Psalm 56 (55):14Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

All his possessions vanished, his legacy was taken, his heirs were lost; all at once, not gradually, all was lost in one stroke. Yet amidst this, Job remained, holding onto his vows of praise for God, his sacred spirit untouched by the thieving evil one, filled with offerings worthy of sacrifice. Hear his words, the weight he bore: 'The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.' Oh, those inner treasures, immune from theft! God Himself has granted what He has received; He enriched it with what He cherished. Your praise is what God seeks from you, your confession is what He desires. Are you willing to offer anything from your own land? He has provided the rain to enable you to do so. Will you draw from your own resources? He has infused your gifts with His presence. What can you offer that is not a gift received from Him? What do you possess that you have not received? Will you give from the heart? He has also bestowed faith, hope, and love upon you; these must be nurtured and yielded in sacrifice. The enemy can take everything else against your will; yet these virtues cannot be taken unless you allow it. A man may seek gold and lose it; he may desire a house and lose it; but faith is something only the neglectful relinquish. 'For You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living.' It is no wonder those who are distant from the righteous find no favor, as they lack the light of the living, which illuminates what pleases God. The light of the living symbolizes the immortality and holiness of former saints. The one who dwells in brightness is desirable in the light of the living. Observing one's external, one may not discern the true nature of the individual; only God knows the heart's essence. Sometimes even the devil moves unnoticed; absent temptation, he cannot be discovered. In this regard, recall the man mentioned earlier: 'Does Job worship God without any ulterior motive?' For it is in the true light, the light that grants the living their freedom to worship God. God discerned a genuine heart in His servant's worship. That heart was found pleasing before the Lord in the light of the living, escaping the devil’s gaze, for he lurked in darkness. God permitted temptation, not to gain knowledge for Himself, as He already knew, but to enable us to learn and emulate and for His ultimate revelation. The tempter was acknowledged; he robbed Job of everything, yet left a man stripped of possessions, family, and children, yet filled with God. The wife remained, though; do you suppose the devil showed mercy in allowing her to stay? He was aware of how he had ensnared Adam. With his body bruised from head to toe, yet unbroken within, he replied to the tempted woman with wisdom drawn from the light of the living: 'You have spoken as one of the foolish women.' That is, devoid of the light of wisdom. For the light of the living signifies wisdom, while the foolishness of the ignorant is true folly. 'You have spoken as one devoid of understanding; you perceive only my external being, not the truth of my heart.' Had she comprehended the true splendor, she would have cherished him more dearly, recognizing where he stood before God, holding the vows through which he might glorify God. How thoroughly the adversary failed to breach his inner sanctuary! How steadfast was Job in that which he possessed, and in the hope of attaining even more, moving from virtue to virtue. Therefore, dear friends, let these truths guide us so that we may love God without restraint, place our hope in Him unwaveringly, and fear neither man nor the devil. The adversary can do nothing without permission, and this is granted only for our benefit. Let us endure the presence of the wicked while striving to embody goodness ourselves, since we too have a past marred by evil. Just as there is nothing God can salvage in those who choose to despair, let us not lose hope in anyone. Let us intercede for all who cause us strife, never abandoning our trust in God. Let Him be our inheritance, our hope, our assurance. He is the Comforter here, the Rewarder there, continuously the Creator of life and sustainer, not just of an existence beyond, but of that very life for which it is said: 'I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life,' so that both here in the light of faith and there in the light of vision, we may be found acceptable before Him."

Didymus remarks that tears are shed for the one who perishes, and that only the deceased mourn for their own soul; thus, following the deliverance of his soul from death, his eyes are liberated from sorrow. Moreover, God has safeguarded his feet from falling by providing them with support that holds him steady, elevating him above earthly troubles. Consequently, one who is freed from such trials is meant to live and walk in the light, bringing joy to God. For it is in God's favor that one finds joy; those who live and dwell in the light have partaken of God, who is both life and light to mankind. Someone else has remarked: The arrival of the Lord has rescued us so that I am freed from death and released from sin, thereby inheriting a place in the land of the living. I will perform good works before the Lord in the light of the living. He expresses the intention to act according to God's will as long as he sees this light shining upon the living, for once death arrives, opportunities to do good cease. Alternatively, the light for the living symbolizes the commandments of God; the commandment, declares the Lord, is radiant and enlightens the eyes (Ps. 18:9); Your law is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path (Ps. 118:105). It can also be understood that I will be found pleasing to God in the eternal light of the everlasting righteous.