START OF THE SECOND ROUND OF TEMPTATIONS A SERIOUS TALK The first round that came to an end could be summarized as follows: Eliphaz: God is pure ‘Job’: Yet He is tormenting me. Bildad: God ordains things well ‘Job’: Yet He does not allow me to stand before Him. Zophar: God is the whole Wisdom ‘Job’; but I wish to appeal my case to Him. ‘Job’ assumed that he has put his three friends in their right place; If he has not convinced them, he managed to mute them. Yet we find here a second round in which each of them confirms his accusations, violently charging Job’s position. Here, Eliphaz the Temanite starts his second talk with a vicious attack, saying: [You pretend to be a wise man; and yet your talk proves otherwise; Your way of thinking completely destroys your fear of God; And your lack of reverence to God testifies against you (1-6).Do you have the wisdom of Adam, who was directly created by God; and who, with some exception, could be knowledgeable; or are you like the angels who were created before the world? (7).You consented that man is not completely pure (14: 4). And yet, you assume that the Holy God, before whom the angels and the heavens are belittled, should put Himself in your hands, to hear your criticism of His ordinances! Your sins are indeed like food and drink (12-16)]. The wise (and also ‘Job’) have inherited a tradition, that the wicked would fall under temptations; would be cut off in the climax of his glory (as was the case with ‘Job’); and would lose every hope (as is also the case with ‘Job’). Eliphaz ridicules ‘Job’ who counts himself as a man with wisdom (7-11); As, is he the first man who was born?! Why does he consider his friends as not worthy of respect (11)? He rebukes ‘Job’ for opposing God, and for accusing God of violence, and challenging Him to give him a just trial (12-16). Then he ends his talk by quoting strong allegoric words, that, according to the laws of nature, a tribulation is a proof of a prior sin. And, according to him, as the wicked must be miserable; and subsequently, the miserable must be wicked, ‘Job’ has to be wicked, and not very wise, as he thinks of himself. He accuses him of being foolish, ridiculous, and not pious! Although Eliphaz’ rebukes might look reasonable, Yet, they do not apply in the case of ‘Job’. 1- Accusing ‘Job’ of self-righteousness. [1-13]. 2- A need for abasing oneself before God. [14-16]. 3- Judgment of the wicked. [17-35]. 1- ACCUSING ‘JOB’ OF SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS: “Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said: ‘Should the wise answer with empty knowledge, and fill their bellies with the hot east wind? Should they argue with unprofitable talk, or in words with which they can do no good?’” (Job 15: 1-3). 540 Eliphaz starts the second round by accusing ‘Job’ that he was deceitful; that he gained a great reputation as a man of wisdom, although he had no true wisdom; that his knowledge was false, vain and shallow, and that he fills the air with words of no value, if not destructive! Here he means by ‘belly’, the inner depths, hearts, and minds; as, according to the book of proverbs: “The words of a tale-teller is like tasty trifles, and they go down into the inmost body” (Proverbs 18: 8) He accuses him, of pretending to be wise, while his depths are full of hot east wind; a kind of wind well known among the inhabitants of the eastern parts of the Mediterranean: stormy, dry, and hot; destructive to fields (Isaiah 27: 8); like the one called ‘Euroclydon’ by the Greeks (Acts 27: 14). It is befitting for someone, thought to be wise, to be more aware, lest he believes the commendation of men. He should be silent more often, to enjoy the wisdom of God’s Spirit dwelling in him; and not that of the world, or its vain wind; and in particular, the violent and useless east wind1 Such was the way Job’s friends thought of that righteous man; which was not something strange; as the heretics have kept accusing the church of Christ of carrying useless teachings like a destructive east wind! We often said that the righteous ‘Job’ bears a symbol of the holy catholic church; and that his friends bear the likeness of the heretics, who pretend to defend the Lord, find chances to say foolish things, utter vile words against the good people; and everything the believers think offend them, and counted as words in the wind! Pope Gregory the Great He, who cries out to God with the voice of true humility and genuine faith, is a lamb; whereas he, who utters blasphemies against the truth, and bears animosity against God, is a wolf! St. John Chrysostom They corrupt the teachings of God, and proclaim themselves as wicked interpreters of the good word of preaching; disrupt the faith of many, through taking them away from faith, under the pretence of knowledge …, deceiving and destroying the simple souls by attractive and vain words1. St. Erinaeos It is befitting for us to benefit from the accusations of Eliphaz against the righteous ‘Job’; which are, although baseless, yet they often apply to us. Let us cry out to our God to bestow on us the light of divine knowledge, to shine in our depths with the heavenly light, to let our conduct become a living testimony to our words, and our thoughts to be in harmony with our words and behavior. When the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, blows on us, the dry and the field destructive wind of the wicked enemy, would not be able to approach us. The Spirit of God would turn our wilderness into a joyful paradise; and there would be nothing in us for the enemy to destroy. “Yes, you are doing away with the fear of God, and hindering piety before God” (Job 15: 4). 1 Adv. Haer. 1: 1. 541 Some Jewish scholars believe that Eliphaz here means: [If God has created the ungodly; He has brought the law, by which man can submit the ungodly2]. After charging ‘Job’ as someone who pretended to be wise, when his depths are filled with wind, destructive to souls -- the fields of God, Eliphaz is now charging him, as being a religious man whose worship of God, according to him and to his other two friends, is a vain worship, on account of that it is devoid of piety and fear of God. This is indeed a horrible charge that makes his worship unacceptable to God. If the head of wisdom is the fear of God, he, who has no fear of God, is ignorant and foolish; and his worship would be unacceptable, whatever attractive formalities it may bear. The fear of God exhorts the soul to keep His commandments, through which the soul’s mansion is established. Therefore, I wish we all fear God, and establish mansions for ourselves, for without a mansion, we would face serious problems in the time of winter, the season of rain and cold wind! Father Dorotheos In case someone wishes for God’s love, let His fear be in his heart; as fear brings forth crying, which in turn will brings forth strength. If all that are consummated in the soul, it would start to bring forth fruition in every thing. And when God sees these fruits in the soul, He will smell their nice fragrance like sweet incense, and He and His angels will rejoice, and keep it in all its paths until it safely reaches its ultimate place of rest. When the devil sees how the Almighty Guard watching over the soul, he will be afraid to approach it or attack it because of this great power! Therefore, acquire this power to terrify the demons before you, to have all your affairs easy going, and rejoice in the divine work; because God’s love is sweeter than honey. Many monks and holy virgins did not experience that divine sweetness, nor acquire that divine power, on the vain assumption that they have already got them, despite their lack of strife. He, who strives, will certainly get them through the divine mercies; because God does not look at the outer appearance, but looks at the heart. Whoever intends to acquire God’s light and power, is committed to despise the vain dignities and uncleanness of this world, to hate the lusts of the body, to purify his heart of all the vile thoughts, and to present to God persistent fasts and tears, day and night, as pure fervent prayers. Be keen on acquiring that power, to have a great daring before God, who would grant you everything you ask for3. St. Anthony the Great The fear of God is the steering wheel granted by the Holy Spirit to our souls, who alone can bring us over from glory to glory, and grant us grace over grace, through our fellowship with the God of Glory, Jesus Christ. The fear of God would bring us into the royal path, keep us from diverting toward sin, or self-righteousness, keep us from the every strike, until we reach the bosom of the holy heavenly Father. 