Job 7:18Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Thus, the Lord 'visits us at daybreak,’ for He dispels the darkness of our erroneous state with the light of His self-revelation, lifting us through the gift of contemplation and elevating us to the realm of virtue. It must be noted that following God's ‘visit at dawn,’ He tests humanity ‘suddenly’; through His visit, He raises our souls to noble heights, and in His withdrawal, He permits them to face trials. If, after receiving the gifts of virtue, the soul encounters no temptation, she may erroneously claim sole ownership of her achievements. Therefore, in order to simultaneously enjoy a stable state and humbly recognize her own frailty, she is elevated by the grace of divine visitation and, through the removal of that grace, she learns the essence of her true self. This concept is illustrated in the narrative from Scripture, where Solomon, having just received wisdom from above, finds himself immediately challenged by the arguing harlots (see 1 Kings 3:16 ff.). For right after he attained this significant enlightenment, he was tested by the conflict with these women; frequently, when the inner light of grace bestows virtues upon our minds, impure thoughts attempt to disrupt this harmony, causing the soul, elated by the magnitude of the gift, to become acutely aware of its nature when confronted with temptation. Similarly, Elijah, ‘attended at dawn,’ through his words, opened the heavens, yet was also ‘suddenly tested,’ fleeing in despair through the wilderness, driven by fear of a mere woman (1 Kings 19:3). Likewise, the Apostle Paul, who was taken to the third heaven and immersed in the secrets of Paradise, contemplates this experience; however, upon returning to himself, he endures the trials of the flesh, as his members are subject to another law, lamenting his inner conflict, yet recognizing the aid of the law of the Spirit 2 Cor. 12:2 ff. Therefore, as the Lord ‘visits at daybreak,’ so too does He ‘test suddenly’ afterward, for He does grant His creation gifts while also withholding them temporarily, revealing that man exists apart from His assistance, and thus demonstrating man’s inherent state. Indeed, we remain subject to this reality until the stain of sin is entirely eradicated, and we are restored to the essence of the promised incorruptibility. Hence, the further insight added is essential.

The original Hebrew text indicates that Job was tormented by the idea of taking his own life, a thought that filled him with dread. He ultimately requests that God save him from death, which can be interpreted as deliverance from the despair of suicide.