HOW ABOUT A COURT TO APPEAL? ‘Job’ wonders: Why God doe not designate certain days for justice; to investigate the conditions and grievances of the fatherless, the widows, the poor, and the oppressed. As the human judges sometimes fall into taking bribes from the rich oppressors (2-4)? 1- The wicked do not care for the divine Judge 1 2- The wicked persist on robbery and seizing violently 2 3- The wicked exploit the poor 3 4- The wicked terrify the meek 4 5- The wicked think that they are above the law. 5 – 10 6- The wicked wish for evil, whereas God wishes for the good 11 7- The wicked think that God is not paying attention 12 – 13 8- Darkness will dwell over the wicked 14 – 17 9- Terror will dwell over the wicked 18 – 20 10- The rod of the wicked will not come on the righteous 21 1- THE WICKED DO NOT CARE FOR THE DIVINE JUDGE: “Since times are not hidden from the Almighty, Why do those who know Him see not His days?” (Job 24: 1) Looking toward the Day of Judgment, ‘Job’ is filled with awe and fear of God, when he encounters Him who is above the time. At the same time he marvels how the wicked that, despite being submitted to time -- living for sometime then departing -- do not fear God who embraces all times, and no time would ever escape His attention! ‘Job’ believes that, since every man appears at a certain time then departs by his death, without getting to know the Day of Judgment; it is befitting for him to stop practicing injustice against his neighbor. By this, ‘Job’ is probably attempting to transfer the accusation directed against him to his friends, who do not fear God, and practice cruelty against him. “Times are not hidden from the Almighty”; Since the time past is not hidden from His judgment (Ecclesiastes 3: 15); the present time is not hidden from His care; and the time to come is not hidden from His prior knowledge (Acts 15: 18)1.; It would then be befitting for the wicked not to assume that they will escape the divine justice. Since the past, the present, and the future, are all before the presence of God; they have no right to say: “The Lord does not see us; The Lord has forsaken the earth”(Ezekiel 8: 12; 9: 9); or to say: ‘The wicked in the past have lived all their life in prosperity and success’; As even if they die, they will rise again to stand before the Judge, before whom there is nothing hidden. God hid the day of His coming from humans, in the hope that all would forsake their evil ways, lest that day would come all of a sudden over them. The general day of judgment, called “The day of the Lord” (Psalm 27: 13), will definitely come, although we do not know when! “Times are not hidden from the Almighty” (1)…. We, as created beings, are hidden within parts of the time; Whereas God, the Creator of everything, embraces all times And concerning eternity, we do not know when it will be. Pope Gregory the Great 1Matthew Henry Commentary. As the day of the coming of the Lord for judgment is not known to us; whereas it is certainly known to Him; Serious training on anticipating the coming of the Lord, together with a daily follow-up of man’s practices, with the spirit of hope in Christ, the Savior of sinners; and the work of the Holy Spirit, were vital issues in the early church; particularly among the monastic congregations. Everyone should extract for himself a daily record of his activities during the day and the night; In case he sinned, let him forsake sinning; And in case he did not, he should not boast; but with no slothfulness, he should hold fast to the good; should not judge his brethren, nor justify himself, “until the Lord comes, who will bring to light the hidden things” (1 Corinthians 4: 5; Romans 2: 16), as said by the blessed apostle Paul. As we have often, unintentionally done things we are not aware of, Yet the Lord knows everything; to whom we shall be delivered for judgment, Let us then have compassion on each others, and bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6: 2); Let us hasten to test ourselves, and to mend every fault in us. My son do not hasten to rebuke anyone; as this, for you, is a grave fault; But remember all the time, your departure from this body; and never forget the day of eternal judgment. If you do this, you will sin no more. Our spiritual fathers told us that seclusion is a school to remind us of death, and to teach us how to escape from everything concerning the flesh. St. Anthony the Great 2- THE WICKED PERSIST ON ROBBERY AND SEIZING VIOLENTLY: “Some remove landmarks; they seize flocks violently, and feed on them” (Job 24: 2) Looking around him, ‘Job’ sees them, not caring for the just Judge, remove landmarks; namely, take by force the land of others; And violently seize flocks, and feed on them, as though it is their own. Here he starts with the foremost and most serious of all evil, hated by the Holy One; namely, oppression! Nothing would grieve the heart of God as to see oppression occupy the place of love and truth. Man was created to be an icon of love; but, according to the wise Solomon, “I saw under the sun: In the place of righteousness, Iniquity was there” (Ecclesiastes 3: 16); and “I saw the tears of the oppressed; they have no comforter; But on the side of the oppressors there was power” (Ecclesiastes 4: 1). Moving landmarks was forbidden by law (Deuteronomy 19: 14), and whoever breaks the law is worthy of being accursed Deuteronomy 27: 17). As for violently seizing flocks, king David issued a verdict of death against a man who has slain the ewe lamb of a poor neighbor, unaware of the fact that he was issuing it against himself , having taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite (2 Samuel 12: 4). “O Lord, Why do the wicked escape from their hour? Why do they remove the landmarks? Why do they carry away both the flock and the shepherd?” (2). Once again doubt arise; And the question is asked: “Why do the wicked prosper?” As we do not know why someone would unjustly fall under such sufferings by the hand of someone else; It is only natural to see that these oppressions would cause disturbances, and would affect both parties: the oppressor and the oppressed. “They go out like wild donkeys in the desert” (6). Namely, they arrogantly despise the whole world, and disregard everyone, assuming that no one can touch them or oppress them! Although “God hasn’t yet visited them”. He will certainly do later on; He will never let their evil actions so lightly pass. St. John Chrysostom The wise Solomom says: “Moreover I saw under the sun: In the place of judgment, wickedness was there; And in the place of righteousness, iniquity was there. I said in my heart: ’God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, For there shall be a time there for every purpose and for every work’” (Ecclesiastes 3: 16, 17). The good Lord has done everything well and good in its time; And the corruption that has dwelt upon the world is not according to the nature of the world itself, but through the oppression and injustice of man against his fellow man. Nothing testifies to the vanity of the world, more than when oppression replaces justice; than when corruption occupies the places of justice! But Solomon believes in the just judgment of God; and in that the corruption of the world, does not mean that things are going on haphazardly without control; He believes that God is waiting for the right time to judge both the righteous and the wicked. “For there shall be a time there for every purpose and for every work”; Namely, if man, through his corruption has done wrong to the world; has not put everything in its proper time and place and oppression has occupied the place of justice… God will interfere to mend the situation; Yet in His proper time. Of the most serious iniquities, dealt with by the Holy Book with its two testaments, is man’s oppression and violence against his fellow man… God with his longsuffering, awaits our return to Him to enjoy His love and righteousness; But in case the wicked persist on practicing their violence and oppression, On the day of Judgment, God, not caring for the details, will calls all their wickedness as ‘oppression’; As nothing grieves His heart like man’s oppression against his fellow man. He will address the wicked, saying: “I tell you, I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity” (Luke 13: 27). “O Lord, how long shall I cry, And You will not hear? Even cry out to You, ‘Violence’! And You will not save” (Habakkuk 1; 2). The Holy Book warns us against practicing oppression, confirming its seriousness: a- There is no refuge from oppression except by resorting to God Himself. “Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men; Preserve me from violent (oppressive) men” (Psalm 140: 1). “Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; Preserve me from violent (oppressive) men, who have purposed to make my steps stumble” (Psalm 140: 4). b- The oppression that man practices, he stores for himself, to come back to destroy him; He will drink from the same cup he filled for his neighbor. “Let evil hunt the violent (oppressive) man to overthrow him” (Psalm 140: 11). c- Oppression makes man lose wisdom and reason, to be taken over by foolishness; and deprives him of entering into a covenant with God, the wholly Just; as there is no fellowship between oppression and justice. “Oppression destroys a wise man’s reason; And a bribe debases his heart” (Ecclesiastes 7: 7). Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel: ‘Because you despise this word, and trust in oppression and perversity, and rely on them …” (Isaiah 30: 12). “For I the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery for burnt offering; I will direct their work in truth, and will make them an everlasting covenant” (Isaiah 61: 8). d- Oppression corrupts the spirit of care; and make rulers and princes lose their shepherding work. “Thus says the Lord God, ‘Enough O princes of Israel! Remove violence (Oppression) and plundering; execute justice and righteousness, and dispossessing my people” (Ezekiel 45: 9). e- Every oppression that enters into the storehouses of the palaces of those who think they are great, and above the law, and settle there, will not come out without repentance and return to God. "For they do not know to do right’, says the Lord, ‘who store up violence (Oppression) and robbery in their palaces” (Amos 3: 10). “Woe to you who put far off the day of doom, who cause the seat of violence (oppression) to come near” (Amos 6: 3). “Let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence (oppression) that is in his hands” (Jonah 3: 8). f- Oppression corrupts the heart; Jerusalem, the city of God and her inner temple. “Who build up Zion with bloodshed, and Jerusalem with iniquity (oppression)” (Micah 3: 10). “For the Lord God of Israel says that He hates divorce, For it covers one’s garment with violence (oppression)’, says the Lord of hosts, Therefore take heed of your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously” (Malachi 2: 16). The Psalmist puts the word ‘oppression’, as though equivalent to ‘the devil’ himself; he puts ‘oppression’ against ‘God’, the Subject of our hope, and on whom we lean, and warns us, saying: “Do not trust in oppression”; As though we have one of two options: ‘God’ or ‘oppression’! “Do not trust in oppression” (Psalm 62: 2); I hastened to put my hope in God; Can there, in any way, be oppression in God1?! St. Augustine g- The result of oppression is naught; It is of no value! “Do not trust in oppression, nor vainly hope in robbery; If riches increase, do not set your hearts on them” (Psalm 62: 10). God did not promise to take away oppression and persecution from His believers; But He allows for them, for the sake of His and their glory; It acts in them as a savior, turns evil to good. The Psalmist says: “He will redeem their life from oppression and violence; and precious shall be their blood in His sight” (Psalm 72: 14); Or as it came in some versions: “Their name will be honored in His presence”. 1On Ps 62. If Christians seem despised in this world, Yet their name is honored in the presence of God. He no longer will remember the names by which they were called before, through the nonsense of Gentile paganism; and will not refer to their names that stuck to them through their wicked behavior before they become Christians. In His presence, they are now called Christians, the name despised by the adversaries1. St. Augustine In a commentary on Psalm 140, by which the Psalmist pray to God to keep him from men of oppression, St. Augustine believes that it presents to us a living example of prayer against oppressors; in saying: “Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked The proud have hidden a snare for me and cords; They have spread a net by the wayside; They have set traps for me” (Psalm 140: 4-5). This prayer is not against the oppressor himself, as much as it is against evil and oppression; a prayer to God to take away the nets set against us. Many people pray in an un-effective way against the wicked You should rather pray against such nets, lest you lose your heavenly inheritance; lest you lose Christ, with whom you have a fellowship of inheritance; who assigned for you to live forever with Him; who made you a heir; not to your own father, after his death, but to the One with whom you will live forever2. St. Augustine The real oppressor, according to St. Augustine, is not he who causes you material or temporal losses; like robbing you of your inheritance or possessions; But he who sets traps for your soul, to deprive you of your fellowship with the Lord Christ, in the eternal inheritance. When the oppressors set nets to catch the righteous, the oppressors themselves, fall into their own nets, and lose their eternity; accords to the saying of the Psalmist: “Evil hunt the man of oppression to overthrow him” (Psalm 140: 11). Evil may come, But the wicked will not abide, hence the words “hunt to overthrow him”. Many of the righteous have been struck by evil; Yet by them, they were ‘found’ and not ‘overthrown’. When evil chased the righteous; namely, our martyrs, they caught up with them, but not to destroy them; their bodies might have been pressed down, but their Spirits which were taken away from their bodied, were crowned. Let the body be burned, scourged, or distorted; would it be taken away from its Creator, to be delivered in the hands of its persecutors?!?! He who created it from nothing, will bring it back in a better form3. St. Augustine Pope Gregory the Great believes that Job’s friends symbolize the heretics who perpetually use every possible way, either by deception or by seduction, to enlarge their territories, and to rob new souls, through removing the landmarks put by the fathers; namely, the well-established evangelic ecclesiastical concepts; drawing some, and diverting them away from the divine field. They take the meek flock of Christ away, count it as their flock, and claim the right to care for it away of the church of Christ. 1On Ps 72. 2On Ps. 140. 3On Ps 140. “Some others remove the landmarks, and take away the herds by force, and feed them” (2). Who are those referred to by the words “Some others”, but the heretics, the strangers to the bosom of the holy church? They remove the landmarks when they divert the concepts of the laws of the early father, about which it is written: “Do not remove the ancient landmarks which your fathers have set” (Proverbs 22: 28). Pope Gregory the Great 3- THE WICKED EXPLOIT THE POOR: “They drive away the donkey of the fatherless; They take the widow’s ox as a pledge” (Job 24: 3) Here he gives another example of the oppression, of driving away the donkey of the helpless fatherless, on which he depends for life; Or of taking the ox of the widow, which she uses in her tiny plot of land, as a pledge for a little debt or a a backward rent. The wicked persist on robbing what is not theirs! God considers the oppression against the fatherless or the widow, as directed to Him personally; being “the Father of the fatherless, and the Judge of the widows” (Psalm 68: 5); “Who administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothes” (Deuteronomy 10: 18); “The Lord watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and the widow; But the way of the wicked He turns upside down” (Psalm 146: 9); and “He will not ignore the supplication of the orphan, or the widow when she pours out her complaint” (Sirach 35: 17). God has given several commandments that concern the fatherless and the widow, of which are: “You shall not pervert justice due the stranger or the fatherless, nor take a widow’s garment as a pledge” (Deuteronomy 24: 17). “When you reap your harvest in your field, and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it, it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that the Lord your God bless you in all the work of your hands” (Deuteronomy 24: 19). “When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over the boughs again; It shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow” (Deuteronomy 24: 20). “When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not glean it afterwards; It shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow” (Deuteronomy 24: 21). “When you have finished laying aside all the tithes of your increase in the third year, which is the year of tithing, and have given it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat within your gates and be filled” (Deuteronomy 26: 12). “’Cursed is the one who perverts the justice due the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow’, And all the people shall say, ‘Amen’” (Deuteronomy 27: 19). “Thus says the Lord: ‘Execute judgment and righteousness, and deliver the plundered out of the land of the oppressor. Do not wrong, and do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, or the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place” Jeremiah 22: 3). “Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor; Let none of you plan evil in his heart against his brother” (Zechariah 7: 10). “And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against sorcerers, against adulterers, against perjurers, against those who exploit wage earners and widows and the fatherless, and against those who turn away an alien – because they do not fear Me,’, says the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 3: 5). Get away, O Bishop, from him who afflicts the widow, suppresses the fatherless, or cruelly treats his servants by strikes, hunger, or abuse; Their offerings are hateful, Reject them1! The apostolic laws Priests should be compassionate and merciful on everyone; They should bring back the lost; visit the sick; and do not ignore the widow, the fatherless, or the poor; but “have regard for good and honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men” (Romans 12: 17; 2 Corinthians 8: 21); Refrain from anger, partiality toward men, or hasten to make an unjust verdict on someone; or have no love for money; putting in mind that we are all prone to sin2. Polycarbus, Bishop of Smyrna Your ministry, O Bishop, will glitter with more splendor, if you, with the help of the church, relieve the widow and the poor of their anguish caused by someone in authority; revealing that God’s commandment for you, has more weight than favoritism to the rich3. St. Ambrose Of the most important forms of oppression, against which the early fathers of the church cared to warn their congregation, is hypocrisy, and the exploitation of the poor by the rich, through lending them money with high interest, that would cause them endless troubles. I have dealt with the subject of ‘Lending with interest’ in my work ‘The social thought of the fathers of the church’. St. John Chrysostom presents to us a bitter portrait of the exploitation of the poor families by the rich, through charging them extensively high interests on loans they give them, that end up in their complete destruction. When a family becomes so poor that they have to borrow money to keep alive, and the lender charge them high interest on the loan, It falls more and more in the deep pit of need, being committed, not only to pay back the loan, but also the interest that accumulate on it. The lender may claim, even to himself, that he is acting cleverly; while he is actually acting with hypocrisy; causing much harm to others, under the pretense of giving, which he turning into an act of robbery. He pretends to help the poor family to land at a haven of security, while he is actually pushing their boat toward destructive rocky shores. The lender is doing business at the expense of the anguish of others; making profit out of their tribulation. He may ask, why should he give up money he needs, to someone else, without getting a reward for it? To answer this, we say that, For the little gold he lends on earth, he will get in heaven more gold than he can ever imagine! St. John Chrysostom Adopting a symbolic interpretation: The donkey of the orphan, taken by the wicked heretics, refers to the simple souls they snatch out of the bosom of the church; exploit and commit them to the burden of their wrong faith and erroneous dogmas; not aware of the son hood of the orphan to God, his Father, and the church, his mother. By . 1الدسقولیّة، باب 14 2 Epistle to Philippians, Ch. 6:1. 3On The Duties of the Clergy, 2: 28: 149. making him fatherless, they deprive him of the peace of God; And by making him motherless, they deprive him of the bosom of the church, his mother. Taking the ox of the widow as a pledge, on the other hand, refers to the soul that, not apprehending the church, as a joyful wedding, would live in great sorrow like a widow. The heretics take such a soul by force, through temporary seductions, while robbing her of her only ox, to make her internally in need. The widow should be conceived as the holy church that is deprived of her slain Groom! And her ox is every single preacher taken from her! Pope Gregory the Great 4- THE WICKED TERRIFY THE MEEK: “They push the needy off the road, So that the poor of the land are forced to hide” (Job 24: 4) The oppression of the wicked does not stop at robbing the lands, fields, flocks of others, and at exploiting the little that the needy may have, But, assuming that the world was created just for them, and the poor has no right to live, the wicked do their best to uproot them from the earth, that the needy are forced to hide from their faces. The oppressors find pleasure in blocking the way of escape before the poor, and in threatening to deal with them as fugitives; and when the poor attempt to hide, they mock them. God, Himself, inclines His ears to listen to the sighs of the simple and the meek, on which no one cares. The Psalmist says: “O Lord, You will hear the desire of the meek; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear to do justice for the orphan and the oppressed, so that those from earth may strike terror no more” (Psalm 10: 17, 18). “His eyes are secretly fixed on the helpless” (Psalm 10: 8). The wicked particularly persecutes the righteous, about who is said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5: 3); “He lies in wait secretly as a lion in his den” (Psalm 10: 9); Namely, as someone violent and deceptive…. “O Lord, You will hear the moans of the meek” (Psalm 10: 17); while being burned; In their afflictions and troubles in this world, they long for the dwelling of the day of the Lord “… for the orphan and the oppressed on earth to be stricken with terror no more” (Psalm 10: 18); And not for those conformed according to the world; Nor for the haughty1. St. Augustine 5- THE WICKED THINK THAT THEY ARE ABOVE THE LAW: “Indeed, like wild donkeys in the wilderness, they go out to their work, seeking diligently for food. The wilderness yield food for them and for their children” (Job 24: 5) ‘Job’ likens the wicked to the wild donkeys that set forth in the wilderness with no law to control them; who go early in the morning to seek diligently for food; and the wilderness yield food for them and their children. The wicked consider themselves above the law; and have no work but to eat, drink, have pleasure, and to provide for their children. “In the wilderness”: The wicked would rather have the whole earth turn into a wilderness, where no law controls the society; and where they, accordingly can be free to 1On Ps. 10. practice their oppression. Yet, although the wilderness would be the most suitable place for such savages, no wilderness can hide man from God, or make him far from the reach of His hand. “They go out to work”, namely, to rob and practice oppression, which became their regular work, from which they get great profit. The way the righteous go early in the morning to glorify God; the wicked also go out to practice oppression as their regular work (Psalm 104: 23). After spending the whole night planning evil, By sun rise they hasten to go out to put into effect what they have in their hearts.. As it was said: “A cunning Canaanite! Deceitful scales in his hand, he loves to oppress. And Ephraim said, ‘Surely I have become rich, I have found wealth for myself” (Hosea 12: 7, 8). “The wilderness yield food for them and their children”. They sustain both themselves and their children from robbery on the paths of the wilderness, instead of doing it through honorable ways. Pope Gregory the Great believes that the heretics act the same way; living in a barren wilderness, when they forsake the church, the house of God and His holy vineyard. They are licentious; only preoccupied with temporal pleasures; not intending to submit to any control, or to be committed to any particular ordinance, like fasting, praying, metanias, etc; they do not care, even if they come under a divine chastisement. By living in such a barren wilderness, with no fruit of the Spirit, they are like Ishmael, about who is written: “He shall be a wild ass of a man, with his hand against everyone, and everyone’s hand against him” (Genesis 16: 12). “Indeed like wild donkeys in the wilderness, they go out to their work”. Here he likens the heretics to the wild donkeys, licentious in their lusts, and aliens to the laws of faith or reason. As it is written: “A wild donkey used to the wilderness that sniffs at the wind in her desire” (Jeremiah 2: 24); A man would be like a wild donkey in the wilderness, when he, not having the land of his heart plowed by the exaltation of chastisement, lives without fruit…. It is not the work of God, but their own work, not to follow the sound teachings, but to follow their own lusts; As it is written: “He who walks in a perfect way, he shall serve Me” (Psalm 101: 6). Pope Gregory the Great I know that what I shall say is painful to hear; Yet it includes a great benefit. [If the rich man finds someone to give him such an advise, instead of complimenting him, and telling him what he likes to hear; he would not fall in that pit, under that unbearable suffering; where it is too late for remorse; where he may seek sympathy from those who did their best to deliver him to the fire of Hades. I wish we always preach and continuously talk about this subject; according to the Holy Book: “In all your works, if you always remember your end, you will never ever” (sirah7: 40) and, “Set your work for your departure, and prepare everything for the way”1]. St. John Chrysostom However (green) the wicked are now, Being kept for fire, they will eventually perish They flourish in the happiness of this world, and will perish in the power of God; But they will not perish by the same way they flourish; As they only flourish for some . 1 لعازر والغني، عظة 2 time, then perish eternally; flourish in what is not truly good, and perish by real sufferings1. St. Augustine The Psalmist, looking at the wicked, living in peace, prosperity, and happiness in this world; confesses feeling envious and jealous of them; saying: “As for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no pangs in their death, but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men, nor are they plagued like other men. Therefore violence covers them like a garment” (psalm 73: 2-6). I watch the wicked and see how they live in peace. Yet, what kind of peace? It may be a temporary, earthly, and fallen kind of peace, Yet, I seek it from God! When I see how those who do not serve God have what I wish to have, my feet almost stumble, and my steps nearly slip! But why is it that way with the wicked?!... Now I know why they have peace, and why they flourish on earth… Death surely awaits them eternally; And they will not be able to avoid it Their punishment will not be temporary, but steadfast and eternal2! St. Augustine 6- WHILE THE WICKED WISH FOR EVIL, GOD WISHES FOR GOOD: “They gather their fodder in a field not their own, And glean in the vineyard of the wicked” (Job 24: 6) Assuming that they are above the law, they reap the fields of others, and provide their beasts with their fruits; Considering their beasts better than the owners of the fields, they do not care for the hunger of the later. Pope Gregory the Great believes that the field and the vineyard here refer to the Holy Book; the heretics quote certain of its phrases, then divert their meanings to what conform to their own interests. “They reap a field not their own, and by violence, they glean the vineyard of those whom they press3” (6). By the field he refers to the wide range of the Holy Book, that, being not their own, the heretics quote certain of its phrases, and let them carry meanings far from what they are supposed to mean. The same is said about what is called a ‘vineyard’, that offers bunch of virtues through phrases of the Truth. It is as though they violently apply pressure on the Owner of the vineyard – the Author of the Holy Book – to distort the meanings of some of its words. And as the Lord says: “You have burdened me with your sins, You have wearied Me with your iniquities” (Isaiah 43: 24), they reap bunches of grapes of this vineyard; gather together certain of its phrases, then squeeze from them what conform to their own concepts. We can also understand the field or the vineyard, as the catholic church, reaped by the corrupt preachers; who press on its Creator In the persons of His members; “gathering together the wine”, through submitting certain individuals, who seem to be righteous. Pope Gregory the Great 1On Ps. 54. 2On Ps 73. 3التزمت بالنصوص الواردة في كتابات البابا غریغوریوس كما هي. The scholar Origen believes that the heretics start by receiving their talent of faith, from which they later on divert; and from the true teaching of the church. In their pride, they start by searching in the divine Book, not to find the truth, but to confirm their own concepts. According to ‘Henri de Lubac, in his book on Origen: [Man should receive faith by the spirit taught to us by the church1, not like the heretics who search the Holy Book to find what conform to their own concepts. Their pride rises up higher than the Cedar of Lebanon; their philosophy is ull of deceit they falsely claim that their tradition has come to them from the apostles Yet they truly are masters of falsehood. While the true Christian would never divert from the Holy Book, the heretics, in order to confirm their lies, intend for us to worship ‘a Christ’ they invented in ‘a wilderness’; Whereas our ‘Christ’ reveals Himself ‘inside the house’. They distort the golden and silver vessels; namely, the holy contexts, to transform them to what conform to their own concepts…. They are actually robbers and adulterers, putting their hands on the divine words with only one aim; namely, to distort their meanings by their pervert interpretations. They are counterfeiters who have created their principles outside the church; false teachers, and false prophets; they are the liars about whom Ezekiel spoke, those who cover their idols – their empty dogmas – by sweetness, to make them more convincing to those who listen to them,They all claim that Jesus is their Teacher; they embrace Him, yet their kiss is like that of Judas2]. “They spend the night naked, without clothing, And have no covering in the cold” (Job 24: 7) Once again, not submitting to any law, they rob others of their clothing, and drive them out, to spend the night naked with no cover in the cold. The heretics are doing their best to bare the believers of their clothing; namely, their true fellowship with the Lord Christ, about whom the apostle Paul says: “You have put on Christ” (Galatians 3: 27); “and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Colossians 3: 10); And also says: “And that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4: 24). “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6: 11). “Therefore , as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, and longsuffering”(Colossians 3: 12). “But above all these things, put on love, which is the bond of perfection” (Colossians 3: 14). “They drive out people and leave them naked with no cover in the cold3” (7). As the garments cover the body, So the good works cover the soul. That is why it is written: “Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walks naked and they see his shame” (Revelation 16: 15). When the heretics destroy the good thoughts in someone’s mind, they are as though taking off his garments. It is well said, “with no cover in the cold”; as the cover is related to righteousness, and the cold to sin. 1 Comm on the Song of the Songs, 3:4. PG 33:179. 2Henri De Lubac: Origen, On First Principles, NY., 1966 (Koetschau text together with an introduction and notes by G.W. Butterworth, p. XIV 3التزمت بالنصوص الواردة في كتابات البابا غریغوریوس كما هي. Pope Gregory the Great “Therefore, let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Corinthians 5: 8). “that when you put off the old man with all his conducts …, You put on the new man which was created according to God” (Ephesians 4: 22,24). Let us cast out every hypocrisy and falsehood; and get away from every malice. I wish we take upon ourselves to love God and our neighbor, in order to become a new creation; and to keep the feast as we should1. We need to put on the lord Jesus to be able to keep the feast together with Him. We put Him on when we love virtue and become enemies of evil; when we love righteousness and not oppression; when we have the strength of mind; when we do not forget the poor, and open our doors to all men; when we do not forget the humility of thought, and hate pride2. Pope Athanasius the Apostolic If the garment of your soul is ‘greed’, take it off, and put on another; Take off the old garment, and do not put it on again; Take off the adultery and uncleanness; And put on the glittering garment of purity I beseech you to do it before the Groom, the Lord Jesus comes and sees your old garment! You have a long time for repentance; an ample chance to take off, to wash up, to put on, and to enter3. St. Cyril of Jerusalem “They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and huddle around the rock for want of shelter” (Job 24: 8) Robbing the believers of their faith in the Lord Christ, to deprive them of the divine garments and the heavenly cover; the wicked leave those poor people, naked under the rain of the mountains. For want of shelter, they huddle around the rocks. “They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and huddle around the rocks for want of (garments)” (8). The showers of the mountains are the words of the learned. About these mountains it was said in the voice of the holy church: “I will lift up my eyes to the hills” (Psalm 121: 1). “They are wet with the showers of the mountains”; Those who fill their ears with the words of the saintly fathers. The garment we use as cover, refers to the good conduct, by which man covers the uncleanness of his corruption in the sight of the Almighty God; according to what is written: “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered” (Psalm 32: 1). And who are those, referred to as ‘rocks’, but the strong ones within the range of the holy church, To whom it was proclaimed: “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house” (1 Peter 2: 5). So are those, who, according to their practical conduct, with no slothfulness, hasten to resort to the protection of the saintly martyrs, shed their tears and raise their supplications, at their holy relics, to gain forgiveness 1 Paschal Letters,1. 2 Paschal Letters, 4: 3. 3مقالاته لطالبي العماد: مقال افتتاحي. through their intercession. What are those people doing with such supplications, but huddling around the rocks, for want of the cover of good practical practice. Pope Gregory the Great “Some snatch the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge from the poor” (Job 24: 9) In their violence, they snatch the fatherless infant while suckling from his mother’s breast, and search for the poor to take them hostages. Having no compassion, they deprive the suckling infant from his mother, and the mother from her suckling infant. And they choose to do that during very critical moments, while the infant is suckling, giving no heed to the screams of his hunger. The pharaoh of Egypt killed the Hebrew infants, and so did Herod, in his attempt to kill the infant king among them. Those two snatched the suckling infants from their mothers’ breasts, and killed them by the sword. Some believe that the oppressors, after killing the fathers, snatch the suckling to deprive them from their mothers. While others believe that they snatch the suckling to use them as slaves, as it happened in the days of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 5: 5). “They use violence to devour the fatherless, and corrupt the herds of the common poor” (9) The heretics use violence to devour the fatherless, when they violently attack the minds of simple believers by their words and actions. “The herds of the common poor” are the unlearned multitudes, which, if they have got the true knowledge, the cover of their faith would not be taken away by the heretics, through their poisonous teachings; which they cannot do with the learned ones, the elite (Senators) within the holy church, who have got the true knowledge in their hearts. Pope Gregory the Great “They cause the poor to go naked, without clothing, and they take away the sheaves from the hungry” (Job 24: 10) “They take away the ears of grain from the naked, which go without cover and from the hungry” (10). He says ‘naked’, then adds, ‘without cover’; as there is difference between being ‘naked’ and ‘to go naked’. He, who neither does good, nor evil, is considered naked and valueless. Whereas he who does evil, ‘goes naked’; having no cover of good practice, he goes along the way of evil. Yet, some, being aware of the of their misery, hasten to get fulfilled with the bread of righteousness; and feel hungry for the words of the Holy Book. Going through that change of mind, For them, the sayings of the fathers, become like ears of grain of a good crop. These ears of grains are taken away by the heretics from the naked, from those going without cover, and from the hungry. Pope Gregory the Great “They press out oil within their walls, and tread winepresses, yet suffer thirst” (Job 24: 11) The wicked keep treading with their feet on the children of God, to humiliate them; but they are unaware that, treading with their feet on the believers, they help turning them into fragrant oil, and into joyful spiritual wine. What does he mean by saying: “within their walls”? The wicked tread on the believers with their feet within the walls of their city; namely, force themselves into their own places and humiliate them in their homes. But God turns the city into a holy winepress, to make the believers partners with their crucified Christ, who says: “I have trodden the winepress alone” (Isaiah 63: 3). When the wicked tread upon the believers with their feet, the winepress becomes filled with wine that brings pleasure to the heart of God, and makes the heavenly hosts proud. Whereas the wicked will come out of the winepress thirsty; getting nothing out of their violence but void! “In the middle of the day, they relax over heaps of those who thirst to the wine of the treaded winepress” (11). Those who persecute the holy church are treading the winepress! This is allowed by the divine ordinance, to let the bunches of grapes of the soul, that got free of the corrupt flesh, flow with a flood of spiritual wine, that run into the heavenly places, as though in a vessel. Pope Gregory the Great The bunch of grapes would not turn into wine; and the grain of olive would not turn into oil, unless the stone of the press goes over them. The soul would not return to God, unless it is taken away from the world; and nothing truly takes it away but labor and suffering. St. Augustine 7- THE WICKED THINK THAT GOD IS NOT PAYING ATTENTION: “The groans of the dying rise from the city, and the souls of the wounded cry out for help. But God charges no one with wrongdoing (oppression)” (Job 24: 12) God definitely hears the groans of the suffering, and the cries of the wounded; Yet, while turning the evil of the wicked into good for the suffering, He may seem as though not paying attention to the oppression. That is how we feel as oppression prevails, and we think that God is not preoccupied with His church, does not care for her wounds, and for the oppression falling upon her! ‘Job’ probably means here, that while the suffering groan and the wounded cry out for help, the wicked ridicule them, assuming that God in His heaven does not care for the oppression falling on humans, whoever they are! In the Jesuit version, it came as: “And in the cities, people groan”. Oppression is not confined to the villages, but extends to the cities as well. “God pays no attention to oppression” (12); Namely, He does not hasten to judge the wicked, but practices longsuffering on them, in the hope that they may eventually repent and return to Him; He may let them have their way all their life long, and may not expose their foolishness here on earth, until the time comes, when their souls are required of them; Then, they would be counted as fools; the way it was said to the rich man: “You fool, This night your soul will be required of you” (Luke 12: 20); and: “He who gets riches, but not by right; It will leave him in the midst of his days, And at his end he will be a fool” (Jeremiah 17: 11). “They cause men to groan in the cities1” (12). ‘Cities’ are so called by those who live together in them; The same way, churches of the true faith, are fittingly called ‘cities’, because of the harmony among their congregation. In the gospels, when the Lord 1التزمت بالنصوص الواردة في كتابات البابا غریغوریوس كما هي. intended to feed the multitudes with the five loafs of bread, He commanded them to sit fifties and hundreds in harmony; to let them have their food separately, yet in unity The heretics, on the other hand, mostly destroy this life of unity, and harmony, through their attachment to the wicked of authority in this world. Hence it is here said: “They cause people in the cities to groan”. “The soul of the wounded cries out” The soul of the righteous is wounded when the faith of the weak is shaken Yet God does not allow the wicked to go on without punishment. Pope Gregory the Great “There are those who rebel against the light; they do not know its ways, nor abide in its paths” (Job 24: 13) Assuming that God does not care for His believers, and does not act before the oppression falling on them, The wicked rebel against God, the true Light; lose their insight, become blind to the ways of God, and no more abide in His paths. Some believe that those who do not keep the divine commandment, although they claim to know God – the true Light– Yet they are rebels against the knowledge they have got, when they refuse to walk according to it. Some1 interpret this phrase literally, that, despite having the light of the day, yet the wicked choose the darkness of the night, more befitting for their evil ways, which are called, “Works of darkness” (Ephesians 5: 11). “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed; But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God” (John 3: 20, 21). Those who first rebelled with prior knowledge, became blind afterwards, and knew no more; according to what is written: “Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful” (Romans 1: 21, 28); Then added, “God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting”. As they did not intend to glorify Him, whom they knew, they were given a feeling of being rejected, and were forsaken to this destiny; namely, not to know any more how to realize the evil they have done… Now, those who do not care to do the obviously good deeds, will no more get the understanding to know what is more pure. Pope Gregory the Great Seeing the heavy burden of the sinner, the Lord Jesus wept; He did not let the church weep alone, but he had as well, compassion on his beloved, saying to the dead man: “Come forth” (John 11: 43); Namely, You, who are cast out into the darkness of the conscience, into the captivity of your sins, and into the prison of your crimes, “Come forth”, Let your sins be exposed to get justified; “For with the mouth confession is made to salvation” (Romans 10: 10). Come to my grave, O Lord, to shed tears on me, As my eyes have dried up, and are no more able to shed such tears for the sake of my own transgressions. If You weep on me like You did on Lazarus, I will be saved… Call me, O Lord, out of the grave of my body, saying: “Come forth”; So that my thoughts would not be confined to such narrow 1Matthew Henry: Commentary on Job limits of my body, but would go forth toward Christ, live in the light; and would not think about the works of darkness, but about those of the light1. St. Ambrose 8- DARKNESS WILL DWELL OVER THE WICKED: “The murderer rises with the light; He kills the poor and needy; And in the night he is like a thief” (Job 24: 14) Here, ‘Job’ provides us with three examples of the wicked who escape from the light: the murderer, who although he kills during the day, yet he escapes from the light, like a thief who hides himself in the darkness. And the adulterer who waits for the night to practice his evil, thinking that the darkness would conceal it from the eyes. And the robber who shuts himself indoors during the day, then comes out by night that makes it easier for him to rob and get away. Rebelling against God, by killing his believers, the wicked comes to be like a murderer who dares to kill in broad daylight, assuming that there is no one can to confront and stop him; to kill the poor, regardless of the Father of the poor. Challenging God, the true Light, the darkness of his evil works would dwell upon him, to end up like the thief who works in the darkness of the night, after being a daring murderer who kills in broad daylight. As, after man practices his evil deeds, violently and with no fear even from God, sin would rob him of his strength and courage, to come to fear even his own shadow, like a thief who hides lest someone would see and catch him. “And at night, he is like a thief” (14). As, while in the night of his temptations, although with no true strength, he would pretend to have the hand of cruelty; would give evil counsels to those in authority, and would go here and there, searching for ways to harm the righteous. He would be fittingly called a “thief”, as in all his evil practices, he fears lest be seen and caught. Pope Gregory the Great Our adversary who fights us, is real crafty, he sets himself to attack the brave warriors, to make them weak; whereas the feeble, he does not fight, because they already belong to him. Who can give us wings to fly away from him, and to avoid the arrows aimed by him? The spirituals see him fighting, yet his weapons do not prevail on their bodies; The children of the light do not fear him; because darkness flee before the light; They do not fear the wicked, as they are given to tread on him with their feet (Genesis 3: 15) 2. St. Aphrahat “And the eye of the adulterer waits for the twilight, saying, ‘No eye will see me’; and he disguises his face” (Job 24: 15) After likening the wicked to the murderer who kills by night, then to the thief who, fearing the light, crawls by night lest someone catches him; Now, he likens him to the adulterer who waits for twilight and the dwelling of darkness, to practice his lusts away from the watching eye of the husband of her with whom he commits adultery, who 1On Repentance, Book 2. 2Demonstrations, 6: 2 (of Monks) would have vengeance against him; “for jealousy is a husband’s fury; Therefore, he will not spare in the day of vengeance” (Proverbs 6: 34). He does his best to plan his adultery, so as not to be seen by anyone; that is why the apostle Paul tells us: “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lust” (Romans 13: 14). See Pope Gregory the Great that the relationship of physical exercise adulterer cheating, do not ask for the same children, but satisfying the desires of false heretics thus cheating the word of God, do not seek spiritual offspring, the children of God, but to highlight their fluency and knowledge of the right Computes adulterers! “And the eye of the adulterer waits for the darkness, saying, ‘No eye will see me’” (15). To apply this to the heretics, it would be understood in a secret way. Paul says: “For we are not as so many, peddling (adulterate) the word of God” (1 Corinthians 2: 17). The adulterer seeks no children in his carnal relationship, but only pleasure; So is every wicked person, and he who is truly submitted to vain glory. Because he does not seek to get children through the holy word of proclamation, but rather seeks to show off his knowledge and eloquence. He is said to peddle the word of God. He adds: “No eye will see me” As adultery is usually committed indoors, it is very difficult to detect. A daring woman commits it, while making sure that no eye can see her. Moreover, we should know that, Like him who commits adultery, who binds himself illegally to the body of another man’s wife; So are the heretics; By bringing the soul of a believer to adopt their fallacy, they come to be as though pushing someone’s wife toward sin. The soul of man, that is spiritually married to God, and is united to Him as though in the secret place of love; When she is led astray to the corrupted teachings by the heretics, She would be like someone’s wife who got defiled. It is well said: “And he disguises his face”. Every one living by evil; whether through thinking or action, While he descends to such low level through corrupted teaching or corrupted behavior; To avoid being detected on the judgment day by the Almighty God, he attempts to disguises his face with a mask. To such men God ultimately says, “I do not know you; Depart from Me, you evildoers!” (Matthew 7: 23). What is the ‘face’ of the human heart, but his likeness to the image of God? Pope Gregory the Great If we look at the behavior of such kind of people, we not be much disturbed by their thoughts. They reject God as their Judge; because they fear that their secrets would be exposed to His searching eye. But, knowing every hidden detail of their works, He would deliver them to darkness. “In the night he is like a thief. The eye of the adulterer waits for the twilight, saying, ‘No eye will see me’; and he disguises his face1” (Job 24: 14-15). Whoever avoids the light, loves the darkness, seeking to hide, although he cannot hide from the eye of God, depths of men, and what goes on in their minds. In Sirach it came: “Who can see me? Darkness surrounds me, The walls hide me, and no one sees me. Why should I worry? (Sirach 23: 18). Such a man, so 1التزمت بالنصوص الواردة في كتابات القدیس كما هي. thinking, while lying on his bed where he least suspects it, he would be seized. Shame would be on him, having not known the fear of God1. St. Ambrose Pride produces apostasy. Abusing its free will, a soul walks in the darkness, also falls in other sins; and corrupts its being with the adulterers. He who was created as a companion to the angels, would become a custodian of swine2. O bride the Lord, aware of the uncleanness of your heart, and the defilement of your thoughts, has so allowed for the ‘old man' inside you to be crucified together with Him; So that you may live no more under the authority of darkness, but in the freedom of the children of God3. St. Augustine “In the dark they dig through houses; By day they shut themselves up; They do not know the light” (Job 24: 16) As during the night, it is easy to break into houses, the Lord Christ commands us to watch, saying: “If the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into” (Luke 12: 39). What is the ‘house’ into which the wicked break, but their ‘inner man’? As amid the darkness of the evil will, they corrupt their minds, hearts, consciences, and depths, to let evil occupy the position of leadership in them. “In the dark they break into houses which they marked for themselves in the daytime; They do not know the light4” To what does the term “house” refer but the conscience where we dwell, when we practice or preoccupy ourselves with something. That is why the Lord said to the one who is healed: “Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you” (Luke 8: 39); Namely, ‘From now on, keep away from the evil sin; return to your conscience; and listen to the voice of preaching’ “In the dark they break into houses”; when they seek to corrupt the minds of the righteous The wicked man who fears reform, remains in the darkness of grief. Pope Gregory the Great No one can lighten himself; All light comes from heaven, from “the Spirit of truth who proceed from the Father”. By this Light, we behold the Son Word, as well as the Father; And, once our insight is enlightened, we can behold the truth of ourselves, recognize our weakness, and feel our need for salvation He shines on us “the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4: 4-6). As it is written: “By Your light we behold the light”; Namely, by the shining of the Holy Spirit “The true light that shines on everyone who comes to this world “, the glory of the only begotten Son is revealed, And the knowledge of God to the true worshippers, is granted 1Duties of the Clergy, 1:14:54. 2 Robert Llewelyn, The Joy of the Saints, Spiritual Readings throughout the Year, Springfield, Illinois, 1989, p. 70. 3On Continence. 4Duties of the Clergy, 1:14:54. From His sweet saving lips came the words: “Those who are well have no need for a physician, for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Matthew 9: 12, 13). What excuse, have you, or any one, got? As long as it is the Lord Himself who said it? He, who wishes to purify you of your weakness, and to show you the light after the darkness. They looked at Him, were enlightened, and their faces were not ashamed. Blessed is he, who bears this light that exposes the sins without feeling shame, because of a conscience defiled by evil deeds On the day of judgment, when the Lord comes, “who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts” (1 Corinthians 4: 5); The sinners as well, will arise to shame and disgrace, to see in themselves the ugliness of sin, that is more horrible than the darkness of the eternal fire; They will eternally feel ashamed, when, before their eyes, the results of sin are demonstrated, leaving its sign on their body like inscription that would never go away, they will forever remember it inside themselves. St. Basil the Great “For all of them, deep darkness is their morning: For they are friends with the terrors of the deep darkness” (Job 24: 17) In the Jesuit version, it came as: “For to them, the morning and the shadow of darkness are the same thing” Sunshine at dawn is welcomed by the righteous who seek the sun of righteousness, and by those who welcome the work of the Lord Christ in their life. On the other hand, sunshine brings terror to the wicked, who curse the sun that exposes them, not only before others, but even before their own depths, “They are in the terrors of the shadow of death” (17). The wicked wish that the morning would never come; They wish that their life would be an incessant night, that conforms with the darkness of their consciences. Whereas the righteous rejoice in the coming of the morning, to enjoy the light of the Sun of Righteousness in them; and wish that their life would be an incessant daylight, that conforms with the light of their inner depths; According to the words of the apostle: “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not the night or the darkness” (1 Thessalonians 5: 4, 5). “In case the morning suddenly comes, they think of it as the shadow of death” (17). “The morning” is the mind of the righteous that takes away the darkness of his sins, to be scattered by the light of eternity. In a similar way, it is said of the holy church: “Who is she who looks forth as the morning?” (Songs 6: 10). Similarly, he, who shines with the light of righteousness, is, at the present time, highly established with honors. Whereas the shadow of death comes before the eyes of the wicked, whenever they remember the evil things they have practiced. Pope Gregory the Great “The rich man also died and was buried” (Luke 16: 22). You should not, dear brother, pass lightly over this simple phrase! All those magnificent dining tables decorated with fine silver cutleries, the fine wine, the delicious food, the sofas, the carpets, the superb attire, the sweet perfumes, the fragrant oils, beside the guards, the servants, and all those appearances of pride and haughtiness; will all fade away and will leave in their place only dust, ashes, and mourning music! No one of those who came to bid him farewell can bring back the soul that has departed! From among the crowd of guests, he was taken away naked and alone, not able to take along with him any thing of his vast wealth; he departed without any helper or companion; Out of all those who served him, no one can save him of the coming punishment; he was taken away alone by himself, to endure the unbearable sufferings; “All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, because the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flowers fade, But the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40: 6-8). Yes, death came, extinguished all those luxuries, and took him away like a captive, his head bowed down, wordless, moaning with shame, shaking with fear; feeling as though all those things he enjoyed have been like a dream1! St. John Chrysostom 9-TERROR WILL DWELL UPON THE WICKED: “Swift are they on the face of the waters; their portion on the land is cursed; no treader turns toward their vineyards” (Job 24: 18) After presenting the wicked that practice murder, adultery, and robbery, as children of darkness, who seek the night and fear the morning; ‘Job’ takes us along to the extension of their work, not on earth, but even on the water of the sea. Some see how the pirates of the sea use light boats that can smoothly and swiftly sail on the surface of the water to help them rob one ship after another. They scorn the work on land, especially on the fields and vineyards, as a lowly profession that brings no profit that could be compared to theirs as pirates on the seas! We can also say that ‘Job’ looks at the wicked murderers , adulterers, robbers, and house breakers; who, although seemingly frightful and terrifying; to see them as actually very weak and vulnerable; sailing on the surface of water like light boats amid stormy seas and mighty waves; cursed by the whole earth; with no safe haven to provide them with security.. The righteous, on the other hand, are blessing on earth, treading along the ways of vineyards; namely along the way of spiritual wine, that fill the souls with joy and rejoice. “Swift are they on the face of waters” (18). The mind of the wicked is so (light) that any breathe of temptation that may touch him would readily sweep him away. His unstable heart is like the surface of waters before the wind. At a time, a breath of anger would blow him away; and at another, a breath of pride, or a breath of lust, envy, or vanity, would push and move him around; Because he is (light) on the surface of waters, any wind of error would blow him away! “Their portion on the land is cursed”; (18). He who does what is upright in the present life, yet faces tribulations, Although having such bangs of labor, yet he is seen as perfect, for the sake of the eternal inheritance. Whereas he who does not refrain from evil deeds, for the sake of gaining an abundance of temporal benefits, despite the prosperity he is in, yet: “His portion on the land is cursed”. . 1لعازر والغني، عظة 2 “They will not tread along the way of vineyards” (18) “The way of vineyards” is the upright way of churches, according to the upright ordinance of the living Righteous One; forsaken by the heretic, or carnal men, who do not abide to the right faith. Walking along “the way of the vineyard” is holding fast to the fathers of the holy church, like to bunch of grapes, getting drunk by their words in love of eternity. Pope Gregory the Great “As drought and heat consume the snow waters, so should ‘Sheol’ those who have sinned” (Job 24: 19) Trying to escape from the curse of the land, by setting forth to the sea; there they would be chased by perdition, and would become like flakes of snow that melt before the intense heat. Suffering from spiritual drought, they would go down to “Sheol”. “The womb should forget him, the worms should feed sweetly on him; He should be remembered no more, and wickedness should be broken like a tree” (Job 24: 20) “The womb should forget him” (20). Vainly assuming that everyone fears him, and would go on remembering him; the wicked would soon be forgotten even by his own mother who begat him. The church, indeed, would never forget humanity, would always moan for the sake of every soul that perishes, and would cry out together with her heavenly Groom, saying: “Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you” (Isaiah 49: 15); But he who persists on his wickedness and his rebellion, the church would not commit him to salvation, but to the isolation of his soul from Christ, the Grantor of salvation, and to hear the divine voice, saying: “I never knew you; Depart from Me” (Matthew 7: 23). The church would tell him that she forgot him, and would remember him no more! “The worms should feed sweetly on him” (20); Namely, that God would not condemn him to be hanged on the walls to be devoured by the birds of prey, or to be eaten by the wild beasts; But He would let him die and be buried in a grave, to be sweetly fed upon by worms, like the rest of humans, until the time comes for him to stand before the divine Judge, to be condemned by his own evil; and his destiny would be together with the devil and his hosts. In the old, it was believed that worms naturally exist in the skin and in every part of the human body. ‘Roberts’, in his work, ‘Oriental Illustrations’, quoting an old Indian work, says that in the different parts of the body, there are 18 kinds of worms, ready to consume it once he is dead. The sick people in India used to say: ‘Oh, my body became like a nest of worms that are incessantly devouring my flesh1!’. “He should be remembered no more; And wickedness would be broken like a tree” (20). He would be remembered no more, Not only by humans, who would count him as a broken tree; But he would also be forgotten by God, who, on the day of judgment, would say to him: “I never knew you” (Luke 7: 23); God would forget him; namely, would not grant him His mercies and grace. “He would be remembered no more; He would be crushed like a broken fruitless branch of a tree” (20). This is the destiny of him who remain until his last breath 1 James M. Freeman: Manners and Customs of the Bible, Logos International Plainfield. N J, 1972, p. 213. persistent on his evil habits; He would be worthy of being utterly wiped out from the memory of his Creator. Yet, we should apply the term ‘remember’ to God with reservation! How can the Almighty, who would never ‘forget’, be said to ‘remember’! This could be our ways as humans: to remember those whom we embrace; and to forger those whom we forsake. But as far as God is concerned, We can say, according to human terms, that He ‘remembers’ when He grants gifts; And ‘forgets’ when He forsakes those with whom He is not pleased. It is written: “The eyes of the Lord are in every place; Keeping watch on the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15: 3); and the Psalmist says: “The face of the Lord is against those who do evil; to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth” (Psalm 34: 16). At them He would look and say: “I do not know you, where you are from; Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity” (Luke 13: 27). So He would see and still forgets the life of the wicked in such an amazing way; namely, by forgetting the remembrance of mercy! Pope Gregory the Great Tell me! If you see a thief wandering in the streets, lying in wait on its corners to attack passers by; If you see him hiding his loots of silver and gold in caves and secret places; or purchasing for himself magnificent attires and acquiring slaves to serve him; Tell me, Would you consider such a person happy because of his wealth and riches; Or would you see him miserable because of what is awaiting him of severe chastisement? He may indeed be still free; not yet apprehended, not yet brought before a judge, not yet charged with any crime, still eating and drinking in abundance, and enjoying himself; And yet, he is considered miserable because of what he would definitely face on the day of judgment, of well deserved punishment and coming suffering. So, this is how we should think about the greedy wicked, on account of what awaits them of horrible divine tribunal, merciless condemnation, and outer darkness! Seeing how some wrongdoers escape temporarily from chastisement; and knowing what would surely await them, we should pray for their sake, and for our own, to be spared of such way of life with all its abhorrent riches! Although, as far as God is concerned, No one who leads, and persist on leading, such way of life, would ever be spared being brought under the eternal punishment we read about in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man mentioned in the holy gospel. Recalling all these thoughts in our mind, beloved brethren, We should not any more consider a happy man as the rich, but the good one; And a miserable man as the poor but the wicked one; We should take into consideration, not what is present, but what is to come1! (St. John Chrysostom) 10-THE ROD OF THE WICKED WILL NO COME ON THE RIGHTEOUS: “For he preys on the barren who do not bear, and does no good for the widow” (Job 24: 21) . 1لعازر والغني، عظة 1 Evil would be helpless to harm the productive mother; but would easily harm the barren that do not bear. He, likewise, cannot touch a bride rejoicing in her groom, he does no good for the widow. Who is the barren here, and who is the widow? The soul that does not enjoy the grace of God, and consequently cannot testify to the gospel of Christ, or bear children to the Lord, could be considered barren. On the other hand, It is said about the congregation of the church: “None is barren among them” (Songs 4: 2; 6: 6). Such productive souls by the Holy Spirit, the wicked would not be able to touch; His opposition and charges against them would rather turn into perpetual conquests, and they would enjoy the crowns of glory. What the wicked practices against the bride, united with her heavenly Groom, would be counted as something for he benefit, that would rather increase her splendor, and let her enjoy crucifixion together with her Groom. Whereas she who becomes widowed through forsaking her groom, as though dead, and have no more existence in her heart and mind; The wicked would do her no good, but would rather destroy her with his wickedness. Pope Gregory the Great presents to us the following symbolic interpretation of this phrase: “He feeds the barren who does not bear, and does no good for the widow1” (21). Who is she, referred to as barren, but the body that seeks only the temporal things; being unable to bear good thoughts? And who is she, counted as widow, but the soul, with whom the Creator intended to unify, through marriage, in the secret place of the heavenly womb; according to the testimony of the Psalmist: “Like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber” (Psalm 19: 5). This soul is indeed called a widow, as her ‘Man’ submitted to death for her sake; And now He lives away from her in heaven, hidden from her face. That is why the wicked who does not care for the life of his soul, while obeying the lusts of his body, is said to “feeds the barren, and despises doing good work for the widow” (21). Pope Gregory the Great “But God drags away the mighty by His power; though they become established, they have no assurance of life” (Job 24: 22) ‘Job’ believes that the wicked in his pride and self assurance, disturbs even the great on earth, and not even the mightier of the mighty can confront him. When he becomes agitated he knocks down everyone around him; But although no one is safe before him, At the same time, he himself is not sure of his own safety; as “His hand is against everyone, and everyone’s hand is against him” (Genesis 16: 12) 2. Pope Gregory the Great believes that the wicked here symbolizes the heretic, who in the pride of his heart assumes that he is the cleverest of all, despises all others, and feels haughty with his vain knowledge; He is only preoccupied with his own glory and honor. About such a man, the apostle Paul says: “God has chosen the weak to put to shame the wise” (1 Corinthians 1: 27). 1Duties of the Clergy, 1:14:54. 2Matthew Henry: Commentary on Job. St. John says: “He who says, ‘I know Him’, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar” (1 John 2: 4); So says St. Paul: “They think they know God, while by they works they deny Him”; And so says St. James: “Faith without works is dead” (James 2: 20, 26). Pope Gregory the Great “He gives them security, and they rely on it; Yet His eyes are on their ways” (Job 24: 23) Beside the troubles the wicked causes to even his beloved ones, he also destroys himself; “His hand is against everyone, and everyone’s hand is against him”. Yet God remains longsuffering on him, and may allow for him, despite his arrogance, to succeed in this world, to Lead a life of temporary prosperity, and even to end his life in peace; as it happened with Ishmael, the first son of Abraham, who “lived at odds with all his kin”; yet he “breathed his last and died among all his people” (Genesis 16: 12; 25: 18). It may seem as though such a man is put under a special divine protection and care; that man marvels, how he could lead a successful life, and could even be spared of the dangers he may cause to himself! When God shows longsuffering toward the wicked, he sometimes, misunderstanding the divine intention, thinks that he is immune of any harm. “Because the sentence against his evil work is not executed speedily” (Ecclesiastes 8: 11), he assumes that God does not mind his wickedness, and that He would not call him to judgment. He may even think that God loves him more than everyone on earth, and that he is the object of His divine care because of his self-righteousness! The wicked wrongly seeing his wicked life as the way of truth, increases his pride and haughtiness; while “God’s eyes are on his ways”, hoping that, eventually, he may forsake the pride of his heart, and walk along the way of the cross with humility. Paul says: “Do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart, you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God” (Romans 2: 4-5). “God’s eyes are on his ways”. Because the wicked Cares only for his ways, depends only on his mind; and considers only the temporary things that are of benefit to him, The Lord Christ was keen on demanding from the then haughty hearts of his two disciples, who asked Him to grant them to sit, one on His right hand and the other on His left, in His glory, to seek the true glory, asking them: “Can you drink the cup that I drink?” By that, the cup of passion was presented before their eyes as an example to be followed, to find first the way of humility, in case they are seeking the pleasures of greatness. Pope Gregory the Great “They are exalted for a little while, and then they are gone. They are brought low; They are taken out of the way like all others; They dry out like the heads of grain” (Job 24: 24) When the wicked think as though they are beloved by heaven, and when they wrongly assume that they are lifted up in honor, and no danger would ever come to them; They would, all of a sudden collapse, and become as though nonexistent; Their pride would be brought down to dust; they would die like all men; and would dry out like the heads of grain. Then every vain honor they may have would be taken away. “They are exalted for a little while; then they are gone” (24). The glory of the wicked, even if it persist for several years, and are considered by the minds of the weak as well-established; Yet, its coming to a sudden end, proves clearly that temporal glory has a certain limit, which makes it vain and of no true value. Man’s self-glorification is temporary and non-persistent; because it is separated from the strong foundation of the eternal essence. It would eventually fall to destruction; according to the words of the Psalmist: “You cast them down to destruction” (Psalm 73: 18), who also says: “For yet a little while, and the wicked shall be no more” (Psalm 37: 10). And as said by James:: “For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4: 14). And expressing the temporary nature of the carnal glory, the prophet Isaiah says: “All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field” (Isaiah 40: 6). “They dry out like the heads of grain”. The haughtiness of the proud will surely be destroyed under the pressure of the ultimate sieving; whereas the life of the elect will be glorified. Pope Gregory the Great When a brother monk once asked St. Bimoa: ‘Why do demons keep me from doing good to my neighbors?’ He answered him, saying: ‘When you say so, you are accusing the Lord of lying!’; He who said: “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy” (Luke 10: 9). You should rather say: ‘It is I who refuse doing mercy’, because you do not attempt to crush the unclean spirits?’ “Now if it is not so, Who will prove me a liar, and make my speech worth nothing?” (Job 24: 25) ‘Job’ ends his talk with a daring challenge to all those around him, to prove him a liar, if they could. The righteous man, even if he utters something wrong, would never be judged by the wicked who leads a wicked life As those who persist on following the principles of deception, would always lack the boldness to rebuke others. Pope Gregory the Great AN INSPIRATION FROM THE BOOK OF ‘JOB’ 24 I WOULD FALL IN THE HAND OF GOD, RATHER THAN IN THE HAND OF MAN Falling in the hand of the Almighty is better than falling in the hand of man. Man, in his weakness, helplessness to conceive the times, Tends to become cruel on his fellow men. Whereas God, with His might and knowledge of the secrets of the heart, and His conception of the times, Is full of compassion toward our weakness. I would rather fall in Your hand, O You amazing Judge, Than to fall in the hand of man who is weak and helpless like me. I am not judging my brethren for their cruelty on me. As I am cruel, as well, on my fellow man When I am under the same sentence as he is. In my foolishness, I bring my sins down on him, instead of showing compassion toward him. When You, the Judge compassionately support my weakness, My fellow man, my partner in weakness, on the contrary robs me of my humanity. Forcing himself on my life, he does not only rob what is mine, But he even robs my whole being. When You, the Holy One, cannot bear to see my tears! My fellow man, when he sees my tears, he accuses me of deception and lack of uprightness. He goes around me with no control, Not to mend, but to destroy, and to bring darkness into my depths. You have created the world to become an icon of heaven. But corruption came into us, and oppression became the law of that beautiful world. Instead of the justice mixed with love, Injustice dwelt in our human life The places of justice are transformed into centers of corruption. Yet in Your longsuffering, You still anticipate our return to the divine Truth. I do not fear man’s oppression against me. But I rather fear my own oppression against my fellow man, When he resort to You, and his depths cry out against me. Whatever I do against my brother, would come back to me. Take away from me the violence, cruelty, and oppression. So that I may enter with You into an eternal covenant. Grant me compassion toward those whom I lead. Grant me to bear the spirit of compassionate leadership. My depths cry out; As in them, all what I did to my brethren are embedded. Who can save me of my wickedness, but You? Take it away from the storehouses of my heart; And put Your righteousness in its place. Take it away from my depths; to turn them into a holy temple for You. Take it away from me; As it is all deception and vanity. Take it away; I cannot endure Your wrath, O Righteous One, who hates oppression. My Lord, Your grace takes the spirit of oppression away from me and from my brethren. Without Your grace, man loses his inner compassion. He would justify for himself robbing the fatherless and the widows. He would turn into a beast to devour the poor. He would count the whole world as belonging only to him and his descendants. He would rob without a deterrent. He would not care for the suffering of his brethren, or for their tears. He would snatch the suckling from his mother’s breast He would captivate the poor and take him as a slave. He would assume that there is no law to punish him; or a God to Judge him. He would love darkness, murder, robbery, and adultery. He would assume that there is no one who sees or hold account. How miserable is the oppressor! God is longsuffering toward him, with hope for his return. Curse would dwell upon him. He would end up with an inner famine. A pit would be prepared to swallow him. He would turn into a sweet meal for the worms. His memory would go away from the world, like a tree broken from its roots. He would fall in the middle of his riches and pride. Keep me in You, O Lord, not to practice oppression. I shall not fear the oppression of men, as long as You are my only resort.
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