Job 34:24Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This is a daily occurrence in secret, destined to be revealed during final judgment. One by one, with equity and compassion, He is guiding certain hearts toward outward pursuits while directing others inward. He inspires some to seek joy within, forsaking those who find delight in external matters. He elevates some minds toward heavenly aspirations while submerging the pride of others in base desires. However, the hearts of individuals remain hidden from human perception, making it unclear who strays and who is guided where. Often, individuals harbor evil thoughts without acting on them, and a person might already be ensnared by a sinful thought lurking at the edge of his consciousness. Anyone in this predicament, upon drifting away in pursuit of external desires, has already fallen in the judgment of the inner evaluator. Conversely, there are those who, after living in sin, experience sudden tenderness and hope for heaven. These are individuals who have turned away from sinful actions, compelled by their own conscience to return to the embrace of sincere repentance. Observers may remember them based on their previous behavior, unaware of their transformation. The individuals themselves, examining their past conduct, are critical of their former selves, recognizing only who they were while their new identity remains unknown. In both categories, those who outwardly appear righteous may have already fallen in the eyes of the Eternal Judge, whereas those who seem fallen according to human standards may stand firm in His sight. Who could have believed that Judas, after serving as an apostle, would forfeit his place in eternal life? And who could have foreseen that the thief would find his place in life even at the moment of death? The Judge, presiding in secrecy, understood the hearts of these two men; He graciously restored one and justly condemned the other. He punished one with severity, while He transformed the other with mercy. Thus, through His prophet, it is declared that some will fall and others will rise during His sufferings, as He also states, "My drink is mixed with tears" (Psalms 101:10). For while drink is drawn from external sources, tears flow from within. For the Lord, to mix drink with tears, signifies guiding some individuals from outward to inward pursuits while leading others away from internal to external matters. He shall indeed shatter innumerable lives and place others in their position.

As previously noted, this rupture begins internally before it manifests outwardly. In this disruption, the external aspects of some may still seem robust, while their internal components have already decayed. As written, "Pride goes before destruction" (Proverbs 16:18), and they face defeat precisely at the moment they become haughty. That's why it is recorded, "I will break their haughty hearts that turn away from Me" (Ezek. 6:9). To find delight in things externally forbidden is akin to spiritual unfaithfulness. Yet, the pride of the arrogant is an even greater fracture of the heart. When pride swells in someone, even due to genuine virtue, they compromise their state of good health. The proud disdain God and, having rejected the glory of their Creator, seek glory for themselves. Those who have lost the support of their higher calling and rely solely on themselves have already fallen. They are also broken as they abandon heavenly pursuits in favor of earthly desires. What greater fall exists than turning away from the Creator in pursuit of creation and turning from the joy of the Most High in favor of that which is beneath? Thus, the prophet rightly states, "He brings down the proud to the earth" (Psalms 146:6), for when they forsake heavenly matters, all their desires are earthly, and in their attempt to appear greater, they seek something of lesser value. Jeremiah wisely noted, "Those who depart from You shall be written in the dust" (Jer. 17:13), while concerning the elect, it is said, "Rejoice that your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:20). This decline first affects the mind, which later influences outward actions. The foundation of thought is shaken, leading to disturbance in behavior. Therefore, we must exercise great caution to avoid falling at the source. As it is written, "Guard your heart with diligence, for from it flows the springs of life" (Proverbs 4:23). Furthermore, it is reiterated, "Evil thoughts come out of the heart" (Matthew 15:19). We must remain vigilant to prevent the mind from faltering or being exalted. We should oversee our internal actions without succumbing to self-exaltation. If the rot of pride infiltrates the heart, the fragile shell of outward appearance will soon collapse. Yet, we must understand that while it is said some may receive strength to stand firm when others fall, the number of the elect is predetermined and certain. Therefore, it is proclaimed to the Church of Philadelphia, through the angel, "Hold fast to what you have, so that no one may take your crown" (Rev. 3:11).

This warning indicates that while the lives of some will be exalted, others will experience decline; it encompasses both the hope of the humble and the pride of the arrogant, who may lose the qualities they take pride in while acquiring the virtues previously looked down upon. It is essential to tremble at the extreme grace we have received and not despair over what we have yet to obtain. We know only our present state; we cannot foresee what we may become shortly. Those we might scorn could begin late yet exceed our actions with their fervent zeal. Therefore, we must acknowledge that those whom we currently mock may flourish even in our downfall; they may stand strong despite our skepticism. The Apostle Paul instills this awareness of heavenly judgment in his disciples, urging, "Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (1 Corinthians 10:12). It is noted that He crushes, and it is emphasized, "without number," highlighting that the rejected are so numerous they exceed human capacity to count, or that all who perish are not included among the elect, thus becoming innumerable. The prophet recognizes that many within the Church at this time believe solely based on outward appearances, and their number certainly surpasses that of the elect, stating they are "multiplied beyond number." This suggests there are numerous individuals who enter the Church superficially yet remain excluded from the Kingdom because their numbers far exceed those of the elect. Hence, the prophet Jeremiah conveys that "A city shall be built for the glory of the Lord from the tower of Anameel to the coal gate, and it shall extend beyond ordinary measures" (Jer. 31:38-39). Indeed, the Holy Church is recognized as the city of the Lord. The tower of Anameel represents the grace of God, and the two walls converge at the corner, illustrating how the Church, founded upon divine grace, encompasses both Jews and Gentiles. As her membership grows and the ungodly join, it is rightly stated that she will extend beyond ordinary measures, embracing even those who transgress justice, surpassing the numbers counted in Heaven. Thus, Isaiah declares to the same Church, "For thou shalt spread to the right hand and to the left, and thy offspring shall inherit the nations" (Isaiah 54:3). The Church expands greatly among the multitude of Gentile nations while reaching rightward for the righteous and leftward for those who remain entrenched in sin. Of this vast number, which exceeds that of the elect, the Lord speaks in the Gospel: "Many are called, but few are chosen" (Matthew 20:16), acknowledging that as some are broken and others take their place through the merits of suffering, it does not stem from any injustice of the One who dispenses judgment (God is just in His expressions of wrath, as stated in Romans 3:5).