2 The Jewish Encyclopedia, vol. 7, P. 194. 3 Epistle 6. 542 “For your iniquity teaches your mouth, and you adopt the tongue of the crafty” (Job 15: 5). According to Eliphaz, Job’s defense of himself is an unjustifiable iniquity. He proclaims that ‘Job’ is a ‘sinner by words’ because of his insolence before God. Yet, it is not for the sake of the truth that Eliphaz is forging accusations against him, nor he is speaking with such zeal for God’s sake; but for his own sake and for that of his friends, having seen themselves so publicly rebuked. Father Hecechius of Jerusalem “For your iniquity teaches your mouth, and you adopt the tongue of the crafty” (5) … It is as though he is saying to him: [The wickedness you utter, you have most probably learned from your evil life]. Pope Gregory the Great Pope Gregory the Great believes that what Eliphaz uttered against ‘Job’, refers to what the heretics are uttering against the holy church. The way Eliphaz accuses ‘Job’ that he insults God, have no fear of him, his conduct is ungodly, and that his words reflect the evil his life bears, is the same way, the heretics, who deny that the Lord Christ has taken a true body, and that he truly died, attack the holy church, counting her belief that the Word became a true body, and that He truly died in body, an insult to God! “Your own mouth condemns you, and not I; Yes your own lips testify against you” (Job 15: 6). It is as though Eliphaz is saying to him: [I do not judge you on your conducts before the temptations, as much as on what your mouth and lips utters after the temptations have dwelt on you, who testify to your iniquity, and condemn you. His three friends have aroused his anger, and then counted his frustration as testifying against him. “Are you the first man who was born? Or were you made before the hills?” (Job 15: 7). It is as though he rebukes him, saying: “Are you the first man to be born”, and subsequently more capable than anyone else to comprehend God’s ordinances? Have you lived during the days of creation, and stored within yourself the wisdom of the past; to speak in such confidence, haughtiness, and self-esteem?! Have you been created before Adam? Although Adam sinned, he did not suffer like you do! And yet, you are not ready to confess your iniquities! “Were you made before the hills?” If wisdom itself is like great mountains (Proverbs 8: 23; Psalm 36: 6), Do you consider yourself greater than wisdom itself? Wouldn’t you rather bow your head before it, to learn from it, instead of being haughty by your self wisdom?! The wisdom says: “Before the mountains were settled; before the hills, I was brought forth” (Proverbs 8: 25). It is as though Eliphaz in ridicule is asking ‘Job’: [Are you the wisdom itself that was made before the hills, then became a person?!] ‘Job’ has not uttered a single word to claim glory for himself; he did not say that he was born before all mankind … But in one sentence he talked about what happened to humanity since the beginning (13: 26); putting himself in the place of all. But Eliphaz 543 intended to accuse him of embracing high thoughts pertaining to God! Listen to him adding: “Have you heard the counsel of God? Do you limit wisdom to yourself?” (8). Father Hecechius of Jerusalem “Have you heard the counsel of God? Do you limit wisdom to yourself?” (Job 15: 8). He saw God, in His love for mankind, setting a kind of heavenly meeting together with His beloved godly subjects; according to the words of the Song: “While the king was at his table, my nard gave forth its fragrance” (Songs 1: 12). “Who has stood in the counsel of the Lord, and has perceived and heard His word?” (Jeremiah 23: 18). “But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they would had turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings” (Jeremiah 23: 22). “God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods” (Psalms 82: 1). “The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him; and He will show them His covenant” (Psalms 25: 14). Mockingly, he says to him: Do you think of yourself as the deputy of God in His counsel? Or as the keeper of the secrets of heaven? Or that you are more capable than anyone else to know the dealings of God? Or that you are unique on the earth in your knowledge of what is going on in heaven; and of what the God of heaven is planning? Do you thing you know God, and we do not? “Do you limit wisdom to yourself?” Is there no wise man besideyourself? Are you the only one with wisdom?! It is as though he says to him in clear words: [You, who talks about the Eternal God, Remember that you are just a creature! You, who reason with matters concerning wisdom, remember that you do not know God’s counsel!]. Pope Gregory the Great Spiritually, and not physically, it is impossible to deny the presence of God, as is fitting to His nature. He is present with creatures in an amazing way, not apprehended except by a few … It is truly said that God stands in the congregation of men in an unseen way, as is confirmed by Him on the tongue of the righteous ‘Job’ (Job 23: 24)4. St. Augustine If Eliphaz is mockingly saying that the righteous ‘Job’ has a unique wisdom that qualifies him to sit in the counsel of God; Even though ‘Job’ did not claim that, Yet our Christ truly wishes us to enjoy the honor of the divine presence. Nomarvel that he said to His disciple that they will judge the tribes of Israel; And the apostle Paul says that we will judge angels; namely, we, by our enjoyment of the exalted grace of God, will testify against the devil and his angels. “What do you know that we do not know? What do you understand that is not in us?” (Job 15: 9). 4 On Ps. 82:1. 544 Responding to him saying to them: “What you know, I also know” (13: 3); they say: “What do you know that we do not know?” Although what Eliphaz says may seem logic, saying what ‘Job’ has said; Yet there is much difference between their ways of thinking: ‘Job’ was defending himself against their several accusations. When they counted him as someone foolish and with no knowledge, he confirmed to them that there is nothing new in what they say, known by everyone by nature. As to Eliphaz, what he said was also in self-defense; Yet, at the same time he made it a point to ridicule ‘Job’ and belittle his knowledge and wisdom. “Both the gray-haired and the aged are among us, much older than your father” (Job 15: 10). Assuming that he feels haughty on account of his advanced age and his experience, they tell him that among them are those who are older than him and his father; and we are all on one accord in what we are telling you. One of the friends might probably be older than ‘Job’. Pope Gregory the Great believes that the heretics, who revolted against the church, that represent the wise elder, when they are with no true heavenly wisdom, claim themselves to be the church with both the experience and the wisdom; as though the church is the one without. St. John testifies that all the heretics have come out of the holy catholic church, saying: “They went out from us, but they were not of us” (1 John 2: 19) Pope Gregory the Great “Are the consolations of God too small for you and the word spoken gently with you?” (Job 15: 11). Eliphaz counted the rejection of ‘Job’ of their counsel, is nothing but a rejection of the consolations of God Himself; and what they uttered, with all that cruel and bitter rebuke, as compassion, for he actually deserved more of it. “The word spoken gently with you” is interpreted by some as (Do you have any thing secret?); namely, Do you have some secret sin that keep you from enjoying the consolations of God? As the consolations of God are not enjoyed by those who conceal their lusts inside their hearts. “Why does your heart carry you away, and why do your eyes flash?” (Job 15: 12). Why does your heart carry you away to oppose itself and to oppose us, who intend to reveal to you the secrets of the dealings of God? Why do your eyes flash?; as though ridicule our counsel, and do not care for what we are telling you? Yes, It is indeed befitting for the believer to clothe himself with humility; because the haughty heart is its own enemy, whereas the humble would benefit from many; would hear God talking to him through his counselors, would see Him transfiguring in the church, and would always bow with his depths to learn in the Lord. Having been ignorant, I ridiculed Your saintly ministers; and did not profit from all that, except Your contempt. St. Augustine Who receives from him (the Bishop), receives from Christ; and who rejects him, rejects Christ. 545 So He said: “He who hears you hears me, he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me” (Luke 10: 16). The apostolic laws We should accept anyone sent by the Head of the household (God), to be the head of the household, as long as it was we who asked Him to send him. It is therefore obvious that we should look at the Bishop as though to the Lord Himself. It is befitting for you to obey your Bishop without hypocrisy, for by this we honor God who asks us to do so. He, who does not do so, is not deceiving the seen Bishop, but he actually ridicule the unseen God, who knows all secrets. St. Agnatius the Theophorus “That you turn your spirit against God, and let such words go out of your mouth” (Job 15: 13). “That you turn your spirit against God”; namely, to turn your frustration against God; counting his frustration toward them as toward God Himself; and counting his desire of death as an opposition against His ordinances; by which he entered into an animosity against God, and joined the forces of the devil who is perpetually rebelling against God. Pope Gregory the Great believes that Job’s friends have condemned him as an opponent of God, quoting certain words he uttered, without taking into consideration what goes on in his heart. What the apostle Peter said about the Lord Christ: “You are the Christ the Son of the Living God” (Matthew 16: 16), are the same words uttered by the devil and his hosts in many occasions, saying: “We know who You are – the Holy One of God” (Mark 1: 24). Yet, the Lord Christ blessed the first, and rebuked and chased the others away. It was befitting of Job’s friends to ask him to clarify and interpret what he said; and not to understand his words according to the desire of their envious hearts, which were keen on hunting for anything wrong he may say. “Why is your heart puffed up against God; to let such words come out of your mouth?” It often happens that when the righteous are stricken by many tribulations, they tend to show off their good works, the way ‘Job’ did. And when the wicked hear what they say, weighing the words of the righteous according to their own evil hearts, they assume that they so talk with self haughtiness and self esteem, and not through a humble spirit. As it is counted a great sin for man to refer to himself what is not actually his; It is equally not counted a sin against him, if he humbly talks about good things he did. It often happens that both the righteous and the wicked say the same words; while the hearts are totally different in both of them. When the Pharisee entered the temple, he said: “I fast twice a week, and I give tithes of all that I possess”; but the tax collector, who raised his eyes to heaven, and beat his breast saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner’, went down to his house justified rather than him (Luke 18: 12). When King Hezekiah was sick and near death, he prayed to God with a wounded heart, saying: “Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and a loyal heart”; and God saw his tears, responded to his prayer, healed him, and added to his days fifteen years (Isaiah 38). From this you can 546 notice that, with almost the same words by the Pharisee and king Hezekiah, God condemned the former and justified the later; because God who knows everything, weighed the words of each according to his inner heart; Hezekiah’s words were not haughty in the ears of God, as they were said with a humble heart. The heretics used to mix some true points with words that bear wrong convictions! Job’s friends did the same in rebuking him: Although they raised certain true points, they learned through their contact with ‘Job’; yet those words were contradictory. Concerning this, the apostle Paul says: “It is written, ’He (God) catches the wise in their own craftiness’” (1 Corinthians 3: 19). Pope Gregory the Great 2- A NEED FOR ABASING ONESELF BEFORE GOD: “What is man that he could be pure? And he, who is born of a woman, that he could be righteous?” (Job 15: 14). That is true, that no man could be found pure before God, nor he, who is born of a woman could be righteous in His sight, because of the corruption of human nature, according to Job’ words: “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?” (Job 14: 4). But the intention of Eliphaz is to confirm that ‘Job’ is wicked and a hypocrite; he is applying this fact to ‘Job’, and not to himself or his companions. He probably said this in response to Job’s words to God, saying: “Withdraw Your hands far from me, and let not the dread of you make me afraid” (Job 13: 21) … Eliphaz went too far to distort Job’s reputation! Yet in doing that he found himself a victim of his own anger and folly; In his anger, he vilified the righteousness; and in his folly, he did not appreciate the circumstances in which ‘Job’ uttered what he said. His words: “What is man that he could be pure? And he, who is born of a woman, that he could be righteous?” (14). were clearly uttered by ‘Job’ who says: “No one can bring a clean thing from an unclean? Even if his days are one day on earth” (14: 4) ‘Job’ was not ignorant of the weakness of human race, referred to by Eliphaz, but knew it and proclaimed it loud and clear, yet in a befittingly wise way. Thus he did not deserve to be accused, but to be commended. Father Hecechius of Jerusalem “Who is the man that he could be pure?” Having been called ‘man’ or ‘human’, entails that he is weak and earthly; as the word ‘man’ in (Hebrew) is equivalent to ‘earth’ (adamah); How could he be free from the blemish, he who was created from earth; and with his free will fell into weakness? Then it was added: “And he, who is born of a woman, that he could be righteous?” As the woman was the first to initiate evil in paradise, how could he, who is born of the one who initiated evil, be righteous? Pope Gregory the Great “If God puts no trust in His saints, and the heaven is not pure in His sight” (Job 15: 15). Although God uses His angels and saints, yet He considers them unqualified to realize the salvation of man. If the stars are counted as illuminating compared to the sun, how much more would be heaven compared to its Creator? 547 If no one could be found pure of defilement in the sight of God, however few are his days on earth (See Job 14: 4-5); If “Heaven is not pure in His sight” (15: 15); and if “He charges His angels with error” (4: 18); How much more could evil be in the minds of men? Who are those who could say: “Do not come near me, for I am holy” (see Isaiah 65: 5 LXX; Luke 5: 8)? We know how we suffer on a daily basis of what goes on in our minds, which we are ashamed to proclaim. There may be some who have not committed serious sins; and others who have never erred with their tongues; yet, among men, there would not be one who has not erred with his mind; according to the words of the Psalmist: “Man’s mind confesses to You” 5. “He put all things under His feet (of Jesus Christ)” (Ephesians 1: 22) … Why “all things”? It looks a little vague! But the answer lies in the fact that n one is without sin “Heaven itself is not pure in His sight” (15); and all creation trembles at the coming of the Lord…. Another interpretation is that the word “all” does not refer to everyone, but to the object of the discussion; in the way, when saying: ‘All people cried out’, it does not imply that no body kept silent; but the principle that ‘the majority overshadows the minority’6. St. Jerome “Among the saints, no one is unchanged”, and “Heaven itself is not pure in His sight”. The word ‘heavens’ often refer to the word ‘saints’. When it is written “The heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19: 1), It means those saints, for whom, by nature, ‘change’ is befitting; But being perpetually attached to the ‘unchangeable Truth’, Through this attachment, they cross over to the heavenly life, to become themselves ‘unchangeable’. As what could this change be, but a kind of death? Changing something into something else, would be like killing what used to be, to become what it was not! It is said about the Creator of all things: “Who alone has immortality” (1 Timothy 6: 16); for being alone unchangeable in Himself; and “With whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1: 17); as change it is a shadow… It is well said: “Heaven itself is not pure in His sight”; As before the particular knowledge of God, Even those preaching purity could not be found pure; as testified by St. John, saying: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1: 8). So now, if no one among the saints is unchangeable, and if heaven itself is not pure in the sight of God, who can claim that he practices the righteousness?! Pope Gregory the Great “How much less man, who is abominable a filthy, who drinks iniquity like water?” (Job 15: 16). If God puts no trust in His saints for some of His works, like salvation; how much more would be the corrupt sinners, who drink iniquity like water? Man finds pleasure in iniquity, like a thirsty finds pleasure in drinking water; he counts sin as an integral and indispensable part of his being; just like his need for water, without which he cannot live. “How much hateful and useless would be man, who drinks iniquity like water?” – ‘hateful’, because of his uncleanness and blemish, and ‘useless’, because of the evil of 5 On Ps., homily 9. 6 Epistle to Eph. 1:1:22-23. 548 his incomplete life. Being ‘hateful’ and ‘useless’ could be understood in another way: It often happens that when a wicked man practices an upright thing, through practicing the wrong things, the upright thing which he did are counted as nothing! What is eaten need first to be chewed to be swallowed; whereas there is nothing to come in the way of what is drunk … The ignorant practices sin the same way with no hesitation; “he drinks iniquity like water”. Pope Gregory the Great 3- JUDGMENT OF THE WICKED: “I will show you, listen to me; What I have seen I will declare” (Job 15: 17). After ridiculing the person, conduct, and wisdom of ‘Job’, he demands from him to listen to him with no protest on his part. He says to him: “I will show you”; namely, I will tell you what is worth listening to; facts I have personally seen and experienced. When sin blinds the eyes of a wicked man, he counts himself as wise, and no one can instruct people like him. Marveling how others could do without his wisdom, he forces himself on them as a mentor. That is why the apostle James says: “Not many of you should become teachers. My brothers” (James 3: 1); It is rather befitting even for teachers and clergy, to covet perpetual learning. “I shall reveal that to you, listen to me; what I have seen I will declare”. All the haughty have this feature: When they have a sound concept, even if it is of no much value, they twist it to serve their pride. And instead of working on lifting themselves up in understanding, they would fall into the pit of self-glorification; would be swallowed by pride, and would count themselves more learned than the learned. Pope Gregory the Great Through learning from others, I wish I, myself be able to learn; as it is one Master (God), who does not learn from what he teaches all. Whereas human beings have to learn before they can teach; and should receive from God, their Teacher, what to teach others. As for me, because I went from the position of a judge to priesthood … without having a chance to learn; it is befitting for me to learn and to teach at the same time. St. Ambrose “What wise men have told, not hiding anything they received from their fathers” (Job 15: 18). If wise, not being satisfied with their own experience, would learn through the experience of their fathers, along the successive generations; and would not hide anything they received; Eliphaz, who claims to be wise, presents those experiences to ‘Job’, even if they contradict with Job’s own experience and personal understanding. To what extent, are we committed to the heritage of our fathers? The saintly fathers represent the thoughts of the Catholic Church; they received from the apostles, through the Holy Spirit, who incessantly works in the life of the church. About them, St. Augustine says: [They abided to what they found in the church followed what they learned; and what they received, they delivered to the hands of their 549 successors7]. [Whoever despises the saintly fathers, would be despising the whole church8]. This authority is set upon two factors: A natural factor. Having been characterized by a holy life, and faithfulness in receiving the talent of living faith from the hands of the apostles, the fathers are well qualified to testify to all aspects of the church life; especially that they embrace the one thought; despite the differences in cultures, talents, and circumstances; the great distances between the apostolic chairs, and the difficulties in communication at that time. The second factor is divine; as the fathers lived, within, and under the authority of the Holy Spirit, the Leader and Guide of the Holy Spirit, to the Whole Truth, who kept her within the circle of the cross of the Lord Christ. Yet, that does not mean the of the fathers as individuals; But the Catholic Church, as a whole, lives kept by the Spirit of the Lord. “To whom alone the land was given, and no alien passed among them” (Job 15: 19). The wisdom presented by Eliphaz, he claims to have received from his fathers, as the fruit of experience of trustworthy men, who occupied exalted positions, and were more capable to run the affairs of their land better than any alien to the spirit of wisdom. Responding to ‘Job’ saying: “The earth is given into the hand of the wicked” (Job 9: 24); Eliphaz answered: [No, The earth is given to wise, saintly, and trustworthy men, will stay that way, and will never be given to the hand of an alien]. By that, he probably hints that ‘Job’ could not be wise, nor a saint, or trustworthy, or the alien ‘Sabeans’ and the ‘Chaldeans’ would not have raided his possessions, and taken them away. On another aspect, he intended to say, that, having lost his possessions, it is as though he is removed from his prominent position as a king or a head of a tribe, and is no more worthy to be among the wise, “to whom alone the land was given” He probably refers here to the church on earth that should be ordained by the wise, which walk according to the Spirit of the early fathers, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, with no alien among them, who lacks the true spiritual clerical and evangelical spirit. “The wicked man writhes with pain all his days, and the oppressor through all the years stored up for him” (Job 15: 20). Eliphaz almost accuses ‘Job’, clearly and daringly, of being a wicked, an oppressor, and a ruthless man, worthy of writhing with pain and vicious temptations; that what he did in his life have come back upon his head; and that there is no more time to pretend to be what he is actually not, for his days are counted. Eliphaz, king of the Timanies, Bildad, the tyrant of the Shuhites, and Zophar, king of the Mineans, have all violently rebuked ‘Job’, on account of their conviction that he suffered those temptations as punishment for his sins. By their prejudiced judgment, they could not realize that God has delivered him to be tempted, to be earning a greater crown, as a wrestler for the sake of Christ; and could not see the secret of that great wisdom. Their narrow hearts fearing, lest they would appear as accusing God of injustice, if they believe that a righteous man could be so tempted; put the 7 St. Ausgustine: Contra Julian, II 9. 8 Ibid 37. 550 responsibility on the righteous ‘Job’ for all the punishment that dwelt on him, saying: “The wicked man writhes with pain all his days”; and, “He swallows down riches, and vomits them up again” (Job 20: 15). They claimed that he suffered all those sorrows because of his sins9. St. Ambrose This view is deceiving, as we often see many wicked men living in peace and prosperity, even if this does not last all their life (Jeremiah 12: 1). Trying to ridicule ‘Job’ for wondering why the wicked prosper, he intends at the same time to show that he, himself, although living in prosperity, is not wicked. “Many are the years given to the oppressor”. In this as well, Eliphaz does not speak faithfully; as when God intends to put an end to the authority of the oppressor, He is not bound to a number of years, nor is He limited to a certain time. Elipaz said that, responding to what ‘Job’ said that the righteous and the blameless is delivered to ridicule; and in an appointed time he would die by the strikes of a stranger, and would see his house devastated by the wicked. He intended to talk about the time when God allows the wicked to torment the righteous, yet, everyone would be tempted according to his measure, and within his ability (1 Corinthians 10: 12); for the sake of virtue, until they are crowned. As for Eliphaz, he uttered the words: “Many are the years given to the oppressor” which are as deceiving as the words to follow: “dreadful sounds are in his ears” (21). How could this be for someone who does not keep God’s law in his heart; and how does he not open his ears to those who can teach him the fear of God (Psalm 37: 31; 40: 8; 34: 12)? Father Hecechius of Jerusalem “And the number of years given to him (the oppressor) are hidden”… Every haughty man practices tyranny according to the size of his authority: One practices it in a country; another in a province; another in a city; another in his own family; and still another hides it in the thought of his heart, and practices it on himself. God is not preoccupied with the magnitude of evil than man can practice; but with the magnitude in his mind, ready to be practiced. When man has no authority on someone outside him, and iniquity is filling him; Even though he does not practice his tyranny outside him, he seeks to find some way or authority to practice it on others. Being aware of what is inside the heart of men; God counts such a man as though he actually practiced what goes on in his mind. Pope Gregory the Great “Terrifying sounds are in his ears; When all seems well, the destroyer comes upon him” (Job 15: 21). According to Eliphaz; Job’ should not marvel that terrifying sounds are always in his ears; as heaven and earth are punishing him for what he has done. He cannot get away from anguish, because the sound of his wickedness will never quit his ears. He will be like ‘Cain’ who believed that whoever finds him would kill him (Genesis 4: 14). We cannot deny that “’There is no peace’, says the Lord, for the wicked’” (Isaiah 48: 22); Yet, this refers to the inner peace that sin takes away, through separating man 9 Prayer of Holy Job, Book 2. 551 from the source of his peace. But afflictions and troubles could dwell upon the saints to justify and sanctify them by the Spirit of the Lord; and could also dwell upon the wicked, in the hope that they would probably return to God through repentance. As to the outer peace and prosperity, we should not marvel to hear the Psalmist say; “For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked” (Psalm 73: 3). This is not true peace; as, according to the author of the book of wisdom: “Then it was not enough for them to err about the knowledge of God, but through living in great strife due to ignorance, they call such great evil peace” (Wisdom 14: 22). The Lord Christ came as the Savior of the world, to grant the true inner peace to His believers. “For unto us a child is born, Unto us a son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder, and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of peace” (Isaiah 9: 6). “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of Him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns’” (Isaiah 52: 7). “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we were healed” (Isaiah 53: 5). “’For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, But My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed’, Says the Lord, who has mercy on you” (Isaiah 54: 10). “I will make a covenant of peace with them, and cause wild beasts to cease from the land, and they will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods” (Ezekiel 34: 25). “I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore” (Ezekiel 37: 26). “Behold, on the mountains the feet of Him who brings good tidings, who proclaims peace. O Judah, Keep your appointed feasts, perform your vows. For the wicked one shall no more pass through you; He is utterly cut off” (Nahum 1: 15). “To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death. To guide our feet into the way of peace” (LK 1: 79) “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2: 14). “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14: 27). “These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16: 33). “Terrifying sounds will be always in his ears; and when all is well, he should expect trouble” (21). There is nothing terrifying in encountering others, with the peace of heart, which would be like a stronghold of power; beside the fear of God, in which, according to Solomon there is “strong confidence” (Proverbs 14: 26); who also says: 552 “The cheerful heart has a continual feast” (Proverbs 15: 15). Living in peace and security is like a perpetual cheer; whereas the evil mind always result in pain and trouble; because a person, is in continuous fear, either of probable plots brought upon him by others, in retaliation to plots planned by him against them; or, because “when all seem to be well, the destroyer may come upon him” (Job 15: 21). Dealing craftily with others all the time, he assumes that no one would do otherwise with him; as it is written: “When the wicked comes, so does contempt” (Proverbs 18: 3); he would be surrounded by the darkness of his evil; would despair of the existence of light; and “he does not believe that he will return from darkness, and he watches for the sword” (Job 15: 22). Pope Gregory the Great “I will both lie down in peace and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4: 8). “The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace” (Psalm 29: 11). “Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause; and let them say continually, ‘let the Lord be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant” (Psalm 35: 27). “The meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace” (Psalm 37: 11). “Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; for the future of that man is peace” (Psalm 37: 37). “He has redeemed my soul in peace, from the battle which was against me” Psalm 55: 18). “The mountains will bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness” (Psalm 72: 3). “In his days the righteous shall flourish, and abundance of peace, until the moon is no more” (Psalm 72: 7). “Great peaces have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble” (Psalm 119: 165). “He makes peace in Your borders, and fills you with the finest wheat” (Psalm 147: 14), “For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you” (Proverbs 3: 2). “Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace” (Proverbs 3: 17). “The fear of the Lord is the crown of wisdom, making peace and perfect health to flourish” (Sirach 1: 22). “If you had walked in the way of God, you would be living in peace forever” (Baruch 3: 13). “Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5: 1). “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8: 6). 553 “And how shall they preech unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, which bring glad tidings of good things” (Romans 10: 15). “For the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom 14: 17). “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace, and the things by which one may edify another” (Rom 14: 19) “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15: 13). “The God of peace be with you all. Amen” (Romans 15: 33). “And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly” (Romans 16: 20). “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1: 3). “… But God has called us to peace” (1 Corinthians 7: 15). “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints” (I Corinthians 14: 33). “And having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6: 15). “He does not believe that he will return from darkness, and he watches for the sword” (Job 15: 22). The wicked is always chased by his wickedness; loses all hope of coming out of the darkness surrounding him; lives in terror, as though there is a sword above his neck, that he expects to fall any moment, and deep inside him he believes that, “He who kills with the sword, must be killed with the sword” (Revelation 13: 10). “They have treated the wound of my people carelessly, saying, ‘peace, peace’, when there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6: 14; 8: 11). “We hoped for peace, but no good has come, for a time of healing, but there was only terror” (Jeremiah 8: 15). “Have you rejected Judah completely? Do you despise Zion? Why have you afflicted us so that we cannot be healed? We hoped for peace but no good has come, for a time for healing but there is only terror” (Jeremiah 14: 19). “Because of Your wrath there is no health in my body; my bones have no soundness because of my sin” (Psalm 38: 3). “And the way of peace they have not known” (Romans 3: 17). “And the peaceful habitations are cut down because of the fierce anger of the Lord” (Jeremiah 25: 37). “He wanders about for bread, saying, ‘Where is it?’ He knows that a day of darkness is ready at hand” (Job 15: 23). The wicked lives in a loss and void, as though hungry for a piece of bread, contrary to the righteous (Psalm 37: 23-25). The day of darkness; namely of judgment is at hand, swiftly approaching and would not be postponed. The day of the Lord will be light for the faithful believers, and darkness for the wicked, who will be condemned to the eternal and perpetual outer darkness. When man practices unlawful things, he would fear what he has done. 554 Pope Gregory the Great Because our rebellious adversary fights us by pride, and intends to overcome us by haughtiness, our victorious King provided us with the weapon of humility. Without the unconquerable power of humility, no one would be victorious. With humility, the pride of the deceitful would bow down, and would make him the footstool of the peaceful meek. Mark how our mighty fathers paved the way for us; how they clothed themselves with humility, the robe of Christ, by which they conquered the deceitful and bound him with the chains of darkness10. The devils set for me a kind of temptation that would terrify the one who hears it. Arrogantly, they come back to reveal their cruelty, and to threaten me. But once I cross myself with the sign of the cross – our life – they return to the darkness – their portion – and their Fire is extinguished11. The spiritual elder, John El-Deliaty “Distress and anguish terrify him; They overwhelm him, like a king poised to attack” (Job 15: 24). The wicked is more terrified by the inner distress and anguish, than by outer tribulations; according to the words said by the apostle Paul: “Indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil” (Romans 2: 8, 9). In him, who loses his connection to God, unbearable gates of hell would open. The wicked may think that he can manage to get rid of his inner fears; Yet these fears would reign over his heart, mind, and inner energies, and enslave him in such a way, to become with his whole being a captive, as though of a fierce king, backed by mighty and unconquerable armies. Whoever intends to regain his freedom, let him start with the inner freedom by Jesus Christ our Liberator; namely, with freedom by the divine righteousness against evil. “Distress and anguish terrify him; they overwhelm him, like a king poised to attack”. In everything done by the wicked, he would be fenced by distress, tribulations, and anguish; His soul would be disturbed by worries and fear! He, who secretly longs to forcibly keep the good things away from others, would become labored and anguished by the thoughts of his heart, and would wish he does not exist. Another, through forsaking the Truth, would have in mind to lie in order to deceive others, and his major worry would be, to be careful enough not to deceive himself … As the way of the truth is paved, whereas that of vanity is rough, it is written: “They have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity” (Jeremiah 9: 5). Pope Gregory the Great It is not necessary for catching a bird to have his whole body in the net; It would be enough to entangle its foot! So it is with the devil, to catch us in his net, he does not have to control all our conduct and faith; but, it would be enough for him to control our conduct. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will .( 10 رسالة 51 (ملحق 4 . 11 رسالة 1:32 555 of My Father in heaven ….Then I will declare to them, saying, ‘I never knew you” 12 (Matthew 7: 21, 23). The devil is called ‘the mighty one’, not because he is naturally as such, but in reference to his authority he gained because of our weakness13. What lowliness is more than that of the devil who became puffed up; and what level is higher than that of someone who intends to be humble?! The former ended up to crawl under our feet; whereas the later soared up to are with the angels in the highest14. St. John Chrysostom Now, beloved brethren, the devil is slain; that tyrant who is against the whole world … Death no more reigns; but life reigns instead; When the Lord said: “I am the Life” (John 14: 6), joy and gladness prevailed everywhere; as it is written: “he Lord reigned; Let the earth rejoice” … Now, as death is no more, and the kingdom of the devil is destroyed, joy and gladness prevailed on all. St. Athanasius the apostolic “For he stretches his hand against the Lord, and acts defiantly against the Almighty” (Job 15: 25) “Running stubbornly against Him with his thick embossed shield” (Job 15: 26) “Because he has covered his face with his fatness, and made his waist heavy with fat” (Job 15: 27) Stretching his hand against the Lord, and acting defiantly against the Almighty, the wicked crushes himself by himself. Father Hecechius of Jerusalem says that Eliphaz likens ‘Job’ to the informer (Satan), who has been a great leader and occupied the first rank among the heavenly creatures before he falls (Revelation 12: 7-9). Once he stretched his hand against the Lord, he lost his reason by opposing God, became swallowed by illusion; namely, became filled with pride, and arrogantly took a position against God. Eliphaz tried to liken ‘Job’ to Satan who enters the battle, putting his shield over his shoulders; carries a cruel heart; covers his face faith fatness; namely, with prosperity; filling his belly with evil, he cannot lift his face before the Creator; And putting two layers of fat on his waist; namely, practicing his authority through two things: becoming greedy and plunging in pleasures … Yet, in vain, Eliphaz tried to make analogy between the righteous ‘Job’ and the ‘informer’ Satan. Pope Gregory the Great believes that these phrases apply to the Anti-Christ, head of the wicked himself, who, stretching his hand against God, is allowed to “act defiantly”, and even to be temporarily glorified, then he would be punished forever with no mercy. To stretch his hand against God; means that he persist on doing evil, disregarding God’s ordinances; Running stubbornly against Him with his thick embossed shield (or neck), means that he carries out shameful things that makes the Creator angry; As to his thick (neck), it is the riches in pride, supported by gorged storehouses (or body). According to Pope Gregory the Great, these phrases also apply to the wicked man who, armed with authority, he boasts against god, and takes a stand against the 12 In 2 Tim. hom. 6. 13 In Matt hom 41. 14 In Matt. hom 56:6. 556 commandments of truth; disregards God’s riches, and covets vain temporal riches; covers his face with temporal fatness; harasses the poor, and feel haughty by the power of temporal glory. All the boastful who carry haughty necks, not only practice evil, but would also not count it as such; And when they are rebuked, the justify themselves15. When the wicked and haughty fight against God, largely depending on their personal strength, their (ceramic vessels), or “embossed shield”, according to ‘Job’, are destroyed and turn to broken pieces16. St. Augustine “He dwells in desolate cities, in houses which no one inhabits, which are destined to become ruins” (Job 15: 28). “He dwells in ‘desolate societies’ and deserted houses, which are destined to become ruins” (28 LXX). We probably marvel at the expression of ‘desolate societies’; because the word ‘society’ implies (people living together); how could they be desolate? Wherever there is a crowd of wicked people, every one of them would feel isolated, as though no one shares his feelings, nor appreciate his thoughts; because sin corrupts man’s relationship with his brethren, and takes love away from them. Pope Gregory the Great believes that the inhabitants of the house are the thoughts; the minds of the wicked would never find rest; but would feel as though desolate ruins with no inhabitants. “He will not be rich, nor will his wealth continue, nor will his possessions overspread the earth” (Job 15: 29). The wicked will never feel satisfaction or fulfillment; will always feel poor, with nothing to fill his inner void, even though he has extensive outer riches. The wealth that he collected through evil, will go, through another evil, get less and less until it completely vanish, “It came up in a night and perished in a night” (Jonah 4: 10); “Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished” (Proverbs 13: 11); and when the wicked loses his sons and dies, strangers will inherit him1“His possessions will not overspread the earth” (15); namely, the days he enjoys his wealth will not last long, and he will even fail to leave it to his children after him. Pope Gregory the Great says that the wicked who suffers from inner void, would never feel fulfillment, and would be, in this world, like a passerby with no fruition. “He will not escape the darkness; The flame will wither his shoots, And the breath of God’s mouth will carry him away” (Job 15: 30) He lives as though in a perpetual darkness; and his children of darkness will be like the shoots of a tree that withered and burned up. In the Septuagint version, it came as: “He will not be able to escape the darkness by any way; and the hot wind will cause his flower to fall” before turning into a fruit. By the breath of His mouth, the wicked will die all of a sudden; as it is written; “This night, your soul will be taken away from you” (luke12:20); and “ The wicked is banished in his wickedness” (Proverbs 14: 32); and the love of the world will go away together with the world itself. 15 On Ps. 129 (128). 16 On Ps. 46 (45). 557 If the haughty man intends to come back from sin to righteousness, he is committed to depart from the darkness. Yet, as he does not search for the light of righteousness, he would not be able to depart from the darkness. Pope Gregory the Great “Let him not trust in futile things, deceiving him, for futility will be his reward” (Job 15: 31). Man often assumes that deceit and ways of evil would save him. At the beginning, they will deceive him; but soon he will drink from the cup of evil, which he, himself, filled. “Let this be the lord’s reward to My accusers, and to those who speak evil against my person” (Psalms 109: 20). “The wicked man earns deceptive wages, but he who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward” (Proverbs 11: 18). “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6: 23). “It will be accomplished before his time and his branch will not be green” (Job 15: 32). He will not only lose his wealth, but will die before his time. Indeed, the wicked may live until old age; and the righteous saints may die in their early youth; yet the days of the wicked are counted as nothing, his whole life would be likened to ashes; whereas one day of the saints, in God’s sight, is counted as a thousand year. “For a thousand years in Your sight are like a day that just gone by, or like a watch in the night” (Psalm 90: 4)“But beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3: 8). Even his children whom he hoped to be great in this age, would turn to dried branches (will not be green). What are these branches that will not be green, but the spiritual fruition of the believer; If he walks in evil, the fruit of the Holy Spirit of God will dry up; and becomes a cause of judgment instead of support. While ‘Job’ was very hopeful, because of his sufferings and perseverance, to receive from God a reward of His inheritance; Eliphaz was confirming to him that his ‘cup’ or his ‘branch’ will perish before the harvest time; namely. That he ‘Job’ will perish before the time of reward; and that is ‘branch’ will not be green. He is proclaiming to ‘Job’, who was hoping for a very great reward, and anticipating it, as though it was already within his reach, that all he will get is disappointment! Father Hecechius of Jerusalem “Before the consummation of his days, he will perish, and his hands will wither” (32) … Most probably God, in His secret prior knowledge would not grant a long age to the wicked man, who intends to live according to the body. Not being able to reach the age he wishes to have, he seems to perish before the consummation of his days. This phrase could also be understood in another way. We often see those who walk in evil, reach very advanced age; so how is it said that “Before the consummation of his days, he will perish”? While we see among them some whose hands tremble 558 because of old age, and still have their evil whims active in them; There are others who , after losing the right way, their conscience woke up, forsook their wicked ways, overcame their old habits, fled from their earthly conduct, and followed heavenly goals; Yet, before having the chance to hold fast to these holy goals, and to bringing their evil thoughts to death, they apostatized and fell back into their old ways that they decided to forsake … As, unless the heart consistently abides to the heavenly desires. He will easily apostatize to his old ways, and be uprooted from his abidance to the good work. Pope Gregory the Great “He will shake off his unripe grape like a vine, and cast off his blossom like an olive tree” (Job 15: 33). His children would be like bitter grape that fall off the vine before they grow and become ripe; and like the blossoms of olive that fall off before maturing to fruits. His children would die in their prime, and would not reach what he desired them to be. Like a vine after its blossoms appear, when it is blasted by sudden severe cold, it would lose all its humidity and freshness; there are some who after walking some time in evil, they long to the way of holiness. But before they abide in them, they succumb to a kind of prosperity, and become confused in vain practices. And as their mind retreats from the warmth of inner love, they would be as though blasted by a cold wind that would kill in them every little new shot of virtue. Through earthly conduct, the mind turns cold, if it is not holdfast inside. “And cast off his blossom like an olive tree”. Like a blossoming olive tree, when it goes through severe change of atmospheric conditions, it would shed off its new blossoms. The same thing happens when people doing good deeds are overly commended by those who admire them. Once they find pleasure in their commendation, some kind of fog will dwell over their minds; would be lost in this fog that would deprive them of discerning the real reason behind doing their good works; and would eventually lose their reward. It is well said by Solomon: “Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine has budded; whether the grape blossoms are open” (Songs 7: 12). The vines bud when the minds of believers present good works; but they do not bear fruit, if by their goal they cannot overcome the wrong practices. The hypocrites may look fruitful and green in the sight of their fellow men; but in that of the divine Judge, they are fruitless and withered. Pope Gregory the Great “For the company of hypocrites will be barren, and fire will consume the tents of bribery” (Job 15: 34). Fire will consume the tents when the high temperature of greed corrupt the minds. The mind of the hypocrite will never take rest from planning evil; Walking along the way of the earthly love of commendation, he would envy what the other have got, would hastily run to get them for himself; and would do his best to make the others look wicked, if compared to him, and to look more holy than the whole world. Causing the others to be despised, he tries to look worthy of honor; and fishing for compliment, he cast the net of his tongue to catch any good impression about himself in the sight of those he seeks their favor. 559 Pope Gregory the Great “They conceive trouble and bring forth iniquity; Their wombs fashion deceit” (Job 15: 35). Because “he conceives trouble”, he “brings forth iniquity and his womb fashions deceit”; or he would rather conceive deceit, through conceiving things of no benefit to him and to others. If Eliphaz thought about all this in a factual way, and encountered here a deceitful person, he would have reached a more truthful and faithful conclusion; as judgment of the deceitful should be kept for the future. And in case he was speaking about future rewards, he would be vainly doing ‘Job’ wrong; vainly condemning him for the sake of his sufferings; as the splendor of this life often dwells upon the slaves of greed, and the tribulations upon the righteous. That was not wrongly, but rightly ordained by God; He does not grant the righteous the splendor of this life, whose fulfillment is like the leaves of a tree, its strength is like a shadow, its riches is like straw, and its glory is like smoke. Whereas the righteous, on the other hand, is qualified for the kingdom of heaven, for noncorruption, for non-mortality, but for the exalted glory, where men rejoices together with the angels. That is the reason, that even if they exhaust themselves with sweat, and encountered a plenty of trouble, they do not blame the divine Judge, because they know that through these “light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4: 17), “which shall be revealed in us” (Roman 8: 18), by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Father Hecechius of Jerusalem “They conceive trouble and bring forth iniquity; their womb fashion deceit” (35). Man conceives trouble, and bring forth evil, when he starts to execute what he planned. Through enjoying envy, he conceives trouble; and through uttering contempt he brings forth iniquity. It is a great iniquity, when the wicked strives to show the others as evil people; in order to show himself as a saint. We should take into consideration that the Holy Book uses the term ‘belly’ or ‘womb’, to indicate the ‘mind’ or ‘mind’; as it is said by Solomon: “The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all the inner depths of his mind” (Proverbs 20; 27). As a child is conceived in the womb, the thought is conceived in the mind. The womb of a hypocrite prepares deceit; as his mind perpetually conceives great evils against his brethren, which conform to his goals to show himself as a saint before everyone. Pope Gregory the Great 560 AN INSPIRATION FROM THE BOOK OF JOB 15 LET ME BENEFIT FROM THE VAIN ACCUSATIONS OF MY ENEMIES Unjustly, Eliphaz and his two friends accused the righteous ‘Job’. They accumulated against him bitter charges, which became a cause for glory. As for me, allow me in my weakness, to benefit from their charges. They claimed that he falsely pretends to be wise. As his wisdom is vain, and his depths bear destructive wind. Grant me, O Lord, the wisdom. Shine with Your light on my depths, to turn my life into a living testimony. To utter only what I live, by and in You. Grant me Your Holy Spirit, blowing inside me. So that the destructive evil spirits would not infiltrate into me. Let every word I utter be anointed with the Spirit. Let my life become the salt of earth. Grant me, O Lord, Your fear, to guide my soul along the royal road. To enjoy the fellowship with the Groom of my soul – the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Keep me from diverting to the right nor to the left. As long as my steering wheel is in the hands of a Mighty, Wise, and a loving Father. Set, O Lord, a watch on my mouth. And set a strong door for my lips; That nothing come out of it, but what pleases You. Let my words harmonize with my depths and my conduct. Let them not testify to my iniquity, nor become a cause for my judgment. I go back with my mind to Your amazing works. You have created everything for my sake. You gave a mind and wisdom to my father Adam. You intended for his seed to be truly wise. To be counted as Your children, who follow Your ways. Grant me the wisdom that sits on Your right hand. Grant me, not according to my worthiness, but according to Your love. You long to encounter with all Your believers; And for all Your believers to encounter with You. You long to shine with the light of Your wisdom on everyone. You wish for everyone to be as though in Your presence. To proclaim Your exalted secrets to those who fear You. Grant me, O Lord Your Spirit of wisdom. So as not to boast wisdom that is not mine. Let me honor everyone, and appreciate God’s talents on him. Let me benefit from every true counsel. Give me humility, to benefit from the wisdom of all, as much as I can. Let me not seek human comforts. As You are the heavenly Physician, the Grantor of the true comfort. 561 When I listen to Your voice through Your church, You transfigure before my eyes, and I enjoy the joy of Your secrets. I see You transfigure in Your ministers. And receive Your gifts from Your hands through them. You are the Giver of gifts to the humble hearts. When I look at myself, I realize the truth of my weakness. Who can be justified before You, O the Holy One? No one born of a woman is righteous before You, Even if he is one day old! Your saints confess their weaknesses! And the heavenly creatures are not pure in Your sight! You entrust no one on my salvation, but You! I confess to You that I drink the iniquity like water; Yet You are the Forgiver of sins. You are the Savior of souls from corruption; Now, O Lord, Look down on Your holy church. Grant everyone – clergy and laic – to be fired by a perpetual desire to learn. To walk all of them under the guidance of Your Holy Spirit. To follow the foot steps of the early saintly fathers. Let no alien with a diverted thought pass among us. Let us all, as one flock for One Shepherd, enjoy Your fruitful pastures. Let us all enjoy the spirit of simplicity. Let no one haughty or hypocrite be among us. Grant me not to judge anyone; as You are the only One who can search the hearts. I often assume that falling under the burden of temptations, Is the fruit of one’s hidden iniquities. But, Who can realize Your wisdom, O Savior and Lover of mankind? Every one who suffer, is neither a saint nor a wicked! You alone allows for prosperity or affliction! And in either case, You only seek our salvation and glory! Our hidden looks at those under temptations may destroy them. But Your divine hand presents what is for the edification of those who believe in You. O My God, You are the source of my peace. You are Peace itself! No terror or worry could enter into the life of whoever acquires You! He would never fear the darkness or the sword! Nothing would terrify him as long as You dwell in his depths! Whereas he who runs after evil, Is running after a destructive mirage. He acquires vanity and loses the truth. He would acquire void, and would be grasping for the wind; And would be in need of a crumb of bread. Affliction would dwell upon him; and the devil would reign over him. 562 Let me flee to Your cross; To see You tear down the bill written against me. You would set me free from the servitude of the devil. Humiliate and cast the tyrant under my feet Yes, I shall come to You, O the amazing crucified! When I unite with You, Pride will find no place in me; Pride that destroyed my soul, that turned my paradise into wilderness, and made my dwelling place desolate, will be destroyed. I will flee away from deceit; and the ways of evil will be closed shut before me. There will be no more famine in my soul. Nor blood will engulf me. My vineyard will be filled by the grapes of Your love. And my olive tree will be heavy with fruits, that flow an abundance of the oil of Your grace. My soul will experience no more poverty. But, by Your Holy Spirit, will bear joyful heavenly fruits. No destructive fire of evil will approach my tent/ But it will flare with the holy fire of Your Spirit. My whole being will become glorified in You. I will be like Your ministers, the flames of fire.
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