THE LAST CHARGE AGAINST ‘JOB’ WHO CAN ADMONISH GOD? It seems that Bildad and his company stood helpless to respond to Job’s claim, that there are wicked men who are successful, and on whom God may sometimes remain longsuffering, up to their last breath on earth; Albeit that does not imply their escape from the fruit of their evil; As, as long as they did not return to God by repentance, they will definitely fall into an eternal judgment. That is why, when it was Bildad’s turn to talk; Being unable to respond to Job’s talk that came in the last chapter, and having nothing new to talk about, he disregarded the main issue, and presented a very concise new charge against ‘Job’, repeating what was said before. By the following reasons, we can justify why Job’s three friends stopped their violent debate: 1- They felt that ‘Job’ has put them in a tight corner by his talk about some wicked who do not suffer any troubles, and who even may become more successful than the righteous. They did not ask him for actual examples to support this claim, as they might already have certain contemporary ones. 2- Counting what they have already said as enough, they might have reached the conclusion that there was no need for useless further repetition. 3- They might have realized that what they said conformed with Job’s views; and that their thoughts were not different from his; Especially when ‘Job’ confirmed the inevitable ultimate eternal perdition of the wicked, even if they happen to have prosperity in this world because of God’s longsuffering on them. St. John Chrysostom believes that Bildad the Shuhite intended to rebuke ‘Job’ because the later sought to be tried before God, on account that he was punished, although he did not do wrong. Claiming that Job’s request was vain and not befitting, Bildad says that all creation should stand in awe and fear before God; No one could be justified before Him, or escape from His hand. Bildad commends God for His mighty care; Who, although He ordains heaven, and sends His messengers as shining light on earth, Yet, the heavenly creatures remain of lower level than God; So how much less, would man be? 1- Dominion and fear belong to God; He makes peace in heaven1 – 3 2- How can man be righteous before God 4 3- The stars are not pure in God’s sight 5 - 6 1- Dominion and fear belong to god; he makes peace in heaven: “Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: ‘Dominion and fear belong to Him’” (Job 25: 1) Although what Bildad uttered, that it would be befitting to belittle ourselves greatly before the awesome and exalted God; and that the difference between Him and us is immensely immeasurable and unutterable; Yet, Bildad, bearing no spirit of love toward ‘Job’, erred in applying this fact to him. God, being the Creator of heaven and earth, the Creator of all, and the Grantor of life; He has the absolute right to set laws, and to ordain the universe; And as expressed by Nebuchadnezzar, blessing the Almighty God, after regaining his reason: “His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to 2 generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’” (Daniel 4: 34-35). Despite the great daring that the men of God had toward Him, Yet, they kept on confessing that He is the great, almighty, awesome, and fearful God: “Let them praise Your great and awesome name He is wholly” (Psalm 99: 3). “And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, ‘O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments’” (Daniel 9: 4). “And I said, ‘I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keeps Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments’” (Nehemiah 1: 5). “Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and awesome God, who keeps covenant and mercy; Do not let all the trouble seem small before You that has come upon us, our kings and our princes, our priests and our prophets, our fathers and on all Your people, from the days of the kings of Assyria until this day’” (Nehemiah 9: 32). In his commentary on Psalm 99, talking about God, sitting on the Cherubim, the awesome God, before whom people tremble, and the earth shakes, St, Augustine sees Him sitting on the human soul as though on His holy throne. The Cherubim are the throne of God, described by the Holy Book as an exalted heavenly throne, although unseen to us, Yet it is recognized by the Word of God as His own throne … God does not sit like man does; But, in case you wish that God sits in you, that would be possible If you are good enough to become His throne … The soul of the righteous is the throne of Wisdom. As God, who exalts over all knowledge, is said to sit over the perfection of knowledge, if you acquire the perfection of knowledge, beside love, you would become the throne of God, … You would also become heaven; … Heaven, we see by our eyes is not so precious in the sight of God; It is the holy souls that are His heaven; … The minds of God’s angels and ministers are His heaven1. St. Augustine “He makes peace in His high places” (Job 25: 2) If in their arrogance and evil, men oppose God; In losing His exalted peace, they are actually opposing themselves. The heavenly creatures, while loving God, they submit to Him, completely obey Him, bear His divine love, follow His example of humility, feel no haughtiness toward one another, and show no envy, adversity, or murmur; It is through the exalted gift of God to them as His beloved, that they enjoy such an exalted peace in the high places of God. The inhabitants of the earth, on the other hand, are in need to obey God; to enjoy His work as the Grantor of peace, according to the words of the Psalmist, saying: “He calms the storm, So that its waves are still” (Psalm 107: 29; 65: 7). Pope Gregory the Great believes that God, being the Maker of all the mortal creation on earth, reigns on them, have authority; and brings terror to their hearts. They lack peace, and on them confusion and disturbance prevail. Whereas, up there in the high places of God; namely in the heavenly world, God unify His elect with the angelic hosts, and all of them live together in peace. 1On Ps. 99. 3 By God we turn from earthly dust and ashes, into heavens, would be counted as “His high places”, He lives in us, and sets His peace in us; according to the words of the apostle: “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of division between us” (Ephesians 2: 14). Being Peace, Christ the Son of God came to gather together those who are His, and to separate them from the wicked1. St. Augustine “Peace I leave with you” (John 14: 27). He says: ‘Why should you worry about the troubles of the world, as long as you are in peace with me? This peace is not of the same kind as that belonging to the world, which is an outer peace, often harmful, and of no benefit to those who acquire it. The peace that I give is of a kind that you share with one another, which makes you stronger’2. St. John Chrysostom “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord”; The king versus the tyrant, came, not as the Almighty One with wisdom, But with what was counted as the ignorance of the cross, by which He saved His own, those who were captivated by the serpent, the one with evil wisdom. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord: The Truth versus the liar; The Savior versus the destroyer; The Prince of peace versus the maker of wars; The Philanthropic versus the hater of mankind. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord: The Lord who comes to have mercy on the creation of His own hands. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord: The Lord who comes to save man, lost in sin, to take sin away from him; to grant light to those in the darkness; to bring to naught the deception of the idols; to replace it with the knowledge of God, the grantor of salvation; to sanctify the world, and to take away the defilements and the anguish associated with the worship of the vain gods3. Father Methodeus God refers the highest places to Himself; as “The heavens are the Lord’s” (Psalm 115: 16); and as Bildad calls them: “His high places” (2). When the people are holy, God refers them and their feasts as “His”; He calls them “My people”, “My Sabbaths”, etc. Whereas when they rebel against God, He calls them: “the people”, “your feasts”, “your Sabbaths”, etc. “Is there any numbers to His armies? Upon whom does His light not rise?” (Job 25: 3) The peace that dwells in “the high places of God”; namely, in his heaven, is not that, because God’s heavenly armies are few in number, harmony prevails on them; As “Is there any numbers to His armies?”. But the secret of their peace in the Lord is because He shines with His light on them all. If the light of the sun covers the whole earth; “Upon whom does (God’s) light not rise?”. Shining with His light on all the heavenly creatures, He also shines it on earth; “He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good” (Matthew 5: 45), that all would seek and become enlightened by the light of His exalted grace, bear His righteousness and peace. Yet, although He hides His light from no one, nor keeps His knowledge from His creation, He does not commit anyone to receive His grace. 1On Ps. 125. 2Homilies on St. John, homily, 75. 3Methodius: Oration on Palms, 6. 4 The Lord Christ calls on us to become the children of God, saying: “That you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good” (Matthew 5: 45). He wishes all to be the children of light, “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4: 6). “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord” (Ephesians 5: 8). He does not say ‘by your own virtue’, but “by the grace of God working in you”; namely, ‘You were once worthy of punishment, but now as you are not any more, Walk as the children of light …in all goodness’1. St. John Chrysostom Those who are born again, were the children of darkness, and then became the children of light; they were darkness, and then became light. Now Jesus refers Himself to them, they come to Him, not by night like ‘Nicodemus’ (John 3: 2), and they search for him, not in the darkness, but seek him in the daylight2. St. Augustine By the Holy Spirit will be realized: Our return to paradise, our ascension to the kingdom of heaven, our return to adoption as children of God, our right to call God ‘Abba Father’, our fellowship in the grace of Christ, being called the children of light, our fellowship in the eternal glory, and in short, our reaching the perfection of blessing3. St. Basil the Great 2- How can man be righteous before god? “How then can man be righteous before God? Or how can he be pure who is born of a woman?” (Job 25: 4) However exalted man’s righteousness and holiness may become, he cannot be compared with God’s righteousness and integrity (Psalm 89: 6); And if he enters into judgment with God, God would be justified, and man would be condemned; according to the words of the Psalmist: “Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, For in Your sight no one living is righteous” (Psalm 143: 2). There could be no error in God’s ordinances; and no one can object or appeal against them. “Can man be justified in comparison to God? And can he be pure who is born of a woman4?” (4). this phrase was previously said by ‘Job’ Any man can be righteous through enlightenment by God, but not in comparison with Him. As the righteousness of man, if compared to that of the Creator, could not counted as righteousness; And even if man holds fast to the condition, according to which he was originally created, no creation could be equal to the Creator. Anyway, this creature became a bearer of heavy burdens; and on him, the sin, that was brought in him by the deception of the Serpent, and toward which the woman proved her weakness, accumulated. Now, being born of a woman submitted to sin, man has got a double portion of the sin through inheritance; and not on account that the human race was originally corrupted, It is well said: “How can he be pure who is born of a woman?” 1Homilies on Ephessiaus, homily 18. 2 Tractate 2: 4. 3On The Spirit, 15: 36. 4 التزمت بالنصوص الواردة في كتابات البابا غریغوریوس كما هي. 5 It is as though he says: If man contemplates in the way he has come to earth, and conceives his present situation, he would never allow himself to boast against his Creator! Yet, you should also take into consideration, that there are those who through the gift of the Holy Spirit against the frailty of their bodies, have got help to edify themselves, and shone in virtues; Yes, shone in great and amazing wonders. Yet, no man can pass through this life without sin, as long as he carries this corrupt body! Pope Gregory the Great Who are they who intend to enter into judgment with God, but those who are ignorant of His righteousness, and wish to set their self-righteousness? “In Your sight, no one living is righteous”. By “In Your sight” here, he refers to the mortal, who lives in the body, expecting death. He, who is born as man, got his life by man, came from Adam, may be justified before himself, but not before you, He may be justified before himself, by pleasing himself, but not by pleasing you. Do not, O Lord, enter into judgment with me, Your servant. However upright I may seem in my own sight; Yet, according to Your measures, my soul shall prove to be twisted1! “You are proved right when You speak, and blameless when You pass judgment” (Psalm 51: 4). You are superior to all humans, to all judges. Whoever thinks of himself as righteous before you is not! You alone judge right; You are above all humans, who are all created by You2. St. Augustine 3- The stars are not pure in god’s sight: “If even the moon does not shine, and the stars are not pure in His sight …” (Job 25: 5) In spite of the beauty of the moon and all the stars, yet they are not actually no more than solid rocks that emit no light, nor have any beauty in the mselves, unless the rays of the sun are reflected on them! So is the church; namely, the moon, and the believers; namely, the stars; they have no beauty except by the reflection of the splendor of the Sun of Righteousness on them, to scatter every trace of darkness. It is said about the true believers and preachers: “Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament; and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever” (Daniel 12: 3). Outside God’s grace, the moon becomes dark and cannot shine; And the stars are counted as not pure; according to the words of the prophet Isaiah: “Then the moon will be disgraced, and the sun ashamed; For the Lord of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem” (Isaiah 24: 23). The scholar Origen3 believes that the moon and the stars here refer to reasonable creatures “whom God has commanded” (Isaiah 45: 12); that are prone to progress as well as to fall. What is meant by the moon but the whole church together; And whom are meant by the stars but the souls of many who live upright in the midst of the evil practices of the wicked; who are prominent by rare virtues, that shine in the darkness of the night; according to the words of the apostle Paul to his disciples: 1On Ps. 143. 2On Ps. 51. 3Origen: de Principiis, 7:2-3. 6 “… among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2: 15); the elect, about whom Paul also says: “One star differs from another star in glory” (1 Corinthians 15: 41). “If even the moon does not shine, and the stars are not pure in His sight” (5). The holy church would not shine with such amazing wonders, on her own, unless rains of grace pour on her. Likewise, the minds of the many who lead an upright life, pure of the defilement of erroneous practices, would not shine, if they are judged out of the divine compassion; as in the sight of the firm Judge, everyone is unclean through his intention toward corruption; unless the grace of God takes him out of that fall, day after day. Pope Gregory the Great Let your ears from now on listen to the glorified voice of the angels, singing with joy because of your salvation, as you enter like the stars of the church, with glittering bodies and twinkling souls, saying: “Blessed is he whose iniquity is forgiven and whose sin is covered” 1. How great is the baptism granted to you, that gives freedom to the captives, forgiveness to transgressions, death to sin, a new birth to the soul, a robe of light, a holy un-loosened seal, a chariot to heaven, joy of paradise, a welcome to the kingdom, and a gift of adoption! But be vigilant; because there is a serpent outside, lying in wait, and watching the passersby. Beware lest it stings you with the stings of nonbelief. As it sees many receiving salvation, it “seeks whom it may devour” (1 Peter 5: 8) 2. St. Cyril of Jerusalem There is no one without sin. (All) “Stars are not pure in his sight”, And all creation will tremble with the coming of the Lord Yet, there is another interpretation, that the word “all” does not refer to ‘everyone’, but to those subject to controversy. It is like if we say: ‘All people cried out’; It would not imply that nobody was silent; but it rather refers to the majority that over-rides the minority3. St. Jerome No one is without sin, whether his life on earth is a single day or several years. If the stars are not pure in the sight of God, how much less are the worms and the corruption that came to those who submitted to the rebellion of Adam4?! St. Augustine Would not He be good, He who turned the earth into heaven, that the glittering stars in His company reflect his glory in heaven as though in a mirror; Namely, the hosts of apostles, martyrs, and priests, who, like glorified stars, shine their light on the world5? St. Ambrose “How much less man, who are a maggot, and a son of man, who is a worm?” (Job 25: 6) 1 مز 1 :32 ، لا ا زلت الكنیسة الیونانیة تستخدم هذه التسبحة بعد العماد. . 2 مقال افتتاحي، 15 3 Epistle to Eph. 1:1:22-23. 4On Forgiveness of Sins، and Baptism، ch. 12 (6). 5Of the Christian Faith, 2 : 2 : 24. 7 In case man goes back to his origin before creation, and separates from God His Creator, he would become dust and ashes, maggots and worms. How amazing it is, that the incarnate divine Word, so humbly say on the tongue of the prophet: “I am a worm, and no man” (Psalm 22: 6). All humans born from a body are nothing but worms! And from such worms, God creates angels! If the Lord Himself says: “I am a worm, and no man” (Psalm 22: 6), who could hesitate to utter what came in ‘Job’: “How much less man, who is a maggot, And a son of man, who is a worm?” (6). He first said: “Man is a maggot”, then he said: “A son of man is a worm”, as worm comes from the maggot. See how He intended to become for your sake, He who “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1: 1) 1?! St. Augustine “How much less man, who is a maggot, And a son of man, who is a worm?” (6). As though he clearly says: ‘If this is the case with those who, amid the darkness of the present life, shine with the splendor of the virtues they acquired; How much less would be those who are bound to life according to the flesh?! If such persons, who actually walk along the heavenly path, cannot free themselves from sin; How much less would be those who are still under the burden of wicked habits, who are forsaken under the pleasures of their bodies, who still bearing the yoke of corruption?! That is why Peter says: “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” (1 Peter 4: 18); And Isaiah says: “On the land of my people will come up thorns and briers, Yes, on all the happy homes in the joyous city” (Isaiah 32: 13) … The ‘joyous city’ is the mind of the wicked who does not care for the punishments to come, for the sake of the pleasure of the flesh; And goes on a false joyful spree! Pope Gregory the Great According to Pope Gregory, the first man is called ‘corruption’; having been corrupted by death that dwelt upon him through sin. Whereas the son of man is called ‘a worm’; as corruption produces worms in the dead body. 1On the Gospel of St. John, tractate 1:13. 8 AN INSPIRATION FROM THE BOOK OF ‘JOB’ 25 SHINE WITH THE LIGHT OF YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS ON ME, O LORD You shine with the light of Your love over the whole creation. By You, the heavenly hosts are enlightened. And without You, heaven seems impure. By You, the heavenly beings live in peace. And without You, there is no peace even in heaven. How can I be righteous before You? As corruption has dwelt in my depths? Who will take away my corruption, but You? Let Your grace work in me, O whole Goodness!
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