Priest Daniel Sysoev - Job 13

1“Indeed, my eyes have seen all this;

my ears have heard and understood.

2What you know, I also know;

I am not inferior to you.

3Yet I desire to speak to the Almighty

and argue my case before God.

4You, however, smear with lies;

you are all worthless physicians.

Actually, I see where this impunity comes from. This is a manifestation of the disintegration of the state. Who is the source of the fact that the state collapsed? God destroys, Job says bluntly. God does whatever he wants, hangs out the people as he pleases. When order is destroyed in the state, then the splash of lawlessness, we see with our own eyes. In Soviet times, there was less banditry than other times, now there is less banditry than under Yeltsin. Why? Because some order that exists in the state is established by God, but He also destroys order. And why? Doesn't know, God will give the answer later. The answer that God will give will be that there is a certain agent who interferes in this world, and he can distort the order, and make him destroy people. That is why the Lord destroys the state, when a clever judge, clever king, brave commander, brave sage, they create a certain order and this order serves freely, then what would happen if God did not destroy this order? The kingdom would not die, it would be perfectly decent. God speaks of a third force that perverts what was originally. Then he says: I want to see the Creator who controls everything, I want to compete with Him. My question is about the nature of God, and you are trying to confuse me in this sense. 

5If only you would remain silent;

for that would be your wisdom!

As King Solomon says, if a foolish person knows how to bridle the mouth, then this means wisdom. And in another place it is said that if a fool is silent, then he will be considered smart. This is indeed the case. But, fool, and for the fact that he cannot stop in any way, he carries him all the time. This is exactly what happens here. Then Job says:

6Hear now my argument,

and listen to the plea of my lips.

7Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf

or speak deceitfully for Him?

8Would you show Him partiality

or argue in His defense?

9Would it be well when He examined you?

Could you deceive Him like a man?

10Surely He would rebuke you

if you secretly showed partiality.

Job says that you at least understand, listen to what He says, and answer the question. They do not answer His question. Answer: Shut up! How can you lie before God? Many people say: "You can!" But Job says to all these people no. Then "for God's sake can you lie?" some say that let’s lie for the sake of missionary goals, this is often the case. To make it easier for people, let's pretend, let's bring people to church to something, let's close our eyes. I believe that such missionary work is criminal and is a sin against God. Every attempt by God to close the great evil. Job says that it is impossible for God to be respectful to God. What does it mean? You cannot try to overshadow God with your reflections. There are people who take and invent in their own likeness, and then let's substitute this real God under our idea and adjust. This is what is pleasing to God. The person starts under the real world. Customize your facts to fit your idea. Job warns those who do such things and says:

9Would it be well when He examined you?

Could you deceive Him like a man?

If a person lies for God's sake, then He will test him and it will be impossible to fulfill it. And all the lies that a person lied against him and will become.

10Surely He would rebuke you

if you secretly showed partiality.

11Would His majesty not terrify you?

Would the dread of Him not fall upon you?

If the world is as it is, then why invent something else ?! In this, Job and Christianity are right - they describe the world absolutely uncompromisingly. I have heard many people who refuse to read the Holy Scripture, they say: it is not modest, not polite, not cultured, immoral, often they hide things on the righteous.

12Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;

your defenses are defenses of clay.

13Be silent, and I will speak.

Then let come to me what may.

14Why do I put myself at riska

and take my life in my own hands?

15Though He slay me, I will hope in Him.b

I will still defend my ways to His face.

16Moreover, this will be my salvation,

for no godless man can appear before Him.

Can you imagine a sinner going to plead with God? With a man - please, but with God how? It's better not to sue God. Job says: and I will speak, whatever befalls me. That is, your grace is more important than life. The grace of knowing God is more important than even life. When you have to choose between knowing God and the grace of God and life. Then you need to choose God. Job says just that. And put my soul in my hand? What does it mean? You need to rely on your soul, so that the mind builds life on its own foundations. When people say that I am my own master, do not be stupid. I spoke with an atheist, and she says that atheism liberates a person, gives him the opportunity to build his own life. What does liberate mean? Limits, to the limit of a stupid person, a stupid person begins to bury himself in himself. Now, He is killing me, but I will hope. Although God is killing me - I will still rely on Him! Such an interesting paradox. Man hopes through complete hopelessness. Why did the Lord enter the cross? By the will of the Father. Job walked, hoping in God, leprosy is practically a living death. I would only wish to defend my ways before Him! What does my way mean? Remain righteous before His face, before His eyes. How is Job's position different from that of the proud? The proud man says: "I know that I am right, because I decided so!" Yes? And Job says: “I know that I am correct and I want God to acknowledge this! My point of view is not important to me, but His ”. See, very similar, but not like that. Interestingly, subtly, but not so. The greatest virtues stand side by side, and this is understandable why. If you remember the conversation in paradise, what did the serpent promise Eve? You will not die, but when you open your eyes, you will know what good and evil are. Have their eyes opened? Opened up. Have become like the Gods? Become. Job is not a boor whom God has offended, made a scandal, Job seeks a meeting with God, he is very interested in God. 

16Moreover, this will be my salvation,

for no godless man can appear before Him.

17Listen carefully to my words;

let my declaration ring in your ears.

18Behold, now that I have prepared my case,

I know that I will be vindicated.

19Can anyone indict me?

If so, I will be silent and die.

20Only grant these two things to me,

so that I need not hide from You:

21Withdraw Your hand from me,

and do not let Your terror frighten me.

22Then call me, and I will answer,

or let me speak, and You can reply.

See what he wants? Wants to meet God. What is? Man wants to know Him. The main thing is to restore justice. Only two things do not do to me, and then I will not hide from Thy face: 21 Remove Thy hand from me, and Thy horror do not shake me.

You do not hurt me, and let the horror not overwhelm me.

22Then call me, and I will answer,

or let me speak, and You can reply.

God accepted his condition, what do you think? Accepted. Direct communication with God is more important than technical formalities. Job says: "I want to talk to you, or I ask you, and you answer." God takes the first position - I will answer. As a matter of fact, God directly answered this proposal.

23How many are my iniquities and sins?

Reveal to me my transgression and sin.

24Why do You hide Your face

and consider me as Your enemy?

25Would You frighten a windblown leaf?

Would You chase after dry chaff?

26For You record bitter accusations against me

and bequeath to me the iniquities of my youth.

27You put my feet in the stocks

and stand watch over all my paths;

You set a limit

for the soles of my feet.

28So man wastes away like something rotten,

like a moth-eaten garment.

 Job does not consider himself a powerful, important person. I know that I am nothing. However, he does not believe that his insignificance is not a reason to communicate with God. What is really important is the thing that needs to be learned from the book of Job. However small a person may be, it does not follow that he should not meet with God.