THEOSISGregory the Great
Verse 21. And why do You not remove my transgressions and cleanse me from my iniquity (Job 7:21)? By these words, what else could be signified, if not the absence of the anticipated Mediator, about whom John declares, Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (Jn. 1:29)? Moreover, sin is fully eradicated from humanity when our corruption transforms into the splendor of incorruption. While we reside in this mortal body, we will never be entirely liberated from sin. Thus, we yearn for the grace of the Redeemer, which is the wholeness of the Resurrection, as it seeks that all our iniquities may be completely removed.
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Consequently, after expressing the punishment that arises from his birth and the Judgment he fears due to his actions, he continues, Now I lie in the dust, and if You seek me in the morning, I shall not be found (Job 7:21). The first man was told, For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return (Gen. 3:19). The term ‘morning’ signifies the revealing of souls, which, when intentions are exposed at the coming of the Judge, are illuminated after the darkness of night. The Psalmist similarly remarked, In the morning I will stand before Thee and see (Psalms 5:4). God ‘searches’ humanity through His immediate scrutiny and, upon finding them, judges them with a rigorous judgement. Thus, let the blessed Job, reflecting carefully on the tribulations of mankind’s fallen condition and considering how he is already weighed down by current afflictions, as well as the impending burdens of the future, declare, Now I lie in the dust, and if You seek me in the morning, I shall not be found. It is as if he is openly contrite, expressing, ‘In this life, I am enduring the death of the flesh, and yet, in anticipation of the forthcoming judgement, I fear a more profound death, that which comes from the weight of Your inquiry. I am suffering from the destruction of sin, but I must also face judgement, fearing that my sins will be revealed again after my departure.’ Therefore, contemplating physical death, he proclaims, Now I lie in the dust, and in fearing the spiritual death, he adds, And if You seek me in the morning, I shall not be found. For no matter how much righteousness the elect may possess, they will still not maintain their innocence if scrutinized in the divine court. They perceive this truth now, prior to their exit from life, and thus they recognize in their humility that they can never be self-sufficient. Consequently, they take refuge in humility, shielding themselves from the anguish of such visitation, and as they await the approach of the awe-inspiring Judge, they are filled with continual trepidation, prompting a constant striving for improvement. The passage continues.