Job 36:22Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Elihu, being both knowledgeable and proud, offers a mixture of sweet fragrance and painful wounds in his teachings. Thus, we should discern the pleasant from the bitter in his instruction, remaining cautious of the injuries inflicted by his arrogance. Previously, he has greatly discussed moral principles, and in his subsequent words, he rises even into the depths of prophecy, ascending from the foundational aspects of morality to the lofty realms of divine revelation.

Furthermore, it is not surprising that a proud individual might be endowed with a prophetic spirit; for example, Saul was found among the prophets, as noted in 1 Samuel 10:11. However, why focus on Saul when even a donkey spoke wisely after being instructed by an angel (Numbers 22:28; 2 Peter 2:16)? Yet, this irrational creature articulated sensible thoughts without understanding the reason behind them. Similarly, an unworthy person may receive divine utterances through prophecy but fail to attain the honor of true holiness, as he does not elevate himself through his words but rather descends into a lower state of being. Thus, Elihu, though lacking humility, gazes upon the humble nature of our Savior and prophesies about Him whom he criticizes with his arrogance, stating, "Behold, God is high in his might, and none is comparable to him among the counsellors" (Job 36:22). It is as though he implies that He who appears lowly in His weakness is nonetheless exalted in His might. The Apostle Paul also affirms this truth, noting that although Christ was crucified in vulnerability, He lives through the power of God (2 Corinthians 13:4) and rightly asserts that there is none like Him among teachers.

Mentors like Moses and Jeremiah existed, along with many others who guided people under the law. Yet, there is no mediator comparable to this one among those who instruct. The others, having been redeemed by grace from sin, returned to innocence and drew others back to righteousness by their preaching. Our Redeemer, however, is sinless, the Son without the need for adoption, and He committed no acts contrary to His own will. He speaks to the world through His humanity while, as the Lord of all creation, He reveals His divine nature. Hence, some perceive the Mediator between God and humanity as akin to the instructors. When He inquired, "Whom do men say that I am, the Son of man?" the disciples replied, "Some say, John the Baptist; others, Elijah; others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets" (Matthew 16:13-14). Yet, He was unmistakably revealed to Peter, who recognized His true power, addressing Him distinctly: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16).

Accordingly, the Bride rightly expresses in the Song of Songs, "By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but found him not" (Song of Solomon 3:1). She later states, "The watchmen that go about the city found me" (Song of Solomon 3:3). She laments that they wounded her and took her covering (Song of Solomon 5:7) and then asks them if they have seen the one she loves, declaring, "When I passed by them a little while, I found him whom my soul loveth" (Song of Solomon 3:4).

The Bride sought her Beloved in the quiet of night, yearning for Him in her spirit's sorrow, in the hidden depths of her heart. Although she cannot find Him during her search, every elect soul has already been kindled by His love. Yet, the presence of the one they earnestly long for remains elusive, heightening their desire, much like water that heightens thirst, making the eventual satisfaction more enjoyable when found. The watchmen encountered her in her quest and caused her suffering with their admonishments, piercing her with divine love; they stripped her of her previous way of life, urging her to shed worldly burdens so that she might soon discover Him. The phrase "When I had passed by them a little while, I found him whom my soul loveth" underlines a profound truth, for the heart yearning to see Him will not find the one who transcends humanity unless it surpasses the teachings of prophets and the exaltations of the ancestors, stepping beyond those whom the soul rightly admires in light of who Christ is.

The one sought will indeed be seen when one comprehends Him as a Man, yet superior to all human measures. He has rightly asserted: "None is comparable to him among the instructors." Though He manifested in weak flesh, rejecting some and calling others, He has revealed extraordinary judgments that we can ponder but never fully comprehend. As He states, "For judgment I came into this world, that they which do not see may see, and they which see may become blind" (John 9:39). Moreover, He proclaimed, "I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes" (Matthew 11:25). By this judgment, the Jews are indeed rejected while the Gentiles are welcomed. These realities are truly astonishing yet beyond our grasp. Thus, Elihu's message resonates well.

Who would dare to question God, asking, "Why, O Lord, have you chosen this path?" St. Dorotheus tells of a day when a ship arrived at the port, bringing captives for sale. Numerous buyers, seeking these individuals, gathered eagerly at the docks. Among them lived a wealthy, virtuous young woman who longed for the moment she could purchase a maid to instruct in virtuous conduct and respectable feminine tasks. She approached the seller with great anticipation and selected one of two young girls, paying the stipulated amount. Just after she departed, however, a disreputable woman from a house of ill repute approached the seller and, for a small fee, acquired the other girl, taking her away to exploit her. Here we see the contrasting fates of these two young women. Who can dissect the depth and intricacy of God's plans in this scenario? Both innocent from childhood, both sold into servitude, both unaware of the lives that awaited them, if only they had received proper guidance—each could have borne the virtuous fruits of a noble upbringing. One was entrusted to a teacher of morality and Christian living, and through her lessons became a devout Christian, emulating the angels; the other, in stark contrast, fell under the influence of deceit and vice, willingly following the wicked example set by her mistress, thus becoming an object of the devil's exploitation, even though her fate could have been more favorable with the right guidance. Oh, the myriad ways of Your will, O God!

Similarly, Gregory the Great found much within his own family. This revered man had three aunts—Emeliana, Tarsina, and Gordiana—who dedicated their lives to Christ as part of the holy sisterhood. Two of them upheld their vows and preserved their virginity honorably until their final days. However, the third, Gordiana, disregarding counsel and defying monastic authority, severed her ties with the holy community and returned to a secular life, lured by her base desires. Your judgments, O God, are indeed unfathomable! "God is mighty; who, then, can instruct Him? Who can show Him His way, or declare, 'You are wrong?'” (Job 36:22-23). The royal prophet wisely expressed his humility before God, proclaiming, "I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You" (Psalm 72:22). In essence, “O God, I do not grasp Your judgments; I am insignificant before You, akin to animals. My calling is to heed Your voice and obey my Lord, not to pry into Your thoughts and purposes.” It is not surprising that David, who tended sheep in his youth and lacked formal education, possessed such modesty in self-awareness, discerning himself through the goodness in his heart and divine inspiration. Even the Seraphim, those highest celestial beings, recognize their own limitations before God. When the Divine Word proclaimed the rejection of the Jews, the Seraphim covered their faces and feet with their wings and flew, signifying that even their intellect cannot ascend to the heights where the marvelous and incomprehensible works of God occur, for no created mind can fathom the divine purposes of the Almighty. It suffices for them to acknowledge the holiness of the Trinitarian God and to proclaim His ineffable perfections, crying out: "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of hosts! The heavens and the earth are full of His glory" (Isaiah 6). God is threefold Holy: Holy in His essence, Holy in His judgments, Holy in His deeds! If the heavenly beings humble themselves and confess the incomprehensibility of the Divine Mysteries, how much more ought we, fragile beings of the earth, who have been granted by His grace "the breath of life and the gift of reason," to confess our inadequacy before God, exclaiming: "The Lord is righteous in all His ways and gracious in all His works" (Psalm 144:17). Blessed Augustine provides comfort through his words: "God can save some apart from their good works, for He is good; He cannot condemn anyone, for He is righteous."

This truth is evident in the understanding that no one can escape God’s judgment; to grasp this, Job need only reflect on the majesty of God’s creations. Every element of the natural world serves as a testament to God’s concern for humanity and the fair distribution of His blessings and calamities. Rain and lightning, thunder and storms are in His command, functioning either as instruments of chastisement or as vehicles of grace. Since humanity is incapable of comprehending the reasons behind these wondrous manifestations, and even less able to replicate them, one must relinquish the desire to challenge God and instead submit to His will with humble reverence.