Thy wickedness may hurt a man that is like thee: and thy justice may help the son of man.
לְאִישׁ־כָּמ֥וֹךָ רִשְׁעֶ֑ךָ וּלְבֶן־אָ֝דָ֗ם צִדְקָתֶֽךָ׃
4 Church Fathers comment on this verse
In other words, you will not cause Him any harm, nor will your righteousness benefit Him. For when he questioned, "If I have sinned, what can I do Thee?" (Job 7:20), Elihu inquires, "Why did you make that statement?" Does God really regard your wrongdoing as if He Himself were the one wronged or as if He were experiencing suffering?
Your wrongdoing impacts those around you, while your virtuous actions uplift humanity. Job 35:8 points out that one’s transgressions lead to personal damage and moral corruption. Conversely, righteousness serves to guide others away from sinful ways. The influence of good cannot be diminished nor that of evil enhanced by those who remain unscathed and unaltered. Thus, higher authorities remain unaffected by worldly affairs, as they exist in a state of unchangeable freedom. Those engrossed in earthly desires, however, remain unaware of this truth. It is challenging for a mindset drawn into distractions to find its way back to clarity, for the allure of vice ensnares it more pleasingly. Once caught in these traps, what is permissible becomes a source of delight to them.
Lacking any barriers of self-discipline and without the threat of corrective punishment, they find no reason for restraint. When the heart becomes blind, the soul plunges into profound darkness, cut off from higher aspirations; it commits earthly sins more audaciously, especially as it loses hope for everlasting treasures.
The transgressions of the forsaken drive a wedge between the life of the chosen ones, akin to the separation of grains from husks during threshing. The unrighteous, while persecuting the just, inadvertently push them away from worldly attachments; their harshness here expedites the righteous’ journey to eternal glory. This was illustrated among the Israelites when Moses called to them, provoking Pharaoh’s fury. Moses was sent to summon the people just as Pharaoh intensified their burdens, to draw out the minds of the Israelites who clung to Egypt without dignity, urging them to leave, even if through hardship. This is a continual cycle, where the wicked rage against the redeemed, whose rewards in heaven have been heralded. If we resist advancing toward the promised land when beckoned, we may still find ourselves besieged by distressing tribulations. This present life serves as our Egypt, alluringly oppressive, yet it may spur us onward, burdening us with servitude that reveals the path to liberty.
Thus, the righteous endure the afflictions brought on by the wicked, knowing that while they hear of cherished future rewards, they are confronted with the sorrows of present trials. Love beckons while suffering may nudge them toward a smoother exit. Elihu, recounting the shared trials faced by the elect under the weight of the forsaken, continues to unfold their plight.
What does it truly mean to live and act for the Lord? When you perform an act for another person, it holds significance for them. As Job's wise friend observes, “To the son of man is thy righteousness” (Job 35:8). However, in the presence of the infinite God, what does the conduct of a creature—who is always insignificant in His sight—truly signify? Job further questions, “What shall you give Him, or what shall He take out of your hand?” (Job 35:7). What can you offer to Him? You approach God not as one who gives, but rather as one who receives His gifts. You can open your heart to Him by faith, just as a stream welcomes the waters of a spring that flows into it. You can honor the Giver by diligently cherishing what you receive and utilizing it in accordance with His purposes.
You may uplift to God your heartfelt confessions of His perfect nature and blessings, along with sentiments of awe, love, and gratitude, akin to how a flower presents its fragrance to the heavens, inspired by divine influence.
Moreover, since the Inaccessible One, in His boundlessness and supreme holiness, does not always impart His gifts directly to finite beings—but often channels them through some to others—you are called to be like a stream that nourishes its surroundings, providing the life-giving moisture that comes from the Source above. You are to manifest God’s gifts and knowledge about Him in your being and actions, so that in due time, through your words and deeds, you will extend the awareness of God's attributes and the communion of His blessings within your fellowship with others. This will facilitate a fruitful blessing that flows through you to God's other creations. This act of honoring God represents a general call to glorify Him, and specifically for you, O Christians, it is to “declare the virtues of Him who called you into His marvelous light.”
Job's silence provides Elihu the opportunity to reiterate his accusation that Job wrongly believes himself to be blameless. God exists on a plane infinitely above humanity; human injustices do not affect Him and are detrimental only to humanity. However, this should not lead us to conclude that God is unaware of wrongdoing or indifferent to cries for justice, as His judgment against unrighteousness may simply be delayed. Consequently, Job mistakenly claimed otherwise. For further context, refer to chapter 21.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS