Job 36:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Thus, the Almighty condemns the arrogance of the wicked while not dismissing their power; it has been proclaimed, God does not spurn the mighty, even though He Himself is the ultimate strength, and it has rightly been stated: He saves not the wicked, but pronounces judgment upon the humble. This suggests that He eliminates the proud through His judgment, yet frees the meek. Indeed, He brings judgment upon the oppressed, for those who currently suffer will eventually judge their oppressors. 50. Humanity is categorized into two groups: the chosen and the rejected, each further divided into two classes. Some face judgment and face destruction, while others escape judgment yet still face demise. Some are condemned yet reign, and others are not condemned yet also reign. The condemned are those to whom the Lord proclaimed, ‘I was hungry, and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger, and you did not take Me in; I was naked, and you did not clothe Me; I was sick and in prison, and you did not visit Me’ Matthew 25:42-43. To them was also said, ‘Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels’ Matt. 25:41. Conversely, there are others not condemned at the final judgment, yet they too will perish. The prophet states, ‘The wicked shall not stand in the judgment’ Psalm 1:5. And the Lord asserts, ‘He who believes not is condemned already’ Jn. 3:18. Further, Paul states, ‘Those who have sinned without the law will perish without the law’ Rom. 2:12. Thus, all nonbelievers will be resurrected, but only to experience torment and judgment. Their fate is predetermined, for they approach their stern Judge bearing the weight of their own disbelief. However, those who profess faith but fail to act in accordance with it will be condemned due to their sins, leading to their destruction. Those who have never even participated in the sacrament of faith do not hear the words of the Judge at the final judgment, for they are already condemned by the darkness of their denial and do not deserve the open condemnation from the One they have scorned. Some, however, hear the words of the Judge because they have adhered to His teachings. Others do not receive the pronouncement of the eternal Judge due to their lack of reverence for Him, even in speech. Some will be judged by the Law and face destruction for having sinned within its bounds, for they exerted no effort to adhere to it. The earthly ruler punishes various transgressions by his citizens and combats an enemy who threatens their borders. In the former instance, he weighs his rights, condemning through merely punitive words. Against the foe, however, he wages war, deploying instruments of destruction and inflicting penalties commensurate with the offense. He does not concern himself with what the law stipulates for that offense. Thus, at the final judgment, judgment befalls one who has acted contrary to the prescribed duties of their position, leading to their ruin without a verdict that arises from the law of faith. 51. Among the elect, some are condemned yet hold authority. These are akin to those who, through their tears, wash away the stains of their past, atoning for their transgressions through their present actions, concealing their wrongful acts from the gaze of their Judge under a veil of merciful deeds. These are the ones to whom the Judge says at His coming, ‘I was hungry, and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger, and you did not take Me in; I was naked, and you did not clothe Me; I was sick and in prison, and you did not visit Me’ Matthew 25:35-36. To them, He earlier declared, ‘Come, ye blessed of My Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world’ Matthew 25:34. Others are not condemned, yet they still reign, as they surpass the commandments of the Law through the fullness of their virtues, being unsatisfied with simply fulfilling the Divine precepts but striving to exceed what the general commandments entail. To these, the Lord assures, ‘You who have left everything and followed Me, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel,’ Matthew 19:28. Of them, the prophet declares, ‘The Lord will enter into judgment with the elders of His people’ Isaiah 3:14. Solomon, referring to the Bridegroom of the Holy Church, alludes to them when he states: ‘Her husband the noble stands at the gate when he sits among the elders of the earth’ Proverbs 31:23. They are not judged at the final Judgment, yet they reign, for they come as judges alongside their Creator. By abandoning all for a greater devotion, they achieve beyond what is required of them. The command given to the rich young man was directed specifically toward the more perfect disciples, not meant as a universal mandate, ‘Go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Come, follow Me’ Matthew 19:21. If this were a universal command, it would imply it is wrong to possess anything in this world. Yet, the general guidance for all in Scripture differs from the special instructions aimed at the more devout. Therefore, it is fitting that those who have accomplished much beyond the general covenant are not subject to the general judgment. Those who are not condemned yet will perish are the unwilling who refuse to be bound by the present law due to their unbelief, while those who are not condemned yet reign are those who, through their piety, exceed the fundamental principles of God’s law. Thus, Paul, significantly surpassing even the particular instructions given to him, performed more through his deeds than he received by permitted covenants. Upon receiving the command that he should live by the gospel he preached, he brought the gospel to his listeners while declining to receive support for it 1 Cor. 9:14-15. Why should he not then reign despite receiving fewer obligations, having grasped the essence of true life? Hence, it is rightly declared, He brings His judgment upon the humble, as the more they are slighted by this world for their profound humility, the more they will be raised to the heights of power and those thrones that are designed for them.

The wonders of nature serve as evidence of God's care for humanity, illustrating His fair distribution of blessings and afflictions among people. The rain and lightning, thunder and storms, are wielded by Him either as instruments of discipline or avenues of grace. Since humanity cannot fathom the reasons behind these extraordinary events nor replicate them, one must relinquish the inclination to challenge God and instead submit in silent awe before His will.