THEOSISGregory the Great
Verse 19. The archer was unable to send him fleeing Job 41:20 21. When we speak of 'arrows,' what else can they represent but the messages of those who preach? For when delivered through the voices of the faithful, they penetrate the hearts of their listeners. The Holy Church is indeed impacted by these arrows, as expressed in the words, I am wounded with love Song 2:5. In the Psalmist's voice, it is also stated: arrows will leave their wounds Ps 63:8, since the humble's words have struck the minds of the prideful. Concerning these arrows, it is proclaimed, Thy arrows are sharp, Thou art mighty, men shall fall before Thee in their heart Psalm 44:6. The ‘archer’ symbolizes the one who, pursuing divine intentions, guides the hearts of his audience through words of encouragement.
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This Leviathan, however, disregards the proclamations of the preachers and, having injured the minds of those forsaken by evil, prevails against any wise person, even when they unleash a barrage of arrows; thus, it is fittingly said: the archer did not turn him to flight. This insinuates that the arrow of the holy preacher will not dislodge him from the hearts of the forsaken because whoever approaches him swiftly neglects the teachings of the heralds. Therefore, the Lord justly shows His anger towards their past transgressions, as the Prophet declares regarding those who remain under the dominion of the arch-enemy: I will send upon you serpents, basilisks, against whom there is no plotting Jeremiah 8:17. Since this Leviathan cannot be expelled from the hearts of the forsaken by the arrows of sanctified preaching due to his disdain for the faithful, it is also stated, The sling-stones are turned to spittle for him. 22. What might we call a 'sling-stone' if not the holy Church? For as the slingshot is spun, stones are propelled forth to strike the adversaries. Similarly, when the Holy Church endures a series of trials amidst the challenges of time, those strong in spirit emerge intact, while the hearts of the wicked are crushed as if struck by stones. Thus, the Lord speaks to the prophet concerning righteous teachers: and they shall be destroyed and trampled upon with sling stones Zech 9:15. Holy teachers inspire others and through their strength, defeat foes, transforming them through the power of redemption. Therefore, the giant Goliath is vanquished with a sling-stone, as the highest powers of the devil are overcome by a single stone of the Holy Church. However, given that this Leviathan, appearing in this wretched individual, scorns all strong Churches, treating them as if they were frail, and oppresses them with his might, it is rightly stated that the sling-stones are turned to spittle for him. It suggests that he diminishes or softens the might of the saints, whose words had once struck hard against his arrogance. Because he arrogantly believes he has no threat from their spirit, he resorts to exercising all manners of cruelty against them in his flesh. However, it is astonishing that if he disregards strength, he also overlooks the most severe penalties of divine judgment directed toward him. Thus, it is likewise added…