Job 22:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Did you write in order to understand the significance of the phrase: the Living One does not disregard food from above? Listen closely. He who resides in the heights (this term: ναιων, is the origin of: ο νεως θ, or: ο ναος, which means the temple), He who watches over all creation, and nothing escapes His sight. Thus it is stated, Does not the food gaze upon the high Living One? - when it should be clearly expressed that He indeed gazes upon them. This sentiment is articulated more poignantly by the Song-Bearer: He Who dwells on high, and He Who observes the lowly (Ps. 112:5, 6); even more vividly encapsulated by the three young men: blessed are You, Who see in the depths and sit upon the Cherubim (Dan. 3:54), meaning that You, Who are elevated above all, do not overlook our humility, but, governing the unseen powers, with gentle guidance, You set in order even those matters that lie deep below.

Did you not remember that God resides in the highest heavens, far beyond the stars? You might wonder how God perceives our deeds, thinking He judges as if in obscurity. It appears that clouds obscure Him, making Him unable to observe our actions, as if He is only engaged with the celestial sphere. There are numerous individuals whose senses have become so numb that they can only revere what they can see in physical form. Consequently, they do not fear God, as they cannot behold Him. However, those who espouse heretical beliefs, convinced of their own wisdom, speak disparagingly of the faithful, mistakenly believing that a lack of physical sight indicates a lack of fear.

Eliphaz charges Job with significant sinfulness and insanity. He states: "You have engaged in wickedness, as if God were unaware of human affairs, judging from obscurity, as if in darkness, suggesting that in His judgments, He overlooks earthly matters. You have declared, he adds, that by becoming invisible and placing Himself behind a wall of clouds, He limits His presence to the heavenly realm and does not involve Himself in earthly matters through His divine oversight." This perspective echoes that of some ancient philosophers, who asserted that God does not exercise providential care over the world illuminated by the moon.

Eliphaz delivers his final condemnation of Job, attempting to illustrate that because human righteousness holds no value for God, divine punishments should be perceived as expressions of God's impartial justice. He contends that when an individual has the chance to assist a neighbor but chooses not to, this is tantamount to sin. Job, he argues, suffers for such transgressions. The attempt to soothe himself with the notion that God, in His majesty, does not concern Himself with the mundane matters of the earth proves futile; he mirrors the folly of ancient evildoers who similarly underestimated God and met their demise through water and fire. Consequently, Job is urged to approach God with humility and contrition, with the promise that the Lord will restore His favor and bestow upon him joy. These passages subtly reference both the flood and the destruction of Sodom.