Job 21:14Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Certainly, God continues to extend His grace to the unrighteous, demonstrating that He bears no animosity against them, so that they cannot claim, "God despises us, therefore He will never grant us the opportunity for repentance." While He may discipline the righteous with severity, His love is generously offered to those who sin. The struggles faced by the virtuous in their earthly lives are merely glimpses of the future rewards for the good deeds they have accomplished.

The feeble person observes that the wicked are granted all their wishes in plenty while he suffers in want. He cries out to the Lord, “Leave me alone; I do not wish to understand Your ways! What benefit is there in our service to Him, or what gain is there in seeking Him? All good things dwell with them; He does not perceive the deeds of the unjust.”

Who proclaimed to God, "Depart from us" (Job 21:14)? Even the most foolish individuals hesitate to voice such words; yet all unrighteous individuals express this sentiment to God, not through their speech, but through their actions: "depart from us." They engage in behaviors that the Almighty forbids, effectively distancing their souls from Him. Just as obeying His commandments means inviting Him into their hearts, disregarding those commandments results in keeping Him away from the sanctuary of their inner being. Thus, they declare, "Depart from us," as they resist His overtures and assault Him with their wrongful deeds, despite offering lip service to His praise. Furthermore, they assert, "For we do not want to know Thy ways" (Job 21:14).

I will express with passion and succinctly reflect on what lies ahead for me, as the agony that afflicts my body defies description. Why do the unrighteous thrive and reach an advanced age, enjoying abundant blessings? Their fields yield plentiful harvests, they take joy in their offspring, they prosper and are free of fear, untouched by the chastisements of the Lord. Their livestock flourish without producing stillbirths, and their wives bear healthy children. They live contentedly, like livestock, free from worry.

God is everywhere present, yet can those truly reside in His divine presence who not only disregard the pursuit of closeness to Him but, if possible, would urge Him to abandon them, saying ‘Depart from us; thy ways lead us not’ (Job 21:14)? They will reap what they themselves have chosen. ‘Thou art God, O Lord, who dost not wish to engage in wrongdoing, nor will the wicked approach Thee, nor will those devoid of law stand in Thy sight. Those who turn away from Thee shall perish’ (Ps. 5:5-6; 72:27).

Job ceases to seek solace from his companions; his desire is solely for their silence, allowing him to voice his grievances about his afflictions until the very end (21: 1-6). Despite their futile attempts to illustrate the fate of the wicked, who are punished after brief periods of joy, Job observes that there are far greater instances of the wicked thriving and finding happiness in life (7-13). They dismiss the idea of Divine Providence (14-15); the prospect of sudden demise does not instill fear in them (16-18), nor are they troubled by the tragic destinies of their descendants (19-21). Who, in light of this, can claim to speak for God regarding how happiness and suffering are allocated among humanity (22)? For God, both the unrighteous and the righteous encounter the same end (23-26).