Flight from bitter trials and trust in God

I flee from bitter experiences. Regarding touch, I seek what is smooth, soft, and pleasant—not fire, not rough surfaces, not things that sting. Each sense makes its own request in turn, accompanied by a corresponding avoidance: the eye seeks light, the smell seeks sweetness, the ear seeks harmony, and the other senses follow similarly. The heart seeks the thoughts we wish to receive from the Lord, provided we hold nothing foreign to his delight within us. Only then can we reveal our way to him. The God of all observes the pleasing conduct of those who worship him, but turns away from the conduct of those who choose to live improperly. Therefore, he declares: Verse 5. Make known your way to the Lord, place your hope in him, and he will act. Verse. He will cause your righteousness to shine like light and your justice to be as clear as midday. He says: openly walk the way that pleases him, which means living naked and unashamed before God, revealing your conduct; place your hope in him, and he will act. In the coming age, he will clearly establish it, and as it were a public display, he will not allow the beauty of your good life to be taken away. Your righteousness will be evident to all, like light shining forth at noon. 17.124 Moreover, midday is named as the very center of the day. And there he judges you worthy to be light. Since everyone who does base things—for example, the one who commits fornication—hates the light and, to the extent possible, conceals their actions so as not to be exposed, because they wish their fornication to remain unknown, they also conceal the path they have walked. But the one who practices truth, such as the sober person, wishes to make their way evident—not to people, so as not to lose the reward that comes from people, but to God; therefore, through this.

It is stated: Reveal your path before the Lord, meaning, demonstrate your conscientious conduct to Him, and He will restore you from your injuries, and He will purify the impure. Even if He becomes gracious and benevolent, He will exalt you; and because, free from vainglory, you concealed your integrity, He Himself will make it evident, and thus He will manifest, resembling the sun at midday. For then, he declares, the just will radiate like the sun. Verse 7. Yield yourself to the Lord, and beseech Him. Here submission is described as the withdrawal from wicked deeds. For no one who transgresses is subordinate to the Lord. Let it be, he says, that I have already submitted; what then should I do regarding former matters? Beseech Him, saying: Do not recall our ancient transgressions. Hence, it is not required to plead about wrongdoing prior to, or after having submitted to the Lord, that is, having separated oneself from sin. For remaining in transgressions, to seek pardon for sins is entirely futile. Verse 7. Do not begrudge the one who thrives in his course, the individual committing iniquity. Do not emulate, he says, success derived from lawlessness combined; nor incite harm, even if you observe wrongdoing flourishing, you must reflect that this era belongs to those lacking alternative hope. May they flourish therein, and may they hold what is regarded as beneficial. But we direct our gaze toward another epoch of existence; and our hope, succeeding this eternal age, is. It is impossible for blessings to exist in this age and in that; for if someone possesses them here, there he will be heard undergoing punishment. You have obtained your blessings in your life. Nonetheless, it is necessarily appended: In a person committing iniquity. For such individuals, he says, avoiding imitation is essential; and it is advantageous.

They are extremely eager to leave the one who provokes jealousy. For they prosper, either believing they have prosperity in their own affairs, not gaining wealth through votes from above, but by gaining advantage and seizing what belongs to others, sometimes. Therefore, he calls this prosperity, this advancement toward worse things.

Since many who live in righteousness, when they see themselves in toils, and the sinner prospering in all things at the right time, become angry; they abandon righteousness, this being the utmost folly; therefore, the word teaches to be patient, and to receive the fruit of God's righteousness. Verse 8. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. The example is beneficial, and most becoming to those who are subordinated to God. For he says, one must be gentle, and very well established, and possess orderliness toward the mind, loving continually the prosperity that comes from patience, and to depart from the waves of anger. For among the passions, some do not fall upon many, but those who happen to encounter them cast them off while striking. For this foul passion, anger, burns even those who seem to be wise, and disturbs; not some indeed, others not.