A HORRIBLE PORTRAIT OF THE WICKED Zophar began his talk by violently attacking ‘Job’, referring to a fact, wellestablished by man since he was placed on earth, that the wicked shall perish by their own sins; stating that Job’s sins in particular will bring on him a double perdition. He intends to say that, as ‘Job’ has clothed himself with hypocrisy, pretending piety and generous giving, while practicing horrible wickedness; heaven would never listen to him; and earth would abhor him as a wicked man; Namely, that, as both heaven and earth testify against him, utter desolation will dwell on his tent. Zophar’s talk reflects a well-known Israelite conviction, that the triumph of the wicked is short, and that their perdition is inevitable. Yet, in his talk, Zophar’s did not refer to the fact that the wicked may eventually repent, return, and restore the pleasure of God. His main concern was to say that ‘Job’, as testified by the miserable condition of his body, his lost wealth, his dead children, and his corrupt reputation, is a wicked man! It was expected that Job’s last talk would reveal to his friends his faithfulness of faith, and his exaltation even over passion; Yet they did not heed anything he said, but persisted on their accusation against him; as is clear by Zophar joining the debate, started by his two other fiends. Father Hesychius of Jerusalem believing that Zophar and his friends cared for Theological debates, devoid of spirit and piety, says: [Plowing the soil, would produce flowers and fruits; while meditation in the divine law would produce virtues. That is why a zealous practice of the commandments of the law is sought (Psalm 119: 40, 47, 48); not by clothing them with words, but by keeping them; And not by debating the language of the divine words in a lifeless way, but by walking and working according to them. As knowledge glorifies reading; Translating knowledge into action, would give it more splendor. What would be the use of a vineyard, where no vine are planted, or served?! Would it not be in vain for a knight go to battle, mounting an untrained horse?! Anyway, ‘Job’ did not act that way; but from the beginning he armed himself with virtues and piety. The more prosper he became, the more sacrifices he daily offered to God (Job 1: 5). Before the daylight shines, he used to greet the unseen Light. Once he gets up from his sleep, he used to hasten to the Grantor of sleep, with praise over his lips (Psalm 127: 2); He used to start his daily activities by approaching the Creator of the day. How often did ‘Job’ manage to shut up the mouth of Eliphaz, who intended to boast his eloquence? How often did this true soldier of righteousness, through his well chosen words, void the haughtiness of Bildad?]. 1- A heated introduction 1 – 3 2- The triumph of the wicked is short-termed 4 – 9 3- Misery of the wicked 10 – 29 1- A HEATED INTRODUCTION: “Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said: ‘Therefore my anxious thoughts make me answer, because of the turmoil within me” (Job 20: 1, 2). 2 Zophar got very offended by what ‘Job’ said; and assumed that he is justifying himself, although he is positive of his wickedness. Getting frustrated that ‘Job’ speaks of his hope in heaven and salvation, as though he is righteous and good, Zophar violently attacked him, saying that he cannot keep quiet, but has to respond to what he said. Zophar admitted that he is overwhelmed by the turmoil of thoughts within him; here he expresses the extent of anger inside him and his friends that shuts the ears from hearing the truth, and the eyes from seeing it. Because they only saw in ‘Job’ a lump of evil, that he covered by hypocrisy, vain giving, and false compassion; Zophar, in his turn, resorted to stinging criticism, cruel rebuke, and bitter threats, of what would dwell over ‘Job’ of tribulations. Anger would make tongues loose, and talks with no control; would lead to ridicules, reviles false accusations, and violent confrontations1. St. Basil the Great The sick mind does not control its ordinances; and wrongly assumes that everything he thinks in anger is the only truth2! Pope Gregory the Great “I hear a reproof that reproaches me, And the spirit of my understanding inspires me to reply” (Job 20: 3). Job’s friends counted Job’s answer to their rebuke as an insult, and saw that he is not worthy of talking to him, or to give him counsel. They probably put in their hearts to stop their debate, on account that it is of no use with such a wicked man; Yet the turmoil that Zophar felt within him made him answer. 2- THE TRIUMPH OF THE WICKED IS SHORT-TERMED: “Do you not know this of old, since man was placed on earth?” (Job 20: 4). Zophar resorted to the knowledge of ‘Job’ himself, before the temptations dwelt on him; assuming that it conforms to what they say, which he refuses now to accept. It is a well-established principle, which was previously often mentioned by Job himself, and was confirmed by the experiences of the generations of old, since the beginning of creation, that “the wicked perish by their wickedness”. “Do you not know this of old, since man was placed on earth?”. By saying that Zophar reviles ‘Job’, counting him as ignorant of, or disregarding the truth; although ‘Job’ proclaims it in his words to follow. Father Hesychius of Jerusalem It is obvious that, feeling haughty because of his knowledge, and with the sole intention of rebuking the blessed ‘Job’, Zophar distorts the words he uttered against the wicked; Because he saw that ‘Job’ first walked straight, then went astray, and became worthy of punishment; By that he counts all what ‘Job’ practiced as out of hypocrisy; dismissing the possibility that a truly righteous man could possibly fall in such anguish by the just God! Pope Gregory the Great Since the fall of our early parents Adam and Eve, we know that we are in need of the work of God to destroy every evil in us, and to build what is befitting of His righteousness. We should not marvel that God’s call on His men is to root out and to 1 Sermons 10 FC 86, P. 74. 2 Lessons in Job 5: 78. PL 79: 1096. 3 pull down, to destroy and throw down the wicked peoples and the corrupt kingdoms that represent evil; And to build and to plant what is God’s; According to what God said to the prophet Jeremiah when he was called to ministry (Jeremiah 1: 10): Wickedness has to be destroyed before righteousness is set; And in case the wicked persist on their wickedness, they have to be destroyed together with their wickedness. We have only two choices: Either to turn our depths into a divine paradise, carrying the fruits of the Holy Spirit that brings pleasure to the heart of God; Or into a dwelling place and a playing ground for the devil. Either to turn our hearts into a temple for the Holy Spirit to dwell in; Or into a stage on this the devil practices his evils. “To root out and to pull down” (Jeremiah 1: 10). There is either a building of Satan, or a building of God. The one set “on the sand” is that of the devil, as it is not set on a solid steadfast foundation; Whereas the one set “on the rock” is of God; According to what is said to believers: “You are God’s field; You are God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3: 9). God’s words to Jeremiah were: “I have set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw away”; If we root out, and yet did not destroy the things we rooted out; It will stay; And if we pull down, and did not throw away the ruins, what we pulled down would stay. Of the signs of God’s goodness and His love, is that, after He roots out, He destroys; and after He pulls down, He throws away what He has pulled down. Read now, how the things rooted out and pulled down should be destroyed: “Burn down the chaff with an non- extinguishable fire, and gather the tears and cast them in fire”. The corrupt building pulled down because of leprosy, has to be turned into dust, and be dumped in a place outside the city (Leviticus 14: 41); So that not a single stone of it would remain; according to the words: “I shall wipe them out like the mire of the streets”; or “I shall level them to the ground”. Corrupt things should never be left altogether; their remains should be destroyed to avoid being used for setting new buildings by Satan; who should not as well, find in them new seeds to plant anew; to plant the tares together with the wheat. That is why the first thing we should do is to root out and pull down everything evil in our souls; As God would not build a new, where there are still corrupt and evil buildings; As “What fellowship is there between truth and vanity, or between light and darkness?”. Evil should be fully pulled down from its foundation in our souls; so that God’s words would take over the building and planting in us. I cannot understand that phrase in any other way: “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. See, I have this day set you over… to root out and to pull down”. Yes. They are words that root out nations; … words that pull down kingdoms; But not the material kingdoms in this world; … The meanings of these words should be understood in an exalted way. Then, a power would be granted from God; according to what is written: “The Lord gives a word of greater power to preachers”; a power to root out the lack of faith (hypocrisy) or evil; a power to destroy and pull down any idols remaining inside the heart; so that in the place of the idol which is destroyed, a temple for the Lord would be set, where the glory of God would appear and manifested; No more tares would grow; But a paradise of God in the temple of God; In Jesus Christ, to whom is the glory forever to the age of ages. Amen1. .16- 1 عظات للعلامة أوریجینوس على سفر إرمیا، ترجمة جاكلین سمیر كوستى، عظة 15 :1 4 The scholar Origen What a great difference between the plantation of the devil, and that of the Lord; between the building of the devil, and that of the Holy Spirit! The devil plants grass that as soon as it appears it dries up, to have the portion of being consumed by fire. The Lord quietly plants in us His cross, the tree of life, plants it on the streams of water of the Holy Spirit, to produce eternal fruit. “The exulting of the wicked is short” and temporary; Whereas that of the righteous is hidden; being surrounded by temptations, that make their crowns glitter more, to become shining stars, in the company of the Sun of Righteousness in the same heaven. “That the exulting of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless is but for a moment” (Job 20: 5). The exulting of the wicked would not last long; they may rejoice, but for a moment; then their exulting would turn into wailing and mourning. They may succeed, feel secure, and appear triumphant, boasting their wealth, authority, greatness, and success; but all that would be for a moment, and would soon be over in this world. Although this is a sound principle, Yet God has His own ordinances which differ with everyone according to his status. On another aspect, Zophar was not pure in thought, nor was he defending a certain theological principle, as much as caring only to confirm the wickedness of ‘Job’. “The exulting of the wicked is a sign of falling, and the joy of the godless is a sign of destruction!” (LXX 5). In this phrase, Zophar is insolently reviling, backbiting, and distort Job’s reputation, as his other two friends did before him. According to Zophar, from the beginning, since man was placed on earth, there was joy and exulting for the fall of the wicked, and destruction of the godless; among who is ‘Job’! Father Hesychius of Jerusalem The wicked would not only lose their vain worldly exulting, and be deprived of their true joy; but even the land, because of them, would mourn and wail (Jeremiah 12: 4); nature would moan; and heaven with its angels would grieve! “How long will the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither? The beasts and birds are consumed, for the wickedness of those who dwell there” (Jeremiah 12: 4). Here, the prophet speaks as though the land is a living being, saying that it mourns for the wickedness of those who walk on it. The land for each of us, may either mourn for our wickedness, or exult for our virtues. What is said of the land could also be said of everything else. I can say for example, that the angel responsible for the water1 would either mourn or exult. We should know that, for the sake of organizing and controlling the whole universe, angels are assigned for particular tasks: there is an angel responsible for the land, for the water, for the air, for the fire, for the beasts, for the plants, and so on. If you lift up your mind to meditate in the system controlling the heavenly bodies, you will find that there is an angel responsible for the sun, another for the moon, and another for the stars2. 1 للعلامة أوریجینوس آ ا رء خاصة بالملائكة سبق لنا نشرها في كتاب "الملائكة عند العلامة أوریجینوس" تختلف عن فكر كثیر من آباء الكنیسة. 2 یفكر أوریجینوس مثل بقیة الفلاسفة الذین كانوا في عصره أن الكواكب حیة، وترجع حیاتها إلى ملاك یسكن في كل كوكب منها. 5 All these angels who accompany us all along our journey of life on earth; either exult for us when we do good, or mourn over us, when we err. When Jeremiah says that the land would mourn for the wickedness of those dwelling in it; he means by the word ‘land’, the angel responsible for it; As it is also said: “The idol made with hands is accursed, and so is the one who made it” (Wisdom 14: 8); Not that the curse will come over the lifeless thing itself, but, by the word ‘idol’ he means the devil that dwells in it, and gives it its name. In the same way I can say that the ‘land’ in Jeremiah’s verse means the angel responsible for the land. The ‘water’, as well, means the angel responsible for the water; on which it is written: “The waters saw You, O God; the waters saw You, they were afraid; The depths also trembled. The clouds poured out water; The skies sent out a sound; Your arrows also flashed about” (Psalm 77: 17-18) 1. You should, O sinner, taste this great bitterness now, which God brings on you, to change your ways and be saved2. The scholar Origen “Though his haughtiness mounts up to the heavens, and his head reaches to the clouds” (Job 20: 6). Zophar assumes that the haughtiness of the wicked may mount up to heights beyond the imagination of man, even up to the heavens, and his head may appear to reach the clouds; that no one could approach him or oppose him. In case you commit a sin, Your adversary will be the word of God It would be the enemy of your will, until it becomes the security of your salvation. What an enemy it is! Both faithful and helpful3! St. Augustine “Yet he will perish forever like his own refuse; those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’” (Job 20: 7). He, who reaches to such greatness, will “perish like his own refuse”. Those who looked in awe at his indescribable greatness would look for him, to see him no more; He has utterly perished! All what remains of him is his terrible and unbearable stink. About the haughtiness of the hypocrite, it is said that he mounts up to the heavens; His head would seem as though reaching to the clouds, when he assumes that his leading body member, his haughty mind, seems as though leading him to the heavenly life, and equal to the worthiness of the saints who preceded him. Yet “he ultimately perishes like refuse”; as when he dies, and is led to torture, being loaded with the refuse of evil habits, he falls beneath the feet of the evil spirits. The pleasures of the present life, thought by the wicked as great goodness, are seen by the righteous as refuse. That is why it is written: “The idler is like the filth of dunghills; anyone that picks it up will shake it off his hands” (Sirach 22: 2). Whoever do not follow God, would become an idler in the love of eternal life. “Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’” (7). this happens when the life of the hypocrite is ultimately revealed to everyone, to become the object of eternal judgment. Those who have seen him prospering in their days, will say when he . 1 عظات للعلامة أوریجینوس على سفر إرمیا، ترجمة جاكلین سمیر كوستى، عظة 6 :10 . 2 عظات للعلامة أوریجینوس على سفر إرمیا، ترجمة جاكلین سمیر كوستى، عظة 3 :12 3 Sermon 109: 3 FC 94, p. 149. 6 dies: ‘Where is he?’; As he is no more seen here, where he lived at large; nor he is in the eternal comfort, where he was expected to be. Pope Gregory the Great Notice how those ungodly haughty people are like an ox, referred to, in the Holy book in (Proverbs 7: 22); prepared for the slaughter, left for some time to wander around freely, until his day comes1 … Those who prosper in the pleasures of this world would perish in the power of God. They prosper up to a moment, and then eternally perish. They prosper in unreal goods, and perish in real tortures2. St. Augustine “He will fly away like a dream, and not be found; yes, he will be chased away like a vision of the night” (Job 20: 8). With all the greatness, wealth, and honor, that he reached, he will pass away like a dream that man looks for, and finds no trace of it when he wakes up; he would be like a vision of the night, chased away. Like that, is our life, brethren, we who live a temporal life; and the game we play here on earth! We came to being out of nothing; and we shall ultimately dissolve to nothing! We are like dreams with no essence; like visions beyond apprehension; “like a ship that sails through the billowy water, and when it has passed no trace can be found, no track of its keel in the waves; Or as when a bird flies through the air, no evidence of its passage is found” (Wisdom 5: 10-11) We are like a grain of dust, like vapor, like morning dew, and like a flower that grows in a moment and withers in a moment. “Man’s days are like grass, As a flower of the field, so he flourishes” (Psalm 103: 15). David inspired by the Spirit, expressing our weakness, says: “Lord, make me to know, what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. Indeed You have my days as handbreadth” (Psalm 39: 4, 5) 3. St. Gregory the Nazianzen Zophar insolently likens ‘Job’ to a dream or a night vision. Father Hesychius of Jerusalem What is the life of a hypocrite but a vision (a wake-up dream); because he feels as though he possesses something, while he actually does not; he is likened to a dream, from which he wakes up. In “the vision of the night” (8), It so happens that a poor man dreams that he became rich; with honors, riches, and plenty of food pouring on him; and dressed in a beautiful attire Then, all of a sudden, he sadly wakes up to find out that it was all nothing but a dream. It is the same with a hypocrite, who, believes the exaggerated commendation by others, and falsely imagines that he has actually become famous. Pope Gregory the Great The Lord teaches us that he, who delivers himself to shameful works, would be bared, not of a woolen robe, but of living virtue, as the robe of virtue is not temporal, but eternal4. St. Ambrose 1 On Ps. 73 (72). 2 On Ps. 54 (53). 3 On His Brother St. Caesarius, Oration 7:9. 4 Letter 27 (58): 16. 7 “The eye that saw him will see him no more, nor will his place behold him anymore” (Job 20: 9). Those who saw him as a very prominent person, prosperous, rich, and of authority, will see him no more; they look for him to find out that his usual place as completely empty. Although Zophar says that about the wicked as a whole, not referring to someone in particular, Yet, it is obvious that he is referring to ‘Job’; who, as he assumes, have been forsaken in despise by the ‘eyes’ of friends and acquaintances. “His place” means those who were originally with him, and in his hometown, but recognize him no more, and are shocked to see the extent of his sorrows. Father Hesychius of Jerusalem What is the “place” of the hypocrite but the hearts of those who flatter him, where he finds his comfort But as long as he lives, he keeps on instructing his followers the same thing he practices; And through the daring of his wrong way, he (gives birth) to others, and raise them up on his same vain deceit. Pope Gregory the Great Evil takes man away from the “place” of his comfort, to become no more. That is what happened to ‘Korah’ and his group, who, in their evils, dared against the divine commandment, and intended to take priesthood by force, to be swallowed up by the earth and become no more (Numbers 16: 32). Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, separated themselves from the holy congregation, to be swallowed up alive by the earth, as a seen symbol of an unseen punishment1. St. Augustine 3- THE MISERY OF THE WICKED: “His children will seek the favor of the poor, and his hands will restore hisr wealth” (Job 20: 10). Here he presents to us examples of the evil ways, secretly practiced by the hypocrite in this world, and the punishment he gets for them: a- Carnal desire (11 – 14) b- Love of the world (15 – 16) c- Love of vain glory (17 – 18) d- Oppression of the poor (19) e- Greed (20 – 21) “I wish the ‘lowly’ destroy his children” (LXX 10). Zophar probably means the devils; being lowly as compared to men, having fallen from up high in heaven. Those are the ‘Sabeans’ who destroyed the house where Job’s children died (Job 1: 19). “And his hands ignite the fires of sorrow”; as ‘Job’ scraped his painful boils with a potsherd. Father Hesychius of Jerusalem “His children will seek favor of the poor”. As it is written: “Wisdom will not enter a deceitful soul” (Wisdom 1: 4); And: “The young lions (the rich) lack and suffer hunger” (Psalm 34: 10); So will be the children of the hypocrite (10); Because those who are born in hypocrisy, not getting the essence of truth, will end up as nothing, and will suffer the poverty of heart. 1 City of God 10: 8. 8 “And his hands will restore his (sorrow)”. What is meant by the “hands” but the works or deeds? His hands will restore his sorrow; because, out of his evil life, he will harvest a just eternal judgment. Pope Gregory the Great In case someone says that he does not wish for the kingdom of God, He just wishes for an eternal comfort; he would be deceiving himself; as there are only two places: If someone is not qualified for reigning together with Christ; he will certainly perish together with the devil1. Caesarius, Bishop of Ar a- Carnal desire: “His bones are full of his youthful vigor, but it will lie down with him in the dust” (Job 20: 11). He falls a victim of his youthful lusts that fill his bones, hold fast to him, never to let him go until he dies. Zophar believes that Job’s corruption will extend to his bones and dissolve his body, to take away the beauty of his youthful vigor. His bones will lie down with him in the dust of the heap of trash on which he sleeps. Father Hesychius of Jerusalem What is the “youthful vigor” of the hypocrite, but the start of the evil of his youth, when he desired and longed for embracing the vain glory … The evil he started with, would increase every day, and would become stronger through habit, according to the proverb: “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22: 6). These same bones, full of his youthful vigor, will lie together with him in the dust; As his evil practices will stay with him until they draw him down to the dust of death. Pope Gregory the Great The body in itself is not an obstacle; Yet, because of our evil, we cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven2. St. John Chrysostom “Though evil is sweet in his mouth, and he hides it under his tongue” (Job 20: 12). He so enjoys carnal desires, that evil turns sweet in his mouth, hides it under his tongue, and its pleasure would never depart from him. “Though evil is sweet in his mouth … Yet, it cannot support him” (12). In these words, Zophar warns ‘Job’ against enjoying his evil through the words by which he expresses himself. In other words, he warns him against covering it up and hiding it by his way of talk … because he would not be able to support himself; and the tribulations that dwelt upon him, would show him as evil.. He rebukes him for his futile attempts to cover up and hide his evil ways. Father Hesychius of Jerusalem “When evil becomes sweet in his mouth, he hides it under his tongue” (12). Evil is sweet in the mouth of the hypocrite; he enjoys it in his mind; which is the mouth of the heart; according to the words: “With flattering lips and a double heart they speak” (Psalm 12: 2). The sweet evil in the mouth of the hypocrite is hidden under 1 Sermons, 47: 5. 2 homilies in, Corinth; 42: 2. 9 the tongue; as the violence of the evil deeds lies hidden in the mind, under its smooth garment. Pope Gregory the Great Although sins do more harm to the soul than that caused by the worms to the body, Yet we do not realize the extent of their danger; and we do not feel the necessity of purifying ourselves from them. Just like the drunk who is unable to recognize the disgusting taste of the wine taste; that the rational man can easily do. It is the same with sins; He who leads a dignified life can easily recognize the corruption of the mire; while he who leads an evil life, would be like a drunkard who does not realize that he is sick. The worse aspect of sin, is that it does not allow those fallen into it to realize the extent of the danger of the sickness they are in; They are like drunkards, while lying in mire, think that they are enjoying the fragrance of perfumes; and consequently would not have any intention of getting up. Because they think of the worms devouring their flesh as precious stones, they have no intention of killing the (sin), but of flourishing and doubling them, until it brings them over to the worms in the life to come1. St. John Chrysostom “Though he spares it and does not forsake it, but still keeps it in his mouth” (Job 20: 13). Once the pleasure gets a hold on him, he hides it under his tongue; to become like the harlot about whom it is said: “She multiplied her harlotry in calling to remembrance the days of her youth” (Ezekiel 23: 19). Hiding the pleasure under the tongue refers to the effort the hypocrite exerts to conceal his highly beloved lust. Yet He, who knows what is in the heart and the mind, knows as well the pleasure that the wicked hides under his tongue. “He spares it and does not forsake it, but still keeps it in his (throat) 2” (13). Because he spares the evil that brings him pleasure; and feeling no remorse, he hides it inside him. It is added “He does not forsake it”; as, if he has any intention to forsake it, he would not spare it, but would rather elaborately chase it away. “He keeps it in his throat”; namely, he keeps it hidden in his thoughts, and does not utter it in his talk. Pope Gregory the great “Yet his food in his stomach turns sour; It becomes cobra venom within him” (Job 20: 14). As the lust becomes his daily food that fills his stomach, it turns into deadly venom within him. While thinking of pleasure as the secret of his life and his happiness, and that without it, he would have no life; it kills him by its venom that he hid within him. “His food in his stomach turns into cobra venom within him” (14). Zophar calls the venom of evil, ‘cobra venom’, As once cobra venom gets into the stomach, it could never be treated, but would dcertainly kill its victim; which is something well known to everyone. That is how the venom of the evil acts in those who hide it within themselves. Father Hesiychius of Jerusalem 1 Homilies on Rom., 40. 2 التزمت بالنصوص الواردة في كتابات البابا غریغوریوس كما هي. 10 There are two kinds of food: One that serves salvation; while the other leads to perdition It is befitting for us not to abuse the gifts of God the Father We should use them faithfully, and keep them under our control; according to His commandment to be masters and lords of our food, and not slaves to it1. St. Clement of Alexandria Filling the stomach with food is like the fulfilling the mind with earthly pleasures. Thus, let the hypocrite be satisfied now to the full with the commendation he cannot resist; let him enjoy the vain honors. “His food in his stomach turns into cobra venom within him” (14). As fulfillment with temporary pleasures turns into bitterness on the day of the ultimate judgment. What is considered here as great commendation, would be revealed as ‘cobra venom’; namely, (boasting of evil spirits) Joy in temporary enjoyments may be sweet as it is chewed here with the teeth; But it would turn into bitterness in the stomach, once the joy passes by, and leads to destruction. Pope Gregory the Great b- Love of the world: “He swallows down riches; And vomits them up again; God casts them out of his belly” (Job 20: 15). In his love for the world, he collects riches and stores them, as though, in immense hunger, he swallows food with great greed, with no satisfaction nor limit. As it is said: “The leech has two daughters: Give! Give!, they cry. Three things are never satisfied, four never say, ‘Enough’” (Proverbs 30: 15). He would be like him, who fills his stomach, to vomit what he ate, and stays hungry all the time. “The riches he collects through oppression, he will vomit” It would never become of benefit to him. “He who does wrong will be repaid for the wrong he has done (in the life to come)” (Colossians 3: 25). What he collects through oppression, he will vomit, with great screams, and great perdition of the soul, in the ultimate judgment. Father Hesychius of Jerusalem Although the hypocrite may wish to know the proclamations of God, Yet he does not practice them. He may wish to utter wisdom, Yet he does not live wisely. That is why, through not practicing what he knows he should do, he loses even what he knows; And through not connecting the pure practice to his knowledge, despising the purity of true practice, he would end up losing knowledge itself; And the riches of the holy law, he ‘swallowed’ by reading, he would vomit through forgetting it; And “God casts them out of his belly” (15). Not caring to keep the practical practice, Through a just verdict, God will root it out from his memory; God’s commandments will not be kept on his tongue, as long as he does not keep them in his life; According to God’s words through His prophet, saying: “What right have you to declare My statutes, or take My covenant in your mouth?” (Psalm 50: 16). Pope Gregory the Great The wicked will be sifted out as light tares; but the righteous will be saved as heavy wheat. Notice what the Lord said to Peter: “indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat, But I have prayed for you, that your faith would not fail” (Luke 22: 31). Those who are sifted out as tares would perish; But he who would 1 Pacdagogus, 2: 9. 11 not, is like the seed that falls, grows, and yields a crop, a hundredfold (Luke 8: 8) Evil is likened to chaff that easily burn and turn into ashes1. St. Ambrose “He will suck the poison of cobras; The viper’s tongue will slay him” (Job 20: 16). Through his great love of the world, the hypocrite sucks the poison of cobras that nothing can heal, and nothing could be deadlier. This is what the lover of the world would collect for himself; he would have in his depths, the viper of sin that would end up slaying him. “The serpent’s tongue will slay him” (16). The serpent that from the beginning has submitted Adam and Eve (Genesis 3: 4-5); and keeps on enslaving sinners, by instructing them how to find pleasure in evil practices. Father Hesiychius of Jerusalem “He will suck the poison of cobras; The viper’s tongue will slay him” (16). The unclean spirits start by gentle infiltration; then draw them violently. It is the same with the sucked poison of cobra, which starts by causing a little disturbance in the heart, to be followed by slaying the captive soul by the violent venom of the temptation. Pope Gregory the Great c - Love of vain glory: “He will not see the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream” (Job 20: 17). They will not see a benefit from their pasturing flock; they will not get cream or butter in the age to come; being unable to enjoy the pleasures of the things they boast having here. Those people should listen to the words of the Lord: “You fool, this very night your life is being demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, whose they will be?” (Luke 12: 20). Father Hesychius of Jerusalem “He will not see the streams flowing with honey and cream” 2 (17). The Lord says in the gospel: “He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7: 37). Then the Evangelist goes on to say: “This He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive”. Thus, the streams or rivers are the gifts of the Holy Spirit: love is a stream; faith is a stream; and hope is a stream. Therefore, the hypocrite, having the glory of the world as his goal, who does not love God or his neighbor, will never see the streams, and will never be watered by the flow of love. The Only-begotten Son of God the Father; who is God above all, became Man among all; and having provided us with the sweetness of His divine nature and with the secret of His incarnation, He fulfilled us with honey and cream. Pope Gregory the Great Evil offer honey, cream, and butter, that conceals deadly poison; Whereas our Christ, the Forgiver of sins, offers us the sweet honey of peace; inner peace with ourselves, as well as with God, His angels, and His saints. Salvation from sin by the 1 The Prayer of Job and Daird, 2: 5: 18. 2 التزمت بالنصوص الواردة في كتابات البابا غریغوریوس كما هي. 12 work of redemption would bring us over, not to the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve, Nor to Canaan that flows with milk and honey, But to the exalted reconciliation with heaven. “Whoever seeks peace, seeks Christ, who is our Peace” (Colossians 1: 20); “Who has made both one” (Ephesians 2: 14), making peace by the blood of His cross, both on earth, and in heaven1. St. Basil the Great When earth was severed from heaven; angels became enemies to mankind, by whom they saw the Lord being insulted. On the cross, the Lord Christ brought the sinning human nature that was in the bondage of the evil one, up to heaven. By that, He actually, not only brought peace to those on earth, but He also brought on to the angels, those who were their enemies. Peace became very deep. … Angels re-appeared on earth; as humanity in its turn, appeared in heaven2. St. John Chrysostom “He will give back the fruit of his toil, and will not swallow it down; From the profit of his trading, he will get no enjoyment” (Job 20: 18). Expecting to take from the world, as though from streams and rivers that produce honey and cream; he keeps on laboring day and night, in order to accumulate the riches of the whole world. But he will soon discover that he is still poor, and does not possess what he hoped for; and will even lose his enjoyment in everything he acquired. Whoever collects riches through oppression, will, willingly or unwillingly, give back what he collected; will lose everything, and will become penniless. “He labors in vain and for no benefit from the wealth he will not use” (LXX 18). What is the use of a magnificent palace, if its wicked owner will be buried six feet under ground? And what is the use of many and diverse garments for someone who will be barred by bugs?! Father Hesychius of Jerusalem The wicked will discover one day that he exited the world naked, not being clothed with Christ, our righteousness. His nakedness will be revealed on the Day of Judgment, and will go forth, together with the devil, who bared himself, his hosts, and his human followers, all of whom have lost what would joyfully clothe them. Joseph was robbed of his robe (Genesis 39: 12), yet he was not naked, as he was still clothed with the robe of purity. No one is naked, but he whose sin is exposed. In the old days, Adam, having disobeyed God’s commandment, and was thus condemned of a serious sin, became naked, and said: “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, and I hid myself” (Genesis 3: 10). He confirms that he became naked, because he lost the adornment of the divine protection; and he hid himself, because he no more had the cover of faith which he cast aside by his disobedience. 1 Homilies 16: 10. 2 Homilies on Colossians, 3. 13 You see here an important fact: Adam was naked, although he did not lose any clothes; Whereas Joseph, although robbed of his robe, which he forsook in the hand of the harlot, yet he was not naked1! Father Caesarius, Bishop of Arl d- His oppression of the poor: “For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor, He has violently seized a house which he did not build” (Job 20: 19). In his love of the world, he walks with the spirit of cruelty and oppression; crushing and forsaking the poor; seizing houses he did not build for himself; the way Ahab took possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite (1 Kings 21); and subsequently took possession of death and disgrace for himself. When greed prevails over man, he does not only refrain from giving from what he has to the poor; but he also, violently and without shame, breaks down and rob the houses of the poor, and seizes what belong to others. Whoever gives alms from what he oppressively took from the poor, bears in his giving, neither spiritual love, nor even human love; As he gives one and oppresses the other. If you offer God a part of what you acquired through oppression, He will not accept your gift. You should rather give mercy and love to whom you have oppressed. God would never partake of your greed, and would never share robbers; as He is capable of feeding the poor whom he entrusted to us; But He seeks the fruits of righteousness and love of neighbor. Pope Athanasius the apostolic What would be your excuse, If you rob someone of his money, and then give it to another?! To realize the extent of evil you have done, Listen to the words of Solomon, saying, that offering a sacrifice from the money of the poor, is like killing a son before the eyes of his own father! St. John Chrysostom e- Greed: “He will have no respite in his belly; In his greed, he cannot save himself” (Job 20: 20). In all his consistent strife, his depths (belly) will know no respite (no fulfillment); But anxiety would always prevail on him. He may gain much, but he, himself would never be saved! We should control our belly, and keep it under the direction of heaven; God, as the apostle says, will ultimately destroy everything related to the belly2. St. Clement of Alexandria “Nothing is left for him to eat; Therefore his prosperity will not last” (Job 20: 21). Whatever he has got, he will lose; as though he eats, but would never get fulfilled, because he vomits what he eats. Because the wicked eats without thanking God (Romans 14: 6); tastes without blessing; and there is no place for the poor on his table (Luke 16: 21); he will, 1 Sermon 92: 3. 2 Paedagogus 2:5. 14 according to David, save nothing for himself: “The remains of the wicked completely perish”. Because his goods are without origin, and they produce wicked fruits; “His prosperity will not last”. Father Hesychius of Jerusalem “His prosperity will not last” Because, running after everything, with no fear of the divine Judge; When he departs from this life, he will go naked to judgment. Pope Gregory the Great “In full sufficiency he will be in distress; All the force of misery will come upon him” (Job 20: 22). Having described the confusion that dwells upon the cruel oppressor, Zophar refers to his utter perdition. Together with gaining everything he desired by some way or another, Every force of misery will come upon him; What he did to others will be done to him; The same way his own oppressive hand was upon others, the hands of the wicked will be upon him. “Together with the fullness of his hand, he will be in distress”1 (22). He starts by hastening to accumulate things by greed; Then having collected in great abundance; Together with the fullness of his hand, he will be in distress! Getting worried how to keep what he got safe; his fullness becomes the cause of his distress. This reminds us of the parable mentioned by the Lord Jesus about the rich man who collected a huge crop; and when he realized that his storehouses were not spacious enough to accommodate it, he thought within himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will pull down my barns and build greater” (Luke 12: 17, 18). That is an example to show that too much goodness could present as much pressure as too little of it. “He will be consumed by the heat (of distress), and all kinds of woes will come upon him” (22). After getting all what he desired of wealth, fear and worry will dwell upon him to keep safe what he labored hard to acquire. He would see a robber in every poor he meets. Every kind of fear will prevail on him from every side: Fear that what he has done to others would be done to him; Fear that he may face violence from someone stronger than him; Fear that those things which he acquired may be lost by negligence; and above all that, he will suffer a great fear of a probable punishment for his oppression. What an amazing feeling of security for the heart that does not seek what is not his, but feels satisfied with what he has got! Pope Gregory the Great “When he counts himself fulfilled, he starts to fall into distress” (LXX 22). A fruit would start to corrupt once it reaches maturity. As we have already stated; what Job’s friends said, was not meant to be against the wicked and transgressors, as much as it is to shake the perseverance of the blessed man. Yet, seeing that the wrestler has endured the sorrows that dwelt upon him with a great soul, and a confidence in the benefits that would come through perseverance; Zophar warned him that the future will be worse than the past! Father Hesychius of Jerusalem 1 التزمت بالنصوص الواردة في كتابات البابا غریغوریوس كما هي. 15 Indeed, Life of man is not set upon the abundance of his possessions, but he is counted as blessed, and has glorious hope, who is rich in God1. St. Cyril of Alexandria We greatly rejoice when we gain one cent; and become overwhelmed with grief when we lose half a cent2. St. Jerome “When he is about to fill his stomach, God will cast on him the fury of His wrath, And will rain it on him while he is eating” (Job 20: 23). There is nothing that brings God’s fury on a wicked man, like his oppression of his neighbor. While being preoccupied with filling his stomach with it, God’s fury would rain on him fire and brimstone (Psalm 11: 6). He will even bring it down on him during the moments he enjoys eating in his banquets. Zophar is probably referring here to the death of Job’s children while celebrating a banquet. Here it also refers to what the Lord Christ said about what happened in the days of the great flood: “They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; But on the day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all” (Luke 17: 27-29). “Let him fill his stomach; God will cast His fury on him, And will rain His war on him”3 (23). “God’s rain of war” is striking the hearts, haughty on Him, and wounding the hateful souls by the arrows of His ordinances. When it was befitting for the greedy to remind himself of how he coveted what is not his; he will surely grieve for departing from this world and leaving everything back. Pope Gregory the Great “When he will flee from the iron weapon; A bronze bow will pierce him through” (Job 20: 24). His perdition will be inevitable without any possibility of getting away. “He will flee from the iron weapon”. Fleeing refers to iniquity; when, instead of thinking of humbly confessing his sins before God, to reconcile with Him; the wicked only thinks of how to flee from God’s revenge that chases him. But it would be in vain; as, if he manages to get away from the iron weapon, “A bronze bow will pierce him through”. It is as though God uses the iron sword, against which they assume they would be able to fight with their strength, or the bronze bow from which they think they can flee by their craftiness. Whoever assumes that he is able to flee from one kind of punishment, will find another kind chasing him. This means that God will overwhelm him with sufferings What are these sufferings? “If he, by any way flees from the iron sword, he will be wounded by the bronze bow, and stabbed by the arrow. Stars will come down over his house; and fear will dwell on him” (LXX 24-25). Yet, ‘Job’ did not fall under these strikes; As God did not allow Satan to kill him; None of the iron, bronze bows or arrows, of the hired hosts of Satan could approach him … Nor any fire from outside the earth; As Satan have no authority to move the wrath of heaven against him. 1 In Luc Ser. 89. 2 Ep. 43: 2. 3 التزمت بالنصوص الواردة في كتابات البابا غریغوریوس كما هي. 16 Although Zophar, in his attempt to put fear in that wrestler’s heart from every side, warned him against all these things,; Yet ‘Job’, being sure of his righteousness, did not enquire, how, or from where these things would come upon him. Father Hesychius of Jerusalem “If he flees from the iron weapons, he will face the bronze bow”1 (24). Greed would sometimes infiltrates into people through pride, and other times through fear. Some would seek to appear with great authority, and would long to get what belong to others. Others, fearing that they may, one day become in need of the necessities of life, and imagining that what they have would not be enough for them, they deliver their minds to greed seeking what belong to others. Now, the term ‘iron’ may refer to those ‘necessities’ of life, that cruelly press on the life of the needy; namely, to the painful need for the necessities of life…. “His neck is put in iron” (Psalm 105: 18). And because iron is easily corrupted by rust; while bronze is more resistant; Iron refers to the temporary present necessities; while bronze refers to the eternal destiny. Pope Gregory the Great If you want to build your city well? “Better is a little with the fear of the lord, than great treasure with trouble” (Proverbs 15: 16). Man’s riches are to commit oneself to the salvation of his soul, and not to its perdition. Riches would be for salvation of man, if it is well used; and would be a trap for him, if he does not know how to use it properly (See Proverbs 13: 8). As what would be the benefit of man’s wealth, if it does not support him on his journey2? St, Ambrose “It is drawn forth , and comes out of the body; Yes, the glittering point comes out of his gall; Terror will come over him” (Job 20: 25). Perdition would be complete when the bow pierces the wicked, and comes out of his gall; Great fear and terror would then dwell upon him; and the sufferings of his death would be intense, giving him its taste of bitterness. “Terrifies would come and dwell on him” (25). Who are those “terrifies’ but the evil spirits, whom the pious minds should fear and avoid? It is believed that to each of those evil spirits, certain sins attach. When a wicked man forsakes a group of sins for a moment, and starts committing another group; the new ‘terrifies’ would come and dwell on him; namely, when the soul of the wicked forsakes certain evil habits, it would be captivated by others. You may often see a worldly man on whom, some violent spells of anger usually prevail, during which he does unthinkable deeds. Then once his anger quietens down, he may come under the influence of lust; and when this eventually comes to an end, he may be delivered to an exaggerated wave of self-esteem, and tends to pretend being violent and a source of terror! Such would be a man whose mind is taken over by a certain iniquity, then to become replaced by another, and so on “when terrifies come and dwell on him”. Pope Gregory the Great “Total darkness is laid up for his treasures. An unfanned fire will consume him and devour what is left in his tent” (Job 20: 26). 1 التزمت بالنصوص الواردة في كتابات البابا غریغوریوس كما هي. 2 Letter, 15. 17 The darkness by which the wicked is clothed is hidden; an utter darkness that is not pierced by a single ray of light; an inner darkness that comes to him, in a ‘hiding place’ where he assumes to be safe, and no one can reach him. By the ‘hiding place’, he probably means his conscience; As the wicked suffers from darkness that dwells in his depths, he find himself in confusion, from which no one can save him except by his return, through repentance, to the true Light. The Grantor of peace. Inside him, a perishing fire ignites; an unfanned fire; namely, without a sound. Everyone sees that the wicked is being destroyed and consumed, without knowing the cause; the way Jonah saw that the bush has withered, yet he did not see the worm that caused it to wither (Jonah 4: 7). By saying “an unfanned fire”, he refers to the fact that the fuel of the perishing fire of sin, is so inflammable, that it needs no fanning. “All the proud, yes, all who do wickedly, will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up” (Malachi 4: 1). “And will devour what is left in his tent”. His evil will infiltrate into his tent; namely, he will become the cause of perdition to many in his household. “Total darkness is hidden in his secret places” (26)… That is because he does not parade all the wickedness in him in public. “An unfanned (unmade) fire will consume him”. These few words describe the fire of hell in an amazing way. The material fire to start, needs material fuel; And in order to continue burning, it needs to be provided with wood and fuel on a continuous basis. Namely, It would not start, nor continue to burn, unless it is served with fuel. On the contrary, the fire of hell, although it is a fire that consumes the sons of perdition who are physically cast in it, Yet it is not made by human effort, nor continue by providing it with fuel on a continuous basis; But, once it is there, it remains un-quenchable, need no refueling, and its heat would never diminish. The justice of the Almighty, who knew beforehand the events to come; Since the beginning of the world, He created the fire of hell, that had to be there to punish the wicked; that would never need refueling, nor its heat would ever diminish. It is said by the Psalmist: “You shall make them as a fiery oven in the time of Your anger. The Lord shall swallow them up in his wrath” (Psalm 21: 9). So the Holy Book reveals that the lost would burn both internally and externally. It testifies that, while they are consumed with fire, they turn into a fiery oven. By fire, they are physically tortured; and through grief, they spiritually burn. “His tent would partake of his tribulation”; having put all his pleasure in his carnal life, he is said to dwell in the tent of the body. Pope Gregory the Great Why was it that Satan did not enter in Peter, James, and John, or in any of the other blessed apostles? Why did he enter only in Judas Eschariot? What did Satan find in him? Satan could not approach anyone of those mentioned above, because their hearts were upright, and their love for Christ was steadfast. The traitor, on the other hand, had a place in him for Satan; having been under the authority of an ugly sickness – greed; about which the blessed Paul says, it is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6: 10). 18 Satan, being crafty, as far as evil is concerned, When he has the possession of someone, he does not fight him by a common sin; But, in order to victimize him, he rather searches in him for a specific sin that he knows would best suits him1. St. Cyril the Great To Abraham, three men came (Genesis 18: 1-2) in the heat of the day; Whereas in the case of Sodom, two angels came in the evening (Genesis 19: 1). The good things are likened to the light, and the evil things to the night. The Sun of Righteousness shines on the righteous “The path of the just is like the shining sun” (Proverbs 4: 18; Matthew 13: 34); whereas the punishment of the wicked is night and darkness2. Father Theodor, Bishop of Messisa To those on the left hand He says: “Depart from Me, you cursed” (Matthew 25: 41). He does not say that they will be cursed by God the Father; but it is their own works that brings the curse over them. Concerning the kingdom, He says to those on the right hand: “Come inherit the kingdom”; then adds: “prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25: 35). I did prepare the kingdom for you; whereas the everlasting fire, I did not prepare for the wicked, but for the devil and his angels; it is the wicked, which cast themselves in it; referred it to themselves3. St. John Chrysostom “The heavens will reveal his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him” (Job 20: 27). God of heavens, who sees the hidden things, will proclaim the evils of those who persist on their wickedness; and the earth will expose their iniquities, and take revenge against them. “The earth will also disclose her blood” (Isaiah 26: 21). Heavens cannot stand iniquity, and the earth rises up against it; The wicked would find no place here or there, but will settle down in hell. “The heavens will reveal his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him” (27). What do we understand by the heavens, but the righteous; And by the earth, but the sinners? In the Lord’s Prayer, we say: “Thine will be on earth, as well as in heaven”; meaning that the will of our Creator, as it is realized in the righteous, I wish it is also realized in the sinners. About the righteous, it is also said: “The heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19: 1). And to man, when he sinned, the verdict was: “Dust you are, and to dust you will return”. Likewise, when the wicked is taken to the horrible judgment, it is said: “The heavens will reveal his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him”. He who had no compassion here on the good or bad; on the horrible day of his judgment, the life of the righteous and the sinner will both testify against him. “The earth” could also refer, not only to the hateful life of sin, but also to those who preoccupy themselves with the earthly things; Then, through giving alms and shedding the tears of repentance, they gain the eternal life; About whom the Psalmist. Proclaiming the coming of the Lord for judgment, says: “He shall call to the heavens from above, And to the earth, that He may judge His people” (Psalm 50: 4). He shall call to the heaven from above, when those forsake all what they possess, and 1 Commentary on Luke, Homily. 140. 2 Catena on Genesis, 3: 1110. 3 Homilies on Matt., 79: 2. 19 hold fast to tendency toward the heavenly life; They will be called to sit together with Him for judgment; and will come with Him as judges. Nothing of what the wicked has done will be hidden on the day of judgment; If many things are now concealed through deceit, on the day of judgment it will come to light. Pope Gregory the Great If the heavens declare the iniquity of the wicked, And the earth resist and expose him, It is befitting for the church to teach the believers to separate themselves from the wicked who persist on their evil; and not from the sinners who need someone to testify to the gospel before them. St. Cyprian demonstrates, not only what will dwell upon the wicked, who persist on their evil, of great divine punishments, but he also provokes the children of God to ‘turn away’ from them, lest the wrath of God would dwell upon them as well. We find this very clear in the book of Numbers, when Korah, Dathan, and Abiram challenged Moses and Aaron, and claimed their right to offer sacrifices to God. The Lord commanded Moses, saying: “Say to the congregation to turn away from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, or you will be swept away for all their sins” (Numbers 16: 26)1. Do your best to turn away from the wicked; as when you do, Christ will come to dwell among you2. The scholar Origen While you despise gold; there is another who loves it. While you despise wealth, there is another who eagerly chase it. While you love silence, meekness, and the private secret life, there is another who fined pleasure in talking arrogantly in public places and streets. Do not be together with him under the same roof. Do not depend on your past chastity; you are not holier than David, or wiser than Solomon… In case, during your priestly work you are committed to visit a widow or a virgin, do not go to her alone. Do not ever sit alone with a woman in a secret way with any witness with you. If she intends to reveal something private or secret, she can do that to a nanny, a house-keeper, or any other female companion; … She could not be without friends, to choose you as her counselor3! St. Jerome “The possessions of his house will be carried away, dragged off in the day of God’s wrath” (Job 20: 28). His seeds, which are the possessions of his house, would be carried away, as death dwells upon them prematurely, or would have to flee away from their land, and be scattered. The way riches would easily come to the wicked through oppression and deceit, it would also be scattered the same way, when God’s wrath dwells upon him. When the wrath of the divine Judge is proclaimed, the wicked would be delivered to its fire, and would be deprived of beholding Him. As in this life, he did not intend to rise with his mind up to the high things; being dragged down by his sins, he will fall from the face of the divine Judge into the depths of punishment. 1 Letter 67: 3. 2 Commentary on Cor. 2: 26: 57-59. 3 Letters, 52. 20 Now, as it is the day of mildness, and not the day of wrath, the divine Judge sees and endures the sinner in his sins, because He anticipates that everyone would probably repent. But as the hypocrite remains consistent on his evil ways and not chastened with scrooges, he would be cast away in the day of wrath, and would be severed from the face of the eternal Judge. Pope Gregory the Great “This is the portion from God for a wicked man, the heritage appointed to him by God” (Job 20: 29). What the wicked has gathered for him would not be the wealth he has temporarily acquired; but the wrath that would eventually dwell upon him. That would be his permanent portion, and his eternal inheritance in the fire of hell. Although Zophar’s statement here, bore some truth; Yet he was mistaken to assume that all that would necessarily come upon the wicked while still in this world; And to think that any affliction that would dwell on someone in this life, would necessarily refer to his wickedness. Although Zophar presents a sound interpretation for the work of evil in the life of the wicked, Yet he is mistaken for being prejudiced against ‘Job’, doing his best to confirm that he is a hypocrite, and applying what he says on him. Yes indeed, evil is horrible, and sin is very sinful; yet we have no right to condemn and judge others according to our human view. If someone, while here in this life, cares to walk upright, his portion would be the fellowship with the Lord in the kingdom of heaven. But if he chooses to submit to evil lusts, his portion from the Lord would be to be delivered to torture. The righteous would not covet to get a portion from the Lord, now and here; but to gain the Lord Himself as his portion; That is why the prophet prays, saying: “God is my portion forever” (Psalm 73: 26). The wicked, on the other hand, not seeking to have the Lord as his portion, he would have fire instead; And as he is taken away from the face of the Lord, because he does not seek to find joy in him, he would be found not worthy of the Lord. Pope Gregory the Great Those who find pleasure in iniquity would not have a portion together with the eternal1. St. Anthony the Great Let us now see what God commands us to do; He says: “Give glory to the Lord your God, before He causes darkness, and before your feet stumble on the dark mountains, while you are looking for light” (Jeremiah 13: 16). He demands from us to give glory to the Lord in the presence of light; because God’s glory could not be proclaimed when darkness comes. When does darkness come; and when does it not? “Work as long as the light is in you”. The light is actually in you as long as you carry the Lord Christ inside yourself, He who says about Himself: “I am the light of the world”. So, as long as this light is in you, give glory to the Lord. But you should know that darkness may eventually come; and you should not wait for it to come; but give glory to the Lord before it does. We can understand this issue more clearly with help from the words of Christ, saying: “Work as long as it is daylight; Night will come when no one can work”. . 1 الفیلوكالیا: 170 نصًا عن حیاة القداسة، 13 21 By the daylight he means our present time, and by the night and darkness he means the end of the world, and the punishment of the wicked. The prophet Amos says: “Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord! For what good is the day of the Lord to You? It will be darkness and not light!” (Amos 5: 18). If you get to know the extent of grief and anguish at the time of perdition of the world, when most of the human race would be punished for their sins; You would realize how dark it would be, when no one can give glory to the Lord. Even the righteous, God commands, saying: “Go my people; Get into your houses and shut the door behind you; hide yourself, until my wrath comes to an end1”. As what God prepared for those who love Him is beyond imagination; so is what He prepared of torture for the wicked, It is also beyond imagination2. Everyone of us would bring upon himself a punishment for sin; the size of which would differ according to the kind and nature of the transgression… The debt collector is coming to do his job; and I should not oppose him … I know that if I am absolutely not in debt, he would have no authority on me. But If I am, he would send me to jail3. The scholar Origen .10- 1 عظات للعلامة أوریجینوس على سفر إرمیا، ترجمة جاكلین سمیر كوستى، عظة 9 :12 . 2 عظات للعلامة أوریجینوس على سفر إرمیا، ترجمة جاكلین سمیر كوستى، عظة 15 :19 3 Homilies on Luke, 35: 10: 13. 22 AN INSPIRATION FROM THE BOOK OF ‘JOB’ 20 YOUR VOICE PUTS OUT THE FIRE OF MY EVIL My soul moans inside me. Your sweet voice quenches the fire of my evil, and pours the water of Your righteousness inside me. Since the fall of Adam, we were taught that the tree of evil should be pulled out, so that you may plant in us the tree of your righteousness. Let the temple of the devil with its abomination be pulled down, so that You may set in us by your Holy Spirit Your holy temple. Let all what is not Yours in us be cut off and pulled down, so that You plant and set what is yours. Let me become Your holy paradise, and Your holy temple. Pull down, O Lord, every leprous foreign building, Cast away its stones. Because I am Your holy city, Let no unclean stone remain in me; Uproot from my heart all thorns, and plant in me Your paradise; Your beloved vineyard. Let me offer You what is Yours, from the fruits of Your Holy Spirit. So that You may invite Your heavenly friends, and say: “Eat, O friends! Drink, yes, drink deeply! O beloved ones! (Songs 5: 1). Come, O Lord Jesus, Dwell in my depths, Your joyful paradise, and Your holy temple. I know that the devil offers pleasures; Yet, they are full of poison. The joys of the prince of this world will not last. The passions that we thankfully receive from Your hands, are sweeter than all the pleasures of the world. My sins are destroying me! Sometimes, in my vain pride, I do not care what I am doing. And sometimes, I get depressed and overcome by despair. I know that my sins created animosity against Your word and commandment. Yet Your word, in the sweetness of its love, chastens, not to destroy me, but to bring me back to You, to enjoy Your salvation. My evil destroyed every goodness in me; Its abhorrent odor is apparent inside me. As though in a dream I live; All the pleasures given to me by my evil will not last. I wake up to find out that I have gathered wind; and got hold of a shadow. My evil took my peace away from me; because there is no peace for me, but in Your divine bosom. My evil corrupted my soul; more than what the worms will do to my body. Why am I keeping my evil as a precious treasure? Why am I hiding them as though for fear of losing them? When they are the cause of my eternal perdition? When they pour their venom inside me; and provide me with eternal bitterness? My evil became for me a deadly food; Instead of enjoying the heavenly manna -- Your body and Your blood, the Grantors of the eternal life; My evil deprived me of the sweetness of the true life. 23 Let me come back to You, O Forgiver of sins; to enjoy You, for You are the Life. Bring me back, not to the garden of Eden, nor to the promised land, but to the divine bosom. Let me be fulfilled by the sweetness of Your love. Let me rejoice in the union with the heavenly creatures. You are the whole love; You long for the salvation of all; It is my evil that condemns me; Yet You are above all evil. Grant me Your righteousness, to live with You, for You, and by You. Let me encounter You on the clouds, to enjoy the glory You prepared for me since the foundation of the world.
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