Job 22:17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Verse 17. Who declared to God, Depart from us, Job 22:17. 16. This is a statement made by the revered Job, and who can question its truth? To avoid unnecessary repetition for the reader, we shall not elaborate further on what has already been discussed in relation to his previous words, Job 21:14. It then follows that the Almighty will not act on behalf of those who hold such views about Him, Job 22:17. In this segment, the phrasing may be altered, yet the essence of the message remains intact. For Job inquires, Who is the Almighty that we should serve Him? Job 21:15, and Eliphaz paraphrases this by stating that the Almighty will not do anything for those who harbor such thoughts about Him. The discourse then continues:

Eliphaz delivers his final condemnation of Job, attempting to demonstrate that, since human virtue holds no value in the sight of God, divine punishments should be regarded as manifestations of God's impartial judgment. He argues that it is sinful for a person to have the opportunity to aid a neighbor yet fail to act. Job faces punishment for such deficiencies. In vain does Job seek solace in the notion that God, in His omnipotence, does not concern Himself with the trivial matters of earthly existence; in doing so, he follows the folly of the wicked from times past, who similarly misjudged God's nature and met with sudden demise through water and fire. Therefore, Job is urged to approach God with humility and contrition, leading to the restoration of divine favor and the granting of joy. This passage evokes images reminiscent of the flood and the destruction of Sodom.