Moralia in Job 405

Verse 7: Who commands the sun, and it rises not; and shuts up the stars as under a seal. 8. When the preachers had been driven out, light was lacking to Judaea. For sometimes in the sacred discourse the brightness of preachers is designated by the name of the sun; as it is said through John: The sun became as sackcloth of hair (Rev. 6:12). For in the last time the sun is shown as it were as a sackcloth of hair, because the shining life of the preachers is displayed before the eyes of the reprobate as harsh and despised. These are also figured by the brightness of the stars, because while they preach right things to sinners, they illumine the darkness of our night. Whence also, when the preachers had been withdrawn, it is said through the prophet: The stars of the rains have been withheld (Jer. 3:3).

But because the sun shines by day, while the stars irradiate the darkness of night; and generally in the sacred discourse the eternal country is signified by the name of day, and the present life by the name of night: the holy preachers become as the sun to our eyes when they open to us the contemplation of the true light, and they lead us as stars in the darkness when through the active life they arrange earthly things for our profitable necessities. They flash as the sun as in the day when they lift up the gaze of our mind to contemplate the country of inner brightness; and they shine again as stars in the night, because even when they deal with earthly things, they direct by the example of their own rectitude the foot of our work that is now on the point of stumbling.

But because, when the preachers had been driven out, there were none who could either show the brightness of contemplation, or open the light of the active life, to the Jewish people remaining in the night of their perfidy (for Truth, having repelled and forsaken this people, by withdrawing the light of preaching, deservedly blinded it because of its own depravity), it is rightly said: Who commands the sun, and it rises not; and shuts up the stars as under a seal. For He willed not the sun to rise for that people from which He turned away the mind of the preachers. And He shut up the stars as under a seal, who, while He retained His preachers by silence within themselves, hid the heavenly light from the blind senses of the wicked. 9. Judaea is to be recalled to the faith.

But it is to be considered that we shut up something under a seal for this purpose: that we may bring it forth into the midst when the time is fitting. And by the witness of the sacred discourse we have learned that Judaea, which is now forsaken, shall at the end be gathered into the bosom of faith. For hence it is said through Isaiah: If the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved (Isa. 10:22, according to the Septuagint). Hence Paul says: Until the fullness of the Gentiles should come in, and so all Israel should be saved (Rom. 11:25).

He, therefore, who now withdraws His preachers from the eyes of Judaea, but afterward shows them, has as it were shut up the stars under a seal, so that, the rays of the spiritual stars being first hidden and afterward shining forth, it may both now, being repelled, not see the night of its perfidy, and then, being illumined, discern it. Hence it is that those two eminent preachers were withdrawn by a deferred death, that they may be recalled to the use of preaching at the end. Of whom it is said through John: These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing in the sight of the Lord of the earth (Rev. 11:4). One of whom Truth Himself promises in the Gospel through His own person, saying: Elias shall come, and shall restore all things (Matt. 17:11).

As it were under a seal, therefore, the stars are shut up, who both are now concealed lest they appear, and afterward shall appear that they may be able to profit. Yet the people of Israel, who at the end shall be plentifully gathered, in the very beginnings of the holy Church is cruelly hardened. For it refused the preachers of truth, it spurned the words of help. Which, however, is brought about by the wondrous dispensation of the Author, namely, that the glory of the preachers, which, if received among one people, might lie hidden, being repelled might be spread abroad among all the nations. Whence also it is aptly subjoined at once: