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Lent with the Book of Job (Ch 37)

March 30, 2023

Fr. John Colacino C.PP.S.

Chapter 37 (Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent)

‘At this also my heart trembles,
   and leaps out of its place.
Listen, listen to the thunder of his voice
   and the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
Under the whole heaven he lets it loose,
   and his lightning to the corners of the earth.
After it his voice roars;
   he thunders with his majestic voice
   and he does not restrain the lightnings when his voice is heard.
God thunders wondrously with his voice;
   he does great things that we cannot comprehend.
For to the snow he says, “Fall on the earth”;
   and the shower of rain, his heavy shower of rain,
serves as a sign on everyone’s hand,
   so that all whom he has made may know it.
Then the animals go into their lairs
   and remain in their dens.
From its chamber comes the whirlwind,
   and cold from the scattering winds.
By the breath of God ice is given,
   and the broad waters are frozen fast.
He loads the thick cloud with moisture;
   the clouds scatter his lightning.
They turn round and round by his guidance,
   to accomplish all that he commands them
   on the face of the habitable world.
Whether for correction, or for his land,
   or for love, he causes it to happen.

‘Hear this, O Job;
   stop and consider the wondrous works of God.
Do you know how God lays his command upon them,
   and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?
Do you know the balancings of the clouds,
   the wondrous works of the one whose knowledge is perfect,
you whose garments are hot
   when the earth is still because of the south wind?
Can you, like him, spread out the skies,
   unyielding as a cast mirror?
Teach us what we shall say to him;
   we cannot draw up our case because of darkness.
Should he be told that I want to speak?
   Did anyone ever wish to be swallowed up?
Now, no one can look on the light
   when it is bright in the skies,
   when the wind has passed and cleared them.
Out of the north comes golden splendour;
   around God is awesome majesty.
The Almighty—we cannot find him;
   he is great in power and justice,
   and abundant righteousness he will not violate.
Therefore mortals fear him;
   he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.’

Commentary

The term management, when applied to God, has not the same meaning which it has when applied to us; and when we say that He rules His creatures we do not mean that He does the same as we do when we rule over other beings. The term "rule" has not the same definition in both cases: it signifies two different notions, which have nothing in common but the name. In the same manner, as there is a difference between works of nature and productions of human handicraft, so there is a difference between God's rule, providence, and intention in reference to all natural forces, and our rule, providence, and intention in reference to things which are the objects of our rule, providence, and intention. This lesson is the principal object of the whole Book of Job; it lays down this principle of faith, and recommends us to derive a proof from nature, that we should not fall into the error of imagining His knowledge to be similar to ours, or His intention, providence, and rule similar to ours. When we know this we shall find everything that may befall us easy to bear; mishap will create no doubts in our hearts concerning God, whether He knows our affairs or not, whether He provides for us or abandons us. On the contrary, our fate will increase our love of God; as is said in the end of this prophecy: "Therefore I abhor myself and repent concerning the dust and ashes"; and as our Sages say: "The pious do everything out of love, and rejoice in their own afflictions." If you pay to my words the attention which this treatise demands, and examine all that is said in the Book of Job, all will be clear to you, and you will find that I have grasped and taken hold of the whole subject; nothing has been left unnoticed, except such portions as are only introduced because of the context and the whole plan of the allegory. I have explained this method several times in the course of this treatise. (Moses Maimonides; Guide of the Perplexed)

Musical Selection (Walter C. Smith)

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might;
thy justice like mountains high soaring above
thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.

To all life thou givest, to both great and small;
in all life thou livest, the true life of all;
we blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
and wither and perish but naught changeth thee.

Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;
all praise we would render, O help us to see
'tis only the splendor of light hideth thee.

Collect

Do not withhold your presence, Lord our God,
from those who call upon you,
but look with tender care
on all who hope in your mercy.
Cleanse them from the stain of sin,
that they may persevere in holiness of life
and receive the inheritance you have promised.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever. Amen.

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