Moralia in Job 91

Verse 6. — Now on a certain day, when the sons of God came to stand before the Lord, Satan also was present among them. 2. The historical sense. How accurately Sacred Scripture describes events. — It is pleasant to observe how the sacred oracles, at the openings of their narratives, express the qualities and the ends of the matters. For sometimes from the position of a place, sometimes from the position of the body, sometimes from the quality of the air, sometimes from the quality of the time, they signify what they would infer concerning the action to come. From the position of places indeed the divine Scripture expresses the merits and the ends of the ensuing matters, as it says of Israel that it could not hear the words of God on the mountain, but received the precepts in the plains:

He is plainly indicating the subsequent weakness of the people, who had no strength to ascend to the heights, but let themselves sink into the depths by living carelessly. From the posture of the body a future thing is announced, as in the Acts of the Apostles Stephen makes it plain that he saw Jesus, who sits at the right hand of the power of God, standing (Acts vii. 55, 56). For to stand belongs to one who gives aid; and he is rightly seen to stand who brings help in the warfare of the contest. From the quality of the weather a following event is shown, as the Evangelist, when he was about to say that at the Lord's preaching none from Judaea would then believe, prefaced it, saying: And it was winter (John x. 22). For it is written: 'Because iniquity shall abound, the charity of many shall grow cold' (Matt. xxiv. 12).

For this reason, then, he took care to express the season of winter, that he might indicate the cold of malice present in the hearts of the hearers. Hence it is that concerning Peter, who was to deny, it is premised: Because it was cold, and standing at the coals he warmed himself (John xviii. 18). For already within he had grown numb through the loss of the warmth of charity, and toward the love of the present life, as toward the coals of the persecutors, he was warming himself again with a feverish weakness. From the quality of the time also the end of an action is expressed, as Judas, who was not to return to pardon, is reported to have gone out to the treachery of his betrayal by night, when at his departure it is said by the Evangelist: And it was night (John xiii. 30). Hence too it is said to the wicked rich man: This night they shall require thy soul of thee (Luke xii. 20).

For a soul that is led to darkness is recorded not to be required by day, but by night. Hence it is that Solomon, who received wisdom but was not to persevere in it, is described to have received it in a dream and by night (1 Kings iii. 11). Hence it is that the angels come to Abraham at midday; but when they were about to punish Sodom, they are recorded to have come to it in the evening (Gen. xviii. 1, 2; xix. 1). Since, therefore, blessed Job's temptation is brought to victory, it is reported to have begun by day, when it is said: