He shall pray to God, and he will be gracious to him: and he shall see his face with joy, and he will render to man his justice.
יֶעְתַּ֤ר אֶל־אֱל֨וֹהַּ ׀ וַיִּרְצֵ֗הוּ וַיַּ֣רְא פָּ֭נָיו בִּתְרוּעָ֑ה וַיָּ֥שֶׁב לֶ֝אֱנ֗וֹשׁ צִדְקָתֽוֹ׃
3 Church Fathers comment on this verse
When individuals possess a clear conscience through God's intervention, their hearts experience a profound transformation. They will see the countenance of God, sensing His goodwill towards them, and subsequently offer Him righteousness with genuine gratitude.
When the first man turned away from God, we lost the delights of Paradise and became ensnared in the hardships of this earthly existence, as revealed in Genesis 3:23-24. Through our suffering, we come to recognize the grave mistake we made by succumbing to the serpent’s persuasion. In this fallen condition, we discover that apart from God, all we encounter is sorrow. Our afflictions arise from the very flesh we chose over God’s command, leading to daily grief, torment, and ultimately death. In a wondrous act of divine providence, our punishment is intricately tied to that which led us to sin. Therefore, humanity is trained through the bitter trials of the flesh, in which pride ultimately leads to death.
Since then, humankind has endured a multitude of sufferings in this life, yet both the guilt and punishment of sin have been annulled by the arrival of our Savior. Thus, it is said of the redeemed individual that his flesh is filled with discipline, urging him to return to the vigor of his youth. This signifies that through the discipline of his death, he is brought back to the fullness of his former state; he is called to be renewed in the purity of his initial life, so he does not remain in his fallen condition, but rather returns redeemed to fulfill his intended purpose. The Scriptures often refer to "youth" as a symbol of renewed life. For instance, concerning the appearance of the Bridegroom, it is said that the young virgins shall love Him, representing the souls of the elect rejuvenated by the grace of Baptism, who resist the patterns of their former lives and embrace the new man that they have become.
He who grieves for the old man, who dwindles amid sin, states, "I have grown old in the midst of all my enemies" (Psalm 6:8), yet there is also encouragement, as someone advises: "Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth" (Ecclesiastes 11:9). This suggests that every strong person should find joy in their renewal, receiving it not from the indulgences of their past, but through the virtues of their new existence. Since we acquire this new life not by our efforts but through the mediation of our Redeemer, let the Messenger pray and advocate for us to restore our youthful days. As our Redeemer intercedes with the Father for us, we cast aside the numbness of our past life and ignite a fervor for prayer, well-suited for the redeemed person: "He shall pray to God, and He shall be gracious to him" (Job 33:26).
It is stated that the Messenger first intercedes, followed by man; were it not for the Lord's initial prayer through His Incarnation, our apathy would never have elevated itself to seek the eternal. The Incarnate plea serves as our awakening from lethargy. After enduring temptations and profound sorrows, the light of truth shines with joyous clarity in our hearts, prompting the penitent individual to plead with God. Thus, it is rightly proclaimed, "Looking upon his exultant face" (Job 33:26).
After outlining the reasons for his prior silence and his intentions for this dialogue, while assuring that he will speak sincerely and without fear, Elius addresses Job, urging him to listen carefully and challenge any inaccuracies he identifies, fully acknowledging human limitations. Drawing from Job's own statements, Elius interprets Job's situation as one of innocent suffering permitted by God. He believes Job is mistaken in his view of God, who, while governing the fate of the universe, is not obliged to answer to anyone. God treats humanity in such a manner that no one has grounds to question the fairness of His judgments. When He observes humanity's tendency to stray, He provides guidance through dreams or afflictions. Yet, He also extends His mercy, rewarding those who genuinely repent and change. Elius challenges Job to respond, but upon receiving no answer, he once more seeks Job's attention.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS