Concerning the rooster, it is noted, ‘There are three things which walk with a good gait, and the fourth is lovely in their walk: the lion, the mighty among beasts, who does not fear man; the rooster, ready for battle, and the ram, who stands strong against any king’ (Proverbs 30:29-31). Here, He is likened to a lion, of whom it is declared, ‘The Lion of the tribe of Judah’ (Revelation 5:5). He is recognized as the mightiest of all, where the ‘weakness’ of God surpasses human strength. He fears no man, for He states, ‘The prince of this world is coming and has nothing in Me’ (John 14:30). The rooster, ready for battle, symbolizes the faithful preachers who proclaim the genuine dawn amidst this night. They prepare themselves, as they are distanced from the loose ways of the flesh. Hence, it was instructed by the Lord, ‘Let your loins be girded’ (Luke 12:35). The ram, symbolically, refers to the highest-ranking priests in the Church, who shepherd the flock, as it is written, ‘Bring unto the Lord the offspring of sheep’ (Psalms 29:1). These priests guide the people by their conduct, as a flock follows its shepherd. When they lead a life of righteousness, they face no opposition from worldly powers; no persecutor can hinder their mission, for they are zealous in their pursuit of Him and prepared to sacrifice for Him. Thus, the lion is first, the rooster second, and lastly the ram. Christ is the foremost, followed by His holy messengers, the Apostles, and finally the spiritual Fathers and church leaders, who act as stewards of the faithful, teaching those who follow them.
To grasp this entire sequence better, we must connect it with the preceding thoughts. The Antichrist, as the fourth component, is referenced in a way that denotes his foolishness despite his elevation, as stated, ‘And he who looked like a fool after he had been exalted on high. For if he had understood, he would have put his hand on his mouth’ (Proverbs 30:32). Though he may seem exalted, he will appear foolish when the true Judge arrives. Had he anticipated this, he would have hidden his pride, realizing as a creation of God’s design that he should not engage in such arrogance. His presumption would lead him to his downfall. It is noted of him that ‘the fourth is slender in speech.’ While three creatures walk harmoniously, the fourth presents itself with forcefulness. Not all who progress with distinction do so gracefully; similarly, not everything appearing slender embodies excellence. The lion, the rooster, and the ram walk lightly but suffer persecution. The fourth, though seeming to prosper excellently, will succeed only briefly, as stated concerning Antiochus in Daniel, ‘And the host was delivered up together with a daily sacrifice for wickedness, and he, casting down the truth upon the earth, worked and succeeded’ (Daniel 8:12). Solomon’s assessment complements Daniel’s: the rooster girded in loins clearly represents the faithful preachers. Through this, the Lord poses the question, ‘Who placed wisdom within man? Or who gave realization to the rooster?’ It is as if He signifies, who installs understanding in human hearts, enabling the enjoyment of heavenly wisdom? Who but I has granted insight even to the holy preachers, empowering them to discern when and to whom they should proclaim the dawn? They possess the knowledge of actions and timing only because I have revealed this understanding to them. Divine wisdom exists within humanity, ensuring the elect receive not only verbal enlightenment but also thoughts that guide their conscience to align with their spoken words, thereby illuminating their lives from within.
This calls for a closer investigation: who has imparted awareness to the rooster? The comprehension of teachers must delve deeper, transcending mere physical engagements to address the unseen. This understanding touches upon the profound realities of the creation, for it parallels the rooster's role in heralding awakening to a teacher’s message. The rooster, awakening at night before heralding dawn, symbolizes the holy preachers who first assess their own lives before they call others to accountability, ensuring they rise through virtuous acts before appealing to others. They first cultivate their thoughts through self-examination, correcting any shortcomings with earnest reflection. When they’re firmly awake, they urge those in slumber to arise as well.
The wisdom of the teacher lies in his ability to awaken himself while simultaneously calling others to rise, dispelling the darkness of sins, and subtly revealing the light of preaching. He approaches each individual appropriately and in due time while presenting the collective outcomes of their actions. Such profound teaching may only be entrusted by the Creator, who asks, ‘Who gave awareness to the rooster?’ suggesting that knowledge does not originate with the preacher but is a gift from the God who crafted the mind, equipping it to grasp the deep mysteries. Thus, not only does He inspire wisdom in the words of the preachers but also authorizes their messages.
THEOSIS