Thou perhaps hast made the heavens with him, which are most strong, as if they were of molten brass.
תַּרְקִ֣יעַ עִ֭מּוֹ לִשְׁחָקִ֑ים חֲ֝זָקִ֗ים כִּרְאִ֥י מוּצָֽק׃
3 Church Fathers comment on this verse
He says: "now you are in suffering, but later you will rest." This reflects the wisdom of God, perceiving death as a form of liberation and a boundary to human anguish. It suggests that "even in your trials, you are protected from battle, turmoil, and chaos, and thus He disciplines you."
Did you not, by chance, create the heavens together with Him, as firm as bronze? Job 37:18. The phrase 'the heavens' can be interpreted as referring to those beings that exist in celestial realms, namely the angelic spirits. Thus, we are guided by the voice of Truth to express in our prayers, Thy will be done in heaven as it is on earth, Matt. 6:10, as God’s will is evidently observable in all aspects of existence, both in human frailty and in celestial beings. It is aptly stated that the heavens are as firm as cast bronze. The nature of bronze is such that it resists corrosion.
The angelic beings who remained steadfast in Divine love when the proud ones fell were rewarded with the inability to be tainted by the corrosion of sin, ensuring they dwell in eternal joy and contemplation of their Creator, unchanged from their original state. Moreover, the account of creation presented by Moses indicates that the heavens were created first, followed by the firmament, Gen. 1:17. This signifies that the nature of angels was formed first and is more exalted, later further fortified by the fact that they cannot fall. As we have mentioned previously, 'heaven' can also refer to the minds of the elect, elevated above earthly impurities through an inner love. Although they reside on earth in the flesh, they truthfully claim their citizenship is in heaven, Phil. 3:20. Those who stand steadfast resemble bronze, having maintained the integrity of their original form and avoiding the decay of change. Those who boldly face challenges are those whom He declared, speaking as their Creator, You are my friends who have stood by me in my trials, John 15:14; Luke 22:28. Yet, this learned and proud individual, in his attempt to mock a holy man through a blend of noble expressions and irony, refrains from slipping back from those noble thoughts into mere empty rhetoric. For he reconnects:
Without receiving a response from Job this time, Elihu makes another attempt to assert his perspective on the justice of God as evidenced in the workings of creation. He contends that the Lord neither punishes unrighteously nor overlooks the integrity of the upright. Instead, He allows them to experience trials as a means of purging their transgressions, promising rewards for their repentance. Conversely, those who remain unrepentant and hypocritical will face stern judgment. Thus, Job will find deliverance if he maintains his righteousness; however, if he is wicked, no measure will spare him from divine retribution. To illustrate this undeniable truth—that one cannot escape God’s judgment—it suffices for Job to recognize the magnitude of God’s actions.
The natural world serves as a testament to God’s concern for humanity, reflecting the fair distribution of His blessings and calamities. Elements such as rain and lightning, as well as thunder and storms, are wielded by His hand either as instruments of chastisement or as avenues of mercy. Since humanity is incapable of comprehending the causes of these wondrous occurrences and even less able to replicate them, one must relinquish the desire to contend with God and approach His will with humble awe.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS