THEOSISGregory the Great
I reached out to my servant, yet he did not respond (Job 19:16). For who were the people of Israel if not a ‘servant,’ always obeying the Lord not out of a son's love, but from the fear that a servant has? This is echoed by Paul, who tells us, “Because ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father” (Rom 8:15). The Lord ‘called’ this ‘servant’ through His gifts and the voices of the ancient prophets, seeking to draw him near; however, the people did not respond, as their actions did not align with His gifts. God summons us through His gracious offerings, and we respond to His call when we serve Him faithfully according to the blessings we have received.
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Given that He called this people with such generosity, it is fitting to say, “I called my servant”; yet, because they disregarded Him despite His countless advantages, it follows that “he did not answer.” The passage continues, “I pleaded with him with my own mouth” (Job 19:16). This implies that prior to my Incarnation, I issued numerous commandments to this people through the prophets—commands that have now been fulfilled—and upon coming to them Incarnate, I earnestly pleaded with them through my own words. Thus, Matthew, when recounting the covenant given on the Mount, notes, “and He opened His mouth, and taught” (Matt 5:2), effectively stating, “He opened His own mouth, the same one that beforehand had given voice to the prophets.” It was also expressed with a yearning for His presence, “Let Him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth” (Song 1:1), for as the holy Church learned all the commandments through His teaching, it was as though she received ‘the kisses of His mouth.’ It is indeed rightly said, “I begged,” for by coming in the flesh, while imparting the commandments of life with humility, He, in a sense, implored His prideful servant to come to Him; and then He continued with the following: