The Purpose of Divine Discipline

He uses 'subsistence, the demonstration of things unseen' instead of 'proof.' For no deceit will enter against Him. Desiring to present its truthfulness and its reverence, he says: 'What I say, I speak as one seeing God. For it is not possible for any deception to occur to God, as to let deceit enter before Him.' This, however, could be understood in two ways according to the similar parallel, which is thus essentially evangelical: 'And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it' (John 1:5). For that which is overshadowing is released by the presence of the light, or whatever approaches as a deception near the light is turned away; when the deception is released, it does not grasp at all. For all those who deceive and scheme are ignorant in their zeal; for the beauty of the truth they shall not grasp. Thus, deceit does not approach the spring of truth because those using it do not dare to bring it to itself. And in another way, there is no deceit in God; for it is not His nature to be in Him. 'For God is faithful, and there is no injustice in Him' (1 Cor 4:3). And again: 'If we are faithless, He remains faithful' (2 Tim 2:13). For He is unshakeable and unchangeable.

Hear, hear my words; for I announce them to you as you are listening. The word repeats, so that He might call them firmly to listen. For it is possible for the hearing to be struck by the voice without having heard, because of not paying attention with the mind. Therefore, the Savior, awakening those listening so that they might listen truly, said: 'He who has ears to hear, let him hear' (Matt 13:9). And again, to others not paying attention, He says: 'Neither His voice have you heard, nor His appearance have you seen' (John 12:38), and interpreting how it proceeds: 'Nor do you have His word remaining in you,' which happened if they were listening truly. Thus also the blessed Job, desiring to prepare their hearing, said the 'Hear'; for as He says, 'since you have been prepared, I am pleased to speak,' desiring them to become wise listeners: 'an ear...'

But the desire of a wise man is to listen. 'Behold, I am near to my judgment' (Job 42:6). This is the beginning of instruction for them, and now it is being cast down as a discipline, because he has been judged to suffer not because of sin, but because of a struggle, so as to know the time according to which the judgment will end. I know that I shall be revealed as righteous.

For who is the one to be judged by me, saying, 'That I will now deafen and exclude him'? He does not say this out of arrogance, but to discipline them so that they may not have any impression concerning him other than the truth. For when someone speaks well of himself without intending to do this, when another is determined concerning him to do otherwise. For if someone has a certain service at hand to fulfill for those in need, and if he slanders it as if it were being struck away, we would not blame in a defense one saying, 'I am providing all our things to those in need,' if he had not said this previously.

In this way, do not blame Job for self-love, but because of the stated reason he says these things and says them with pure boldness: 'Who is he that will be judged by me so that I may deafen,' instead of 'I will be silent' (Job 7:25), 'and exclude,' instead of 'I will cease speaking.' It will be necessary for me to die: 'Then from your face I will hide; withhold your hand from me, and let your fear not terrify me' (Job 13:24).

The ambiguity of the things foretold would be smoothed out by him saying, 'If as the friends say, it will be necessary for me to do this, showing it as trivial, "from your face I will hide"; but if as I say, "withhold your hand from me and let your fear not terrify me".' 'For every one who sins, working unworthily, is hidden from the face of God,' just as Adam was hidden from the face of God. Contrary to this is being hidden by God according to what is said: 'You will hide them in the secrecy of your face from the disturbance of men' (Psalm 32:3). This too covers the earnest one with God's protection, so that he may not fall by human disturbances. But the secrecy of the face...