Priest Daniel Sysoev - Job 6

There were many miracles. For example, in Greece, the public holiday is the Annunciation of the Holy Mother of God. Why? Because they believe, and their point of view is based on facts, that the Greek state itself, new, after liberation from the Turkish yoke, it is possible for the reason that the Mother of God protected. They have a big holiday on October 28th. Intercession, which is celebrated by Russians, they have a similar holiday. October 28 in honor of the deliverance that the Mother of God gave to the Greeks during World War II. Therefore, tomorrow is the day of our joy as a sign that the Mother of God does not forget those who were adopted by her, to whom she became a mother, she does not forget us and continues to appear among people with her might. For Christians, it is known that humility, meekness is not weakness, but, on the contrary, ultimate power, strength. What is the paradox connected with? Why do people here think that humility is the opposite of strength? It is connected with the fact that people do not know the truth of humility and the truth of meekness. There are some intellectual constructs with which the Gospels are trying to die out. One author accuses the church of blessing the state there - to execute criminals. And there are a great many similar accusations against the church. What is the general technology? Some idea is taken - not based on anything, on my ideas, and on the basis of this idea real historical life begins. It turns out that a person proclaims himself solemnly as the measure of all things. Christians know that our point of view is correct, it is ours, just it is not ours. It is not the point of view of our ancestors, this is not the point of view of other peoples, not the point of view of sages, but this is the point of view of the Creator. From the point of view of Christians, in fact, the criterion is as follows: what coincides with the opinion of the Creator is the truth, and what does not is a lie. This is why Christians are often accused of inconsistency. “How dare you, being meek, wage a brilliant war?” How dare you? I dare. I am meek, I am a good soldier. I do not struggle in convulsions, in hatred, cruelty that are not meek people. The fascist was put on anger, and what did it lead to? This led to the convulsions of the terrible camps (Auschwitz) and the German state itself. Remember what song was sung at the beginning of the war? And what did this creaking rage lead to? Let's take a look at the chronology. We began to perform it at the beginning of July 2, and now look what happened to the troops? 1941, summer-autumn, there was nothing left. Rage cannot do anything. It is interesting that war veterans, they remember the death, and when you sit with them, talk, they drink a little and start singing songs about a peaceful life, etc. That is, we won the war with the feeling. That it is necessary to win peace of mind.

In fact, this is a subtle thing that really works. I’m talking about the fact that a bit of anger leads to anger. A subtle thing, anger and a real struggle for justice, they are different things, although they are similar. Anger gives a certain splash of strength. What is the difference? A splash of strength - burns out, and meekness - gives strength to go further. The front-line soldiers realized that rage alone was not capable of giving victory. She is able to give feelings and truth, and regardless of the person. We can now say that the truth was valid. Because the regime that was in the Third Reich, it was unjust and wrong - it offered to serve the enemy, offered to exterminate people on racial grounds. An obvious lie that contradicts the truth of God. And so the front-line soldiers went and resisted, if you pay attention to psychology, they opposed themselves as a normal life, as some kind of evil force that stands behind their enemies. They were right. It is for this reason that they won in my opinion. You can win based on the truth. Important words, the key to how gentleness is comparable to courage. She is the source of courage. We were distracted aside, although not entirely.

 Because we are now going to talk about the book of Job. The book itself is built on an interesting idea. Job's friends who accuse him of not being true, they say that God is right, because he is the universe, He knows everything, etc. Job says the opposite, he knows that justice has been violated, and wants God to explain why? Where is the solution?

This distinction between power and truth is at the heart of Job's conversation with God and with his friends. As we remember, at the first indignation of Job, Eliphaz, the point was that you yourself must support yourself, as Christ was told in due time. What's the idea? That righteousness is measured by quantity. Many people believe that this is true, which means that it is true. We will see further that Job replies to this that “I am looking for a protector, not a man, but an angel. May God himself vouch for me. " This is the right way out. Why? The true measure of good and evil in the universe is God. Then Eliphaz advises him to turn to God, who lifts up the humble and if you turn to him, He will save you. Eliphaz suggested: you must confess your guilt, God is strong. Not once, Job's friends do not turn to God for "you". They don't turn to God at all.

         1Then Job replied:

2“If only my grief could be weighed

and placed with my calamity on the scales.

3For then it would outweigh the sand of the seas—

no wonder my words have been rash.

4For the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me;

my spirit drinks in their poison;

the terrors of God are arrayed against me.

5Does a wild donkey bray over fresh grass,

or an ox low over its fodder?

6Is tasteless food eaten without salt,

or is there flavor in the white of an egga?

7My soul refuses to touch them;

they are loathsome food to me.

8If only my request were granted

and God would fulfill my hope:

9that God would be willing to crush me,

to unleash His hand and cut me off!

10It still brings me comfort,

and joy through unrelenting pain,

that I have not denied

the words of the Holy One.

11What strength do I have, that I should still hope?

What is my future, that I should be patient?

12Is my strength like that of stone,

or my flesh made of bronze?

13Is there any help within me

now that success is driven from me?

He is offered that you must humble yourself and thank God for everything. You have to say that God is always right, even if you don't understand what the matter is. I must not climb, not seek and not talk to Him. Sit in your place and be content. And he says to him: “It's easy for you to say so. If my sufferings were weighed", and therefore the words (as in the Slavic translation):" therefore my words seem to seem evil. "  Does the wild donkey roar on the grass? Does the bull bellow at his mess? You pretend that I scream for no reason. This is stupidity. Even donkeys and bulls don't do that. My life has become as disgusting as tasteless without salt. O, if God had been pleased to crush me, He stretched out His hand and struck me! I have to feed on what I cannot bear. In the Slavic translation:  Can bread be dreamed of without salt? or is there a taste in careful words?  My soul cannot be quieted: the stench for my brush behold, as the stink of lions.

There is a spiritual stench behind these words. And what is such a lion stench? The roaring one who wanted to devour him. These words have a spiritual smell. There is a dirty, smelly word, but there is, on the contrary, a fragrant word. Here are your words, they are outwardly correct, but inside they are smelly, such a devilish scent. The point is, what you are trying to call normal is clearly evil. Can a person say “you have to humble yourself, because everything is fine in the world, the world is created and therefore it is properly arranged”, can you say that? It is possible, if the fall did not exist. And his friends offer him “Agree! Agree that the culprit of your suffering he is good. " Such a clever trick. You see, what the logic is: bow down to God, who brought suffering to you. When a person reads the Word of God, his words become fragrant, his speech changes, his heart changes, everything changes, even a special taste appears. Those who poured holy water, it is especially tasty. Water, ordinary from the tap, is poured, it has a completely different taste. There is spiritual taste! Likewise, when you read the Holy Scriptures carefully, the taste of the heart changes. This is true! You can say absolutely correct things, but they will not taste that good, they are tasteless. Likewise, Eliphaz's words are tasteless. He talks about God, but there is no God in these words. This is a tricky thing. Here is the phenomenon of how the sectarians spoke about God, but it was a lie.

Then he says:

 If I would have given it, my petition would come, and the Lord would give my hope. Remember, friends don't want this. Do not dare to communicate face to face with God. Interesting idea. The idea, that religion is a private matter, a personal one, which is necessary to satisfy needs. This is a devilish desire: shut up, do not go anywhere, sit. (Slavic text)  Let the Lord begin to bite me, but to the end, let him not kill me.

 Let the city be a grave, on its walls galloping in it: I will not spare: I have not lied in the words of my god's saints. I will never agree that you are right. I know I haven't lied. 11What strength do I have to hope for me? and what is the end to prolong my life? People say that you need to rely on yourself, and Job's friends also said that you are proud, that you are giving in to God. Job knows very well that he cannot rely on himself. This phenomenon is not widespread among us and it is in vain. He says that there is no strength in me, I do not rely on myself, I must hope in God, and He will raise me up. This is a terrible state when a person knows that there is no place for hope inside him, and the one on whom he hoped turns away. This thing is known only to the humble. A proud person will say: "I am my own master, etc.", then breaks down and says that you need to lay hands on yourself. The humble person knows that he does not initially hope for himself and he has no disappointment. But the worst thing is that God turned away from him. Therefore, he suffers and says that "where is the hope, where can I find this strength?" Is the hardness of stones my hardness? and is my flesh brass? Is there help for me, and what support is there for me? He knows himself absolutely soberly. We noticed that people are trying to find support, let's build life, relying on our strengths, on our knowledge, skills, and then usually at a broken trough. And he knows that this power is not in me. Many people are afraid so, do why? If they admit that there is no support, then they need to rely on God, and He can also turn away and they will find themselves in emptiness. It is easier to come up with an invented support just not to rely directly on God. Job's friends also suggest.

Then he sees that not only is there no support in him, but people are letting Job down.

14A despairing man should have the kindness of his friend,

even if he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

15But my brothers are as faithless as wadis,

as seasonal streams that overflow,

16darkened because of the ice

and the inflow of melting snow,

17but ceasing in the dry season

and vanishing from their channels in the heat.

18Caravans turn aside from their routes;

they go into the wasteland and perish.

19The caravans of Tema look for water;

the travelers of Sheba hope to find it.

20They are confounded because they had hoped;

their arrival brings disappointment.

It is necessary that people support each other, especially friends. Friend is known in trouble. It says here that one cannot put an obstacle on the path of a blind person, one cannot laugh at a deaf person, one cannot mock a cripple. For this curse God awaits! This is a great abomination before the eyes of the Lord. If you say that God is just, then serve Him out of kindness, but you do not want to. But my friends are as faithless as a stream. Many people feel a psychological burden when they need to turn to a friend who is in trouble. A person should always help a person! Especially when he feels bad. So you are nothing now: you saw something terrible and were afraid. They were afraid that the righteous was in trouble. Job's friends had such a theory that everything in this world is good, wonderful, great.

21For now you are of no help;

you see terror, and you are afraid.

22Have I ever said, ‘Give me something;

offer me a bribe from your wealth;

23deliver me from the hand of the enemy;

redeem me from the grasp of the ruthless’?

24Teach me, and I will be silent.

Help me understand how I have erred.

25How painful are honest words!

But what does your argument prove?

26Do you intend to correct my words,

and treat as wind my cry of despair?

27You would even cast lots for an orphan

and barter away your friend.

This is a tough charge. That is, you don't want the truth. You accuse me - show me what? Let's go back to the beginning as soon as they arrived. Is there an episode in Scripture when someone threw dust in the air? Do you understand what this gesture means? This person is worthy to the land of departure. And Job's friends approached him with this idea. You have sinned so much that you are only worthy of the earth. Many people say, "Give me a set of rules, I will follow them, and God will leave me alone!" Friends are doing mean things, digging a hole for their friend. The fact is that for biblical thinking, insulting an orphan is the greatest crime, God especially intervenes for those people who are offended by the defenseless. And Job also turned out to be defenseless, like an orphan, no one to stand up for him. His wife betrayed him, pushed him to commit suicide, there are no children ... And here friends came, I will notice the Tsars, and they begin to push the person further. They are digging a hole for their friend.

28But now, please look at me.

Would I lie to your face?

29Reconsider; do not be unjust.

Reconsider, for my righteousness is at stake.

30Is there iniquity on my tongue?

Can my mouth not discern malice?

Can't you taste the truth? Why is he so sure? Because he knows that the spirit of God has not left him. Friends are terribly afraid. Job says further (ch. 7):

1 Has not a man been assigned a time on earth, and are not his days the same as those of a hired worker?

2 As a slave longs for a shadow, and as a mercenary awaits the end of his work,

3 Thus I received vain months for my inheritance, and sorrowful nights were assigned to me.

4 When I go to bed, I say: "When will I get up?", And the evening lasts, and I toss and turn my fill until dawn.

5 My body is covered with worms and dusty scabs; my skin bursts and festers.

6 My days run faster than a shuttle, and end without hope.

Job says that my life is like a temptation. A person who lives on earth and tries to please God turns out to be a rejected, an outcast in this world. Why? But do you say the world is normal? How could this be in a normal world?