Job 12:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In such cases, an individual who may have initially pursued outward recognition, deflecting insults, ultimately turns inward and finds a stronger foundation in God. Here, he discovers that there is no worldly refuge, and his hopes are fortified in his Creator. Amidst mockery and threats, the inner Advocate focuses solely on prayer. In times of anguish, the soul draws closer to God as it turns away from human approval. It immerses itself in prayer, and in facing external pressures, it is transformed into a purer form, penetrating deeper into God's presence. Thus, he rightly states: He who is scorned by his neighbors, as I am, and calls upon God, is answered by Him. For while the wicked hurl insults at the righteous soul, they inadvertently seek Him as the Witness of their deeds. At the moment when the humble soul embraces prayer amidst its trials, it connects with the Most High, severing ties with worldly esteem. Notably, the phrase as I am is significant, as some endure mockery not as the righteous do and fail to find favor in the eyes of God. Their disgrace comes from sin, not from any virtuous actions. Elijah's encounter with the prophets of Baal exemplifies this; he mocked them when they shouted for their god, questioning if he was perhaps preoccupied 1 Kings 18:27, but that ridicule served to highlight the virtue of his ministry. Thus, he boldly affirms that he who is derided by his fellow men, as I am, and appeals to God, receives a response from Him. The scorn of those around him brings him closer to God, safeguarded by a life of innocence from the wicked ways of his neighbors. It is further stated: For he who stands in righteousness is mocked. Job 12:4. The wisdom of this age is to embellish the heart with falsehoods and obscure the truth with clever language, trading what is genuine for deceptive representations. Such knowledge corrupts the youth, leading them to pride, while those unaware of it, feeling suppressed and intimidated, admire those who possess it. This same cunning, disguised as civility, becomes their joy, as long as the mind pursues it. It compels its followers to climb to lofty positions for the fleeting glory of the world, to retaliate against wrongs inflicted upon them, and when in power, it encourages relentless stubbornness. Conversely, when power is absent and wickedness remains elusive, it prompts the appearance of peace and amiability. In contrast, the wisdom of the righteous is characterized by sincerity, a refusal to manipulate or disguise intentions. They cherish the truth as it stands, eschewing falsehood, performing good deeds selflessly, and accepting wrongs graciously without seeking revenge. They bear shame for the triumph of Truth. Yet, this simplicity of the righteous is often ridiculed, as the astute of this world deem the perfection of purity as folly. In their eyes, every act of innocence is viewed as foolishness, and true righteousness appears feeble to carnal wisdom. What could seem a greater folly to the world than to refrain from intellectual displays in speech, avoid deceitful tactics, refrain from avenging wrongs, pray for those who malign us, pursue poverty, forsake our possessions, and submit to those who would harm us? Thus, the esteemed wise man of God declares to the worldly-minded: We will sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the Lord our God. Exodus 8:26. For while it is abhorrent for the Egyptians to consume lamb, what they despise becomes an offering to God from the Israelites. What is scorned by the unrighteous transforms into a virtuous sacrifice in the hands of the righteous, revealing that what the pure offer to a merciful God is thought of as weakness by the children of perdition. This essence of the righteous is aptly captured in the immediate context of their actions.