Job 34:23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Similarly, as the prophet declares, “There is no judgment in their ways” (Is. 59:8), and David states, “The honour of the king loves judgment” (Ps. 98:4). This indicates that anyone who recognizes God through faith must clearly discern their responsibilities towards Him. Thus, it is also written, “Judgment is before the Lord, and wait for it” (Job 35:14). True judgment before the Lord occurs when an individual meditates on God's presence, scrutinizing their behavior with careful self-examination. The more one inspects their life with diligence and suspicion, the more assuredly one anticipates judgment. For those who come to Him for final judgment are evaluated by Him, not merely in His sight.

The Lord, through the prophet, addresses those who are negligent: “Remind Me that we may be judged; tell Me if there is anything that can justify you” (Isaiah 43:26). Each person should earnestly inquire of themselves, approaching God in prayer regarding their own souls. They must weigh the goodness they receive from Him against the wrongs they return through a life of wickedness. This self-assessment is a persistent practice of the elect. Solomon rightly declares, “The thoughts of the righteous are true” (Proverbs 12:5); they reveal the hidden things to the Judge of all, for they are aware of how severe the eventual consequences may be for those who have endured long. They fear the transgressions they recognize, seeking to cleanse them with tears of repentance. They also harbor trepidation regarding the judgments of God, particularly for those sins which they may not consciously acknowledge. They perceive something through divine insight that escapes their human frailty, seeing the stern Judge who strikes harder the longer He withholds His hand. They also witness the holy patriarchs judging alongside Him, holding themselves accountable for neglecting both their teachings and examples (2 Cor. 6:2). In this internal space of judgment, burdened by the verdict of their conscience, they repent for their prideful actions.

In this inner court, they clearly see every offense standing against them, and they confront it head-on. They are beset by all that should elicit their grief, observing everything that may stir the righteous wrath of the formidable Judge. They experience the consequence of fear, whereby conscience accuses, the mind evaluates, fear constrains, and affliction punishes. This internal judgment exacts a deeper punishment the more intense their discontent with oneself becomes, as it arises not from arbitrary cause. When any of us begins this inner scrutiny, we assume the roles of both prosecutor and defendant. We despise our past selves, and through our current identity, we persecute who we once were. This inner conflict ultimately fosters reconciliation with God. This inner struggle resonates with what the Lord conveyed through the prophet: “I have observed and have listened: no man speaks the truth; there is none that repents of his sin, saying, ‘What have I done?’” (Jer. 8:6). The Lord acknowledges this battle of the heart, as seen in His interaction with the humbled King Ahab: “Have you seen how Ahab humbled himself before Me? Because he humbled himself for My sake, I will not bring trouble in his days” (1 Kings 21:29).

It is within our power to undertake an honest self-examination; let us scrutinize and self-accuse, ensuring our repentance leads to contrition. We should never cease to evaluate ourselves while we still possess the capacity to do so. It is imperative to heed the caution that it is no longer within man's power to come to God for judgment. The hallmark of the wicked is their unrepentant deeds; they operate with an unseeing eye towards their actions and only recognize their faults upon experiencing direct punishment. Conversely, it is the practice of the elect to systematically review their conduct from the initial seedlings of thought, diligently addressing any impurities stemmed from those inner considerations.

Just as we are often unaware of our physical growth—as limbs extend, bodies enlarge, faces change, and hair grays—likewise, we frequently overlook the subtle transformations within our consciousness due to constant complacency. To remain stagnant in this life is to regress into previous states; without engaging the mind, the spirit succumbs to the frailties of age, imperceptibly losing vitality. The prophet articulated this reality when he said, “Strangers devoured his strength, and he knew it not; but even his grey hair sprinkled him, and he himself knew it not” (Hos. 7:9). Yet, when the mind engages with repentance, it undergoes renewal from its past nature, cleansed by tears and ignited by grief; though almost frozen by the chill of neglect, it begins to burn once more with fervent love. Thus, Apostle Paul admonishes his disciples, who are becoming weary from worldly influences: “Be renewed in the spirit of your mind” (Eph. 4:23).

The examples of the saints and the teachings of Scripture significantly aid us in this journey. By reflecting on the lives of the holy ones and adhering to divine commandments, the contemplation of these models and the hearing of these words will invigorate our hearts. Moses was reminded, “The fire on the altar shall always burn, which the priest feeds by throwing wood into it daily in the morning” (Lev. 6:12). This altar exists in our hearts, where the eternal flame of love must perpetually ascend towards God, requiring daily sustenance. Every believer, being a member of the royal priesthood, as Peter states, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood” (1 Pet. 2:9), and John adds, “You have made us kings and priests to our God” (Rev. 1:6), must daily supply this flame with the motivations found in both the lives of the saints and the commandments of the Lord. This infusion of inspiration is akin to adding fuel to the fire; as our new life becomes stale from worldly interactions, the fervor of love must be reignited by drawing encouragement from the examples and testimonies of past believers. It is fitting that this feeding occurs daily in the morning, symbolizing the need to cast aside the distractions of worldly concerns and prioritize the igniting of our spirits in service to God. If not actively maintained, the fire of love within our hearts risks being extinguished.

Moreover, as the scripture emphasizes, “when the burnt-offering is placed upon it, he shall burn the fat of the peace-offering” (Lev. 6:12). Those who instill this flame of love in their hearts become a burnt offering unto God, consuming all sinful remnants that dwell within them. By reflecting upon their innermost thoughts and sacrificing a wrongful way of life, they place themselves upon the altar of their hearts, ignited by divine love. The fragrance of their peace-offering arises sweetly as they nurture a renewed love that reconciles them with God, radiating a pleasing aroma. This fire of love, essential and enduring in the hearts of the elect, represents a perpetual flame never to leave the altar (Lev. 6:13). Indeed, this fire shall not be extinguished, as the light of love intensifies in the hearts of the faithful, extending even beyond this life. The more God is seen, the greater the depth of love experienced in eternal contemplation.

Furthermore, our deliverance from the abyss of this life is compellingly illustrated through the story of the prophet Jeremiah, who was rescued from a pit (Jer. 38:11). The ropes and old rags lowered to pull him out serve as metaphors for the commandments of the Lord that bind us and enable us to rise above our sinful entanglements. While these commandments ground us, the ancient examples fortify us when we are not awakened by divine directives. In recognizing the exemplary faith of those who have gone before, we must acknowledge our own willingness to embrace such a path, rather than shirking our responsibility due to weakness. To rise from the depths, we must firmly grasp the cords of God's commandments while also leaning on the venerable examples of the saints.

The Apostle Paul pointed to these examples when he shared the experiences of earlier believers, who faced hardships and persecution in their faith, saying, “Others have experienced scoldings and beatings, and bonds and imprisonment, have been stoned, sawn asunder, tortured, died by the sword, wandered about in mercies and goatskins, suffering disadvantages, afflictions, bitterness” (Heb. 11:36-37). He continues, “Therefore we also, having such a cloud of witnesses around us, let us cast off every weight and sin that besets us, and let us walk with patience in the path that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1), and “Remember your instructors who preached the word of God to you, and looking at the end of their lives, imitate their faith” (Heb. 13:7). In essence, he begins with ropes representing spiritual guidance before invoking old rags that bring attention to the valued examples of his forebears.

Awakened by the chorus of these teachings and having reflected upon numerous examples, we are urged to return to our hearts, scrutinizing all our actions. We must hold ourselves accountable for everything that offends against the divine will, as only a profound self-accusation can render us justified before our righteous Judge. In our conscience’s court, the more guilty we find ourselves, the greater our justification. It is critical that we seize the opportunities afforded to us in this life for self-examination, for beyond this existence, there will no longer be time for such reflection. If the ability to come before God for judgment were not a reality, we wouldn't proclaim that it is no longer within man's power.

We must remember the limitations of what we cannot do, so as not to activate neglect of what we can. However, the worries of daily life often occupy our minds, diverting our focus away from introspective consideration. These visible distractions can cause the heart to forget the inner workings of the soul. Yet, the divine voice prods us sharply, akin to needles, urging vigilance in light of the impending secret judgment. Those who find themselves mired in complacency toward these external distractions may succumb to a dreamlike state, energy dissipating as they seek mere visibility while neglecting profound internal truths. Hence, the mind, dulled by focus on worldly matters, must be awakened by invisible judgment, leading it to pursue what it has previously forsaken.

In this manner, scripture addresses our sleepy hearts, urging us to detach from harmful externalities that lead to our spiritual ruin. It teaches us to direct the gaze of our hearts away from the transient and superficial to the hidden reality of divine judgment. The scripture conveys this essential truth regarding those who, in being wicked, ultimately fail to maintain what they presumed to possess. And thus it speaks: