not get the forgiveness; … A sinner, who, although being sure within himself, that he is not worthy of mercies, and yet he does not stop asking for them, is actually worthy of getting them1. St. (Mar) Jacob El-Serougy “God thunders marvelously with His voice, He does great things which we cannot comprehend” (Job 37: 5). In a fabulous description, he says that God is present in the whirlwind, directing it according to His will, and doing great things beyond the comprehension of the human mind, “Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well” (Psalm 139: 14). By that, Elihu was preparing the minds of those present for the appearance of the Lord and His talk through the whirlwind. The Psalmist says: “The waters saw You, O God; The waters saw You, they were afraid; The depths also trembled. The clouds poured out water; The skies sent out a sound; Your arrows also flashed about. The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; The lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and shook” (Psalm 77: 16-18). “In a marvelous way, God thunders with His voice; and in a secret way, that could not be expressed, He penetrates our heart” (5). While submitting us with fear, In a secret and a silent way, He proclaims to us that He longs for us to follow Him. “He does great things which we cannot comprehend” (5). He who surrendered himself to earthly things, and became a slave to evil habits; would suddenly become zealous to try new ways, and 1 الرسالة الثانیة والعشرون ( ا رجع نص الدكتور بهنام سوني). 150 would turn cold toward the old ones; He would deny the outer vain interests, and become fond of the inner meditation! … Who can express the power of that supreme voice? … although He utters it through the apostles, Yet He, Himself, is the One who brings the light in the hearts of the listeners; according to the testimony of the apostle Paul: “I planted, Apollo's watered, but God gave the increase” (1 Corinthians 3: 6). Although they could not grant hearing the divine voice deep in the mind; yet they are sent to give the words from outside. Pope Gregory the Great What are those ‘great things, done by God, that we cannot comprehend, when He thunders with His amazing voice, but the work of His hidden grace in us, that produce marvels in us through His active word and rich grace. The word of God thunders with an amazing power, and works richly in us. And as the Psalmist says: “He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions” (Psalm 107: 20). “I will tell of all Your marvelous works” (Psalm 9: 1); those which he sees plainly realized in his body, and feels them in an unseen way realized in his soul. Those marvelous works are actually more exalted. Men as earthly creatures get more impressed by what they see by their own eyes, like by seeing Lazarus’ body raised from the dead; than by hearing that Paul, the persecutor is raised in the Spirit (Acts 9). The seen miracle calls the soul to enjoy the light; whereas the unseen one would let him talk about all the marvels of God1. St. Augustine Don’t underestimate the gift of grace; as it is more marvelous than raising the dead and doing miracles2. St. John Chrysostom 2- HEAVY RAIN AND SNOW: 1 On Ps. 9. 2 Homilies on Philippians, homily 4. 151 “For He says to the snow, ‘Be on the earth’; Likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength” (Job 37: 6). Here, Elihu talks about the snow storms, when the heavy snow falls – and not the hail. Because of the severe cold, rain transform into snow, and falls on the ground to turn it into a glittering white carpet that reflects the light in a marvelous way. This snow refers to the wisdom of God that He grants to His church, for His believers to enjoy and bear the pure righteousness of Christ, and to reflect its splendor. According to His will, and by His order, the light and heavy rain would fall; And all the natural phenomena would move; As they are all under His authority. The Psalmist says: “Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow” (Psalm 51: 7). The snow refer to the hearts of the saints that become white by the light of righteousness … Water refer to the minds of preachers that abide to high interpretations of things, when they ascend high up through meditation in the heavenly issues. The apostle Paul, certainly rained water on the ground, at the time he used to know the law in a carnal way; But once he got up to the higher level of heavenly knowledge, he crossed over from his past feeble knowledge, to the solid true wisdom, and his rain turned into snow falling on the ground. Yet, even after reaching that exalted level of virtue, still aware of his unworthiness, he says: “I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man” (1 Timothy 1: 13). Notice how he recalls his weakness, in order to endure the weaknesses of others; how he gets down from the heaven of his virtue, to the earth from which he was taken; And after reaching great mysteries through his meditations , how he always recalls that he was a sinner, to benefit the sinners by his humility.“ The heavy rain of His strength” (6); is preaching His humanity (manhood), to which Paul refers in 1 Corinthians 1: 25; and also when he says: “For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God” (2 Corinthians 13: 4). The saints 152 have so preached the weakness of His manhood, in order to walk through the hearts of their listeners by the power of His divinity. I wish we hear through the thunder of His clouds, the heavy rain of His strength; as “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1: 1); and I wish we hear as well, the rain of His weakness: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1: 14). Pope Gregory the Great Because we were renewed in the water of baptism, and through the pouring of the Holy Spirit; and will also be renewed by the resurrection; according to the words of David: “So that your youth is renewed like eagle’s” (Psalm 103: 5). To know the way by which we are renewed, listen to the psalm saying: “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow” (Psalm 51: 7); and, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (Isaiah 1: 18). He who moves from the darkness of sin, to the light of virtue and grace, has already been renewed. And he, who has been defiled by the foolishness, now shines brighter than snow1. St. Ambrose “He seals the hand of every man, that all men may know His work” (Job 37: 7). In countries where snow fall through snow storms, all people; the farmers in particular, stay at home; as though God, in His love, “seals their hands” to have rest during winter months from labor outdoors; Then resume their work with vigor after winter. Therefore, we are taught by nature created by God to serve us. Through the succession of seasons, men would realize God’s plan toward man; to know that there is time for work, and time for rest. It is befitting of man, every now and then, to enter into the seclusion of meditation in God’s work, and to seek the shining of the Spirit of God on Him; so that, when God’s love, and his own weakness and faults, are revealed before his eyes, he would then 1 Prayer of David, Book 4:9:35. 153 keep on offering repentance, together with joyful hope, and thanksgiving to God, the Forgiver of sins. Men taking the sins they commit lightly; Once they get to hear about the firmness of God’s ordinance, they would realize the actual weight of their bad conduct that bring their life down. This phrase (Job 37: 7) could be understood in a different way: While the divine Creator is mightier than all his creation; Man, By the law of nature, is committed not to be ignorant of what he is doing, to know whether it is right or wrong. As, how could he be judged on his actions if he is ignorant of that?!... That is why it is well said: “For wickedness is a cowardly thing, condemned by its own testimony” (See Wisdom 17: 11); and “Beloved, If our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God” (1 John 3: 11). Pope Gregory the Great St. John Chrysostom believes that God’s clear hand in nature, that testifies to his exalted might, would make man discover his own Weakness, together with his great possibilities through the mighty God; That, while being weak, he is strong by God. “Let the weak say, ‘I am strong’” (Joel 3: 10); And as said by the apostle Paul: “For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12: 10). He says that this is the reason behind all His creative work; the reason for the cold and heat; and for why the wind blows in a way that may look haphazard. He could make them more harmonious?! Yet He did not, to counter any way of arrogant and haughty thought; and to let every man realize his own weakness. Contrary to this, the way the body is created, and how our life is conducted, are organized in such a way that would lead us to humility; to learn how to walk reasonably; and to realize our own weakness; to say together with Abraham: “I who am just dust and ashes” (Genesis 18: 27); and with David: “I am a worm, and no man”(Psalm 22: 6); and with the apostle: “Then 154 last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared also to me” (1 Corinthians 15: 8). Man was created weak, but, because he thinks of himself as strong, he became weaker; that God would sometimes manifest His strength, to grant us understanding (and strength) inside us. St. John Chrysostom God entices and strengthens us to keep away from the devil, and to follow the living God alone by His Son. We, who for long, plunged in adultery, now we recognize only purity. We, who used the different kinds of magic, now we dedicate ourselves to the good living God. We, who were only preoccupied with accumulating wealth and possessions, now we bring everything we have to become public possession for everyone to take what he needs,. We, who for long used to hate one another, and to destroy one another, just because we are different; who used to refuse to coexist with anyone from a different tribe; Today, since the coming of Christ, we live together in harmony; pray for the sake of our enemies; and try to convince those who hate us for no reason, to abide to the good principles of Christ, and to His commandments, hoping to bring them over to partake of the same joyful hope to gain the reward that the Almighty God is giving1. Justin the martyr “The animals enter dens, and remain in their lairs” (Job 37: 8). Elihu sees that God’s wisdom covers, not only man, but even to the wild fierce animals of the wilderness, that, during the severe cold winter, are committed to stay within the confinement of their dens and lairs, almost motionless, in order to minimize their need for much food to sustain them. Pope Gregory the Great believes that Elihu here speaks of the devil and his hosts who enter into the hearts and minds of the wicked, and settle down in them as being their possessions. As to 1 Apology, 1:14. 155 the righteous, the devils may attack them, and force themselves into their depths for some time, but would never settle down in them. By the animal, he means our old enemy who violently aimed to deceive the early man, and to distort his life by his evil counsel. Contrary to that, came the promise through the words of the prophet, concerning the reform of the church of the elect to its former status, saying: “No ravenous beast shall go up on it” (Isaiah 25: 9) It should be noticed how it is said about that animal, that it not only enters into its den, but would settle down there. It sometimes enters the minds of the good, suggesting unbecoming thoughts, terrifying them by temptations, seeking to corrupt the uprightness of their spirit by the lusts of their bodies. It would also strive to introduce as much of the pleasure, as the person would receive. Although he may enter the minds of the good, yet he cannot settle down in them; as the heart of the good is not his lair. Pope Gregory the Great “From the chamber of the south comes the whirlwind and cold from the scattering winds of the north” (Job 37: 9). In the Holy Book, where almost all its events took place in the region of the Middle East, the southern wind is considered as being hot; whereas the northern wind as being cold. When the northern cold wind blows, the sky becomes covered with clouds, together with thunder, and lightning; whereas when the hot southern wind blows, the clouds are scattered, and the mist disappears. Pope Gregory the great believes that the hot whirlwind coming from the south, refers to the believers with hot faith, on whom the sun shines as though in mid-day.; whereas the cold wind, coming from the north, refers to the non-believers, deprived of the warmth of the sun, who remain in spiritual cold. Who learns to practice God’s work in this world – the valley of tears and labor – comes to be like a hard-working farmer, who sows the seeds even in the death of winter. Will the cold wind or the severe weather keep him from work? Definitely not! That is 156 how we should consider the troubles of this life. Vain pleasures are thrown along our way by the devil, to make us deviate from the good works, which we are created to perform. Listen to the words of the Psalmist, saying: “He who goes forth weeping …” (Psalm 126: 6). Indeed, every one of us may find a reason to cry; Yet we are committed to proceed on our way, practicing the good works of God. How miserable we would be, if we are called to work seriously, yet only to cry, without seeing any fruit of our labor! How miserable we would be, if we find no one to wipe our tears! But we know that the Holy Spirit works on helping us to keep on sowing amid our tears; promising us through the Psalmist, that we shall “doubtless come again with rejoicing” bearing the fruit of our labor, as an offering to Him (Psalm 126: 6) 1. St. Augustine “Awake, O north wind, And come, O south wind” (Songs 4: 16)… Let us draw our attention to the way by which the (bride of the song) commands the north wind to go away from her, and the south wind to come. She does not command it to calm down, like when the Lord Christ rebuked the wind and the raging water (Luke 8: 23-24); But she commands the south wind to blow; And to keep away any adversary wind to oppose it, she said to the north wind: “Awake, O north wind”. What causes these winds to move? The proverbs say about them: “Whoever restrains her (the contentious wife), restrains the wind, and grasps oil with his right hand” (Proverbs 27: 16). … Just meditate in the secrets included in these words: The sun rises from the east and moves toward the west; namely, toward the forces of darkness…. The north from where the northern wind blow is on the right hand of man; by which he receives troubles and insults during his journey that ends in the darkness…. That is why the person out of control finds himself as though he is the north wind, walking and doing disgraceful deeds. This evil north wind becomes worse when it stirs up heaps of nasty particles as dust and 1 Homilies on Ps. 2. 157 sand, going hand in hand with the faults of every man, blowing on his right hand side. And in case this wind is extremely powerful, it may end up changing and overturning things, and taking away the enjoyment of joy; that is why (the bride of the song) calls on the northern wind to go away from her, saying: “Awake, O north wind”. The northern wind refers to the adversary forces against God; that is clearly apparent to anyone researching in the nature of the seen truth. Among men, who does not know the line taken by the sun after it rises? It rises from the east and sets in the west. As the experts say, the earth, being a globe, if half of it is lighted by the sun, the opposite half will be dark. And like the north pole of earth that is always cold, and is never lighted nor warmed by the rays of the sun, the forces controlling the darkness would turn the souls into solid ice; which is called by the ‘Song’ as ‘the North’; namely, the effect of the dark winter; which I simply call “the winter”, to which the Bible refers, saying: “Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath” (Matthew 24: 20). In that winter, the flowering features according to virtue are quenched. The queen was right to command by her authority the north wind to go away; and to call on the south wind of the warm midday, to come; through which a sweeping current of gladness would prevail; saying: “Come, O south wind! Blow upon my garden; that its spices may flow out” Song 4: 16). It resembles “the rushing mighty wind” that blew on the upper room where the apostles were assembled; “then appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them” (Acts 2: 2). As though the apostles are living plants in the garden of God, that this wind help to produce fragrant herbs of prophecies, and to utter the fragrant teachings and commandments of salvation in all languages on the tongues of those 120 present, to flow on all the earth (acts 1: 15). The bride says now to the wind of the south: “Come, O south wind, blow upon my garden” As her Groom made her the mother of all gardens; He wishes this wind to blow upon His garden – the church – full of living trees, and to carry their fragrance to every corner of the earth. The prophet says: “Stormy 158 wind, fulfilling His word” (Psalm 148: 8). The bride adorned herself like a splendid queen, and changed the riverlets that flow with fragrance into something more beautiful; to flow with the power of the Holy Spirit. By this we learn the difference between the two testaments, the Old and the New: The River of prophecy of the Old Testament is full of water; whereas those of the gospel of the New Testament are full of fragrant oil. The river of the apostle Paul flowed with the fragrance of Christ from the garden of the church by the Holy Spirit; beside many other examples of rivers, like John, Luke, Matthew, and Mark, and all the other apostles, all of whom symbolize noble plants in the garden of the bride of Christ; And on whom, when the wind of the south blows in midday, it will carry from them the sweet fragrance of the gospels1. St. Gregory of Nyssa “By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen” (Job 37: 10). He allows the ice (the frozen water) to fall. Although these phenomena result of natural factors; Yet they do not happen haphazardly, but are controlled by God; according to the words of the Psalmist: “He gives snow like wool; He scatters the frost like ashes; He casts out His hail like morsels; Who can stand before His cold?” (Psalm 146: 16-17). Who makes the wind blow with such great abundance …Not with measures according to human ranks, riches, or ages; or limited by certain boundaries; but in the way He brought down the Manna (Exodus 16: 18), distributing it abundantly, yet equally?; … Who gives life to living beings; or rather, who keeps the natural life of the body, by which they live and talk? … Where are the storehouses of the winds? … And where are the treasures of snow? … And from which womb did it come? … Who binds the water drops in a cloud? And who hold their particles fast2? 1 عظة 10 على نشید الأناشید ترجمة الدكتور جورج نوّار. 2 The Second Theological Oration, Oration 28: 28. 159 “When God breathes the ice freezes” (10). When the Holy Spirit breathes on the hearts of believers, and grants them the great wonders of God, He causes their body to grow; while causing near paralysis to the hearts of non-believers. Those multitudes who do not believe in God would turn more cruel, by the same causes that make the humble congregation, forsake their past arrogance. Breathing on the former, God turns into ice; those who, in their envy, commented on the miracles performed by Jesus: “Look, the world has gone after Him” (John 12: 19). Having seen the miracles, performed by Him and by His ministers, and having watched the entire world going to follow the preaching of faith; Yet, the more the Holy Spirit filled the world, the more they held fast to the evil envy that chained their minds. ”And the water flow in abundance”. After enduring the cruelty of the Jews, and after His death, the Lord breathed on their hearts a breath of love to melt the ice of their non-belief, and to make them run and eagerly hasten to obey Him. As said by the prophet David about the congregation assembled toward the Lord: “He sends out His word and melts them; He causes His wind to blow and the waters flow” (Psalm 147: 18). Wasn’t Paul ice, on his way to Damascus, with messages from the high priests, to work against the seeds of God’s word sown in the hearts of believers, to deprive them of the chance of sending their roots of good deeds deep in the soil of belief? Yet that ice turned into water, and produced an abundant crop, through the holy preaching of those same people whom he previously persecuted. St. Gregory of Nyssa “He loads the clouds with moisture; He scatters His bright clouds” (Job 37: 11). The Lord will let the thick clouds pour dense rain on earth, to produce abundant vegetation. “He scatters His bright clouds”. Some scholars believe that God in His love makes the thick clouds like a pregnant woman who labors hard to give birth to her baby; and once they turn into rain, 160 they scatter and become light and bright again. It is as though they endure labor-like pain for the sake of man, to water his land “And they swirl about, being turned by His guidance, that they may do whatever He commands them on the face of the whole earth” (Job 37: 12). The clouds that seems as though swirling around haphazardly, are actually moving according to God’s pleasure and will, from one location to another on the face of the earth. Now, if the movement of the clouds need such divine ordinance, how much more does humanity need it. The wise Solomon says: “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety” (Proverbs 11: 14).; And: “Every purpose is established by counsel; By wise counsel wage war” (Proverbs 20: 18). The Psalmist, telling us about how nature with all its phenomena submit to God, he says: “Fire and hail, snow and clouds; stormy wind fulfill His word” (Psalm 148: 8). “He causes it to come, whether for correction, or for His land, or for mercy” (Job 37: 13). Movements of natural elements, like that of clouds laden with rain, which may seem haphazard, are all allowed by God; whether for correction, or as a sign of God’s pleasure, compassion, and mercy on man. As an example of using such phenomena as storms and flood for correction, is the great flood that covered the earth in the old world (Genesis 7: 11-12). “For His land” (13). When God sends rain on earth, as a sign of His pleasure on man, He counts it as “His land” or ‘His earth’, according to the words of the Psalmist: “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein” (Psalm 24: 1). If the storms or the clouds laden with rain, move according to His pleasure, He, as well, ordains for them the location where to blow or where to fall. 161 By saying: “For His land”, God intend to confirm, how He longs for man to live on the land of the Lord; as though setting him as another ‘Adam’ to live in a paradise planted by His hands, and watered by the water of His grace, to provide the pious man with joyful fruits. 3- ‘JOB’ IS UNQUALIFIED TO JUDGE GOD’S CARE: “Listen to this, O Job; Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God” (Job 37: 14). Elihu calls on ‘Job’ to turn his eyes aside from the afflictions dwelling upon him, that caused him to grumble; to meditate elaborately in God’s wonders, and His exalted works for the sake of His believers. When his mind and heart get filled with God’s love, and realize His divine care, his soul would find comfort within him; according to the words of the Psalmist: “Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them” (Psalm 111: 2). “Do you know how God lays His command upon them, and causes the lightning of His cloud to shine?” (Job 37: 15). Elihu wonders: Does man know how God moves the storms, the clouds, and the rain, etc. And how He causes lightning to shine out of dark clouds? “Do you know the balance of clouds, those wondrous works of Him who is perfect in knowledge?” (Job 37: 16). Who can know how the clouds move, while hanging high up in such an amazing balance; how they form out of evaporated water, assemble together in air, and remain swaying in a certain location, for a certain time, as though held and kept by a hidden hand, before pouring as rain to water the earth. It all reveals a great and perfect wisdom.With the progress of science and knowledge, although most of these phenomena are now explained, Yet they are far from being under the control of man, who is still unable to comprehend all its secrets. 162 “You who swelter in your clothes when the land lies hushed under the south wind” (Job 37: 17). In the book of the Songs we saw how the bride asks the north wind to go, and the south wind to come, to give her inner garden the joyful fruits of the Spirit (Songs 4: 16). Some believe that Elihu presents this remark in a sort of making fun; As it is something normal for the clothes to become warm with the blowing of the south wind; although man cannot present an elaborate interpretation of this simple phenomenon! “With Him, spread out the skies, hard as a cast metal mirror?” (Job 37: 18). He is asking ‘Job’: Did you help God to spread the hard firmament of the sky like a cast mirror? Here he speaks of the firmament of the sky as a mirror; That which, in the Holy Book is spoken of as a tent or curtain: “Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in” (Isaiah 40: 22); And as a scroll: “And the heavens shall be rolled up like a scroll; all their hosts shall fall down, as the leaf falls down from the vine, and as fruit falling from a fig tree” (Isaiah 34: 4); And sometimes like a garment: “And the heavens are the work of Your hands; They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, all of them will grow old like a garment; like a cloak You shall change them, and they will be changed” (Psalm 102: 25-26). “Hard”, so that it can support itself by itself. “Teach us what we shall say to Him; we cannot draw up our case because of darkness” (Job 37: 19). Humbly, Elihu, feeling a strong awe toward God, proclaims that man’s mind is in complete darkness, helpless to enter into a debate with the great God; for fear of getting destroyed (19-20). ‘Job’ has often sought to be tried before God, and to get in touch with God’s presence, to complain what he is suffering. Elihu advises him not to do so; as once He stands before the majesty of the great God, words would certainly flee from his lips! As though he says to him: ‘As it so seems that you are very wise, and has a complete knowledge of Him, Help us to be wise like you, in order to be able to approach God, and talk to Him; … 163 As we feel as though we are clothed with darkness. On our part we confess our ignorance and helplessness; so tell us, and teach us how to stand before Him and debate with Him!’ Or as though he says to him: ‘as men are unable to interpret God’s wonders and to realize their secrets; and accordingly, they cannot enter into a controversy with Him; so we ask you to instruct us how we would do that!’ “Should He be told that I wish to speak? If a man were to speak, surely he would be swallowed up!” (Job 37: 20). Can I even whisper in the presence of God? How could I dare to stand before Him? I would be swallowed with terror! If someone happen to say something unbefitting to the greatness of God; namely, if he dares to look as grumbling, he would surely be swallowed up. “Even now, men cannot look at the light when it is bright in the skies, when the wind has passed and cleared them” (Job 37: 21). If God’s greatness, now hidden, will surely be, all of a sudden manifested in the fullness of its splendor; scattering the darkness out of Job’s eyes; in a similar way, the sun, whose rays are hidden behind a cloud; its splendor will be manifested, once the wind blows scattering the cloud. It would be befitting of the believer from whose eyes, the splendor of God’s glory, righteousness, and justice, are hidden by temptations; to wait with perseverance and longsuffering, for the Holy Spirit to blow on him, and take away the cloud of darkness, in order to see what was hidden from his eyes. Elihu is asking ‘Job’ to wait with perseverance, as the storm has already started, and the time is growing near, for God to transfigure with His splendor, and talk to him; once the wind drives away the cloud of temptations that has darkened his eyes. Some believe that Elihu here refers to man’s inability to look at the sun, with its splendor, when the wind blows, and clears the sky of the clouds. So how could he seek to see God, face to face, to put his case before Him? He should rather prostrate himself 164 before Him, with the spirit of humility, instead of grumbling, as though he is accusing Him! “Out of the north comes golden splendor; around God is awesome majesty” (Job 37: 22). According to the septuagint version it came as: “The clouds glitter like gold”. Watching the storm coming from the north, Elihu says that the clouds accompanying it glitter like pure gold, as a symbol of the approaching God. St. Augustine believes that, Zion being in the south, The ‘north’ refers to the nations of the Gentile, where Satan (Lucifer) had his authority; “said in his heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation, on the farthest sides of the north”(Isaiah 14: 12-13). Now, receiving the faith in Christ, the Gentiles forsake the kingdom of Satan, set themselves free of it, and come down from the north, glittering as gold, namely, became kings; and being lightened by the grace in Christ Jesus, they became like golden clouds1. 4- GOD IS EXALTED, GREAT, AND AWESOME: “As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him; He is exalted in power; In His justice and great righteousness, He does not oppress” (Job 37: 23). Even though God is approaching ‘Job’, through manifest splendor, surrounded by clouds and storms, and sitting on a throne of pure gold; Yet, according to Elihu, it is impossible for any of us to realize His exalted greatness, His limitless might, His justice, and righteousness. And, according to him, it is befitting of ‘Job’ to know beforehand that God’s appearance to him does not mean that He will answer his questions; As it is not the right of creatures, being unable to comprehend His wisdom, to question Him. “Therefore men fear Him; He shows no partiality to any who are wise of heart” (Job 37: 24). 1 St. Augustine: On Ps, 48 (47). 165 Therefore, it is befitting of men, when they encounter God, to confess their sin, ignorance, misery, and fear, from Him who is alone the holy and wise One. God would never show partiality to any who is wise in his own eyes; as what wisdom could be referred to a man, compared to God, whole in wisdom, and knowledge? And what goodness could be referred to him, compared to God who is alone Holy? With this, Elihu ends his talk, in a way entirely different from that of the three friends; He ends it by demonstrating God’s greatness, majesty, wisdom, and might; That is befitting for every man – whatever his abilities and talents – to prostrate himself before God. He ends his talk saying how he sees the divine greatness approaching to encounter ‘Job’, as a cloud of splendid pure gold; And how he wishes that ‘Job’ would prepare himself for this encounter, by stopping grumbling and complaining; and by confessing the great works, justice, and righteousness of God. Elihu believes that as God approaches, It would be befitting for all human talk or debate to stop, and for everyone to submit in silence, to listen to the divine voice. 166 AN INSPIRATION FROM THE BOOK OF JOB 37 LET YOUR VOICE THUNDER IN MY HEART Let the storm of Your love blow in my depths; and your voice thunder in my heart. Nothing can change what is in my depths, but the voice of your love. And nothing can grant me Your awesome fear, yet full of sweetness, but Your voice. The thunder of Your voice shakes my whole being, and destroys all the corruption inside me. It separates me from all temporal worries. In a sweet awe, my thoughts exalt to the throne of Your grace; and my mind is absorbed by Your majesty. I wish I would not separate myself from you, until I depart from this world. The thunder of Your voice destroys the haughty Cedar of Lebanon; and takes away from me every pride. The clouds of Your love rain on the earth of my heart, to turn it into a joyful heavenly paradise. That bears the exalted fruits of the spirit. Amid those dense clouds, you shine all of a sudden. When I see the rays of Your lights just for few moments, my soul gets enlightened, and I recognize Your secrets. Your light scatters every darkness in me, and turns my darkness into a splendid daylight. The water of rain turn into glittering white snow My heart, covered with ice, becomes all pure. My soul praises You; as You scatter my sins and take them away; And my soul gets filled with the snow of your splendid wisdom. The devil – that fierce beast – strives to force himself on Your paradise in me. 167 But he would not be able to come near me, as long as You are dwelling inside me. And if he deceives me and gets in, he will not settle down, as Your grace will soon drive him away. Yes, keep Your paradise safe from that crafty enemy. Let Your south wind blow on Your paradise, that my soul would get filled with the warmth of the Spirit. And my heart would flare with Your holy zeal. And if You allow for the north wind to blow on me; If You allow for temptations to surround me; I shall stay confident in the riches of Your love and wisdom. When you are moving all nature to my account; How would I not be confident in Your good ordinance of my whole life?
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