Bildad's First Discourse and Job's Response
Chapter 8 and 9
God deals righteously with men according to their works (vv. 1-7)
Bildad (Son of Contention) seemed to love controversy, and he didn't use the same order of courtesy and dignity seen in Eliphaz's first speech.
He began by openly accusing Job of irresponsible and blustery speech, and reprimanding him for claiming innocence and questioning God's justice. He appeared to be jealous of the honour of God, and couldn't allow Him to be accused.
His argument was that in His justice God must punish sin and reward the upright, therefore Job must be a sinner for he is being punished. He based his comments on traditional proverbs and sayings, and he believed that their ancestors had found out all about God and they only needed to use the knowledge received from them.
Bildad felt there were no exceptions to his theory. Like Eliphaz, Bildad wrongly assumed that people suffer only as a result of their sins. Bildad was less sensitive and compassionate, saying that Job's children died because of their wickedness.
That was an awful thing to say. Bildad had no right to say that and we know (because God let us in on it from the beginning of the book) that his children were not destroyed for that reason.
How often do we also jump to conclusions in a similar way, and make judgements on other people because of theories which we consider to be fully proven, and forget that there are usually exceptions to the rule of which we may not be aware.
If Job had been pure and upright, Bildad added, and taken his supplication to the Almighty, He would certainly have attended to him by now and restored and blessed him abundantly. As it was, there must be something radically wrong with Job.
In fact, God did exactly that to Job, but later, after all the speeches had been made. Bildad's theory proved to be right, but he was wrong as to the timing. We sometimes are also impatient and expect an immediate answer to our prayers and supplications - the favourable answer will come, but first it could be "wait a bit".
Bildad refers to antiquity for proof of destruction of the hypocrite (vv 8-19)
Bildad scorned the experience of a lifetime, which he regards as too short to get wisdom and understanding. It is tradition, he says, bringing to us all that has been discovered in the past, that builds up our baggage of knowledge. Ancestors can teach and tell us what we need to learn.
Bildad wrongly assumed that Job was trusting in something other than God for security, so he pointed out that such supports will collapse: "what he trusts in is fragile". He implied that Job may have forgotten God, and be a hypocrite.
One of man's basic needs is security, and people will do almost anything to feel secure. As Bildad said, eventually our money, possessions, knowledge, and relationships will fail or be gone. Only God can give lasting security.
Bildad applies God's just dealing to Job (vv 20-22)
Bildad's whole philosophy is expressed in his words: "God will not cast away the blameless, nor will He uphold the evildoers." If indeed Job was blameless, there were joyful times still ahead for him, and justice would be done to his enemies.
Job admits God's justice, but maintains He is unapproachable (9:1-21)
Job agreed with this philosophy but expressed the hopelessness of ever coming before God, like we are able to do before men, in order to discuss his innocence before Him. God is all-wise and all-powerful, and man would be at an immense disadvantage if he were to contend with Him, and would have no answer.
Anyone who opposes God will never be successful, for He is the controller of the universe, including things we are unable to discover, wonders without number. Besides, He is a spirit and can go wherever He pleases, invisible to human eyes. Nobody can query what He does. He will do what He wishes to do, and will not change.
Job said that he was incapable of finding adequate words to argue with God, nor could he be sure that God was listening. God was crushing and wounding him without cause and filling him with bitterness. God was strong, arbitrary, and Job felt indefensible because whatever he might say would condemn him. He was blameless but he no longer cared and despised his own life.
Although he remained loyal to God, Job made statements he would later regret. In times of extended sickness or prolonged pain, it is natural for people to doubt, to despair, or to become impatient. During those times, people need someone to listen to them, to help them work through their feelings and frustrations. Our patience will help them with their impatience.
Man's innocence is not to be denied because of afflictions (vv. 22-25)
In his view, driven by despair, Job accused God of destroying both the blameless and the wicked, of amusing himself with the plight of the innocent and of preventing the judges from making righteous judgements.
He believed there is no one else that could do this: "If it is not He, who else could it be?". God is the ruler of the universe so only He can be held responsible for such things.
Job pointed out that his time on earth would be running out fast. If he were to keep silent and pretend that all was well, although he was aware of the injustice of his sufferings, he knew that he would be denied his innocence.
If on the other hand he was being justly condemned for his sins, Job said there would be no point in his complaining, it would be in vain. He couldn't cleanse himself, for he would be made dirty again.
It was impossible to argue with God as if he were a man. Man cannot talk to Him and walk with Him and must realise that he cannot meet God's standards. Poor Job was looking for a saviour.
We know that centuries later came the only Man who ever met God's standards: the Lord Jesus Christ. Because Jesus was a Man, we can go to Him. He died for us on the cross! And He showed us by His life that we cannot meet God's standards, that we need a Saviour. By His death He can save us.
Job also complained that there was no mediator who could make peace between God and him. In the New Testament we learn that "There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5). He is the God-Man. How Job longed for Him!
If God were to stop hurting Job, and to stop terrifying him, then Job admitted that he would be free to speak without fear. The Lord Jesus took upon Himself our punishment and the wrath of God, so that, in His name, we can approach Him with all confidence and no fear.
R David Jones
Chapter 8
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:
2 "How long will you speak these things, and the words of your mouth be like a strong wind?
3 Does God subvert judgement? Or does the Almighty pervert justice?
4 If your sons have sinned against Him, He has cast them away for their transgression.
5 If you would earnestly seek God and make your supplication to the Almighty,
6 If you were pure and upright, surely now He would awake for you, and prosper your rightful dwelling place.
7 Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly.
8 "For inquire, please, of the former age, and consider the things discovered by their fathers;
9 For we were born yesterday, and know nothing, because our days on earth are a shadow.
10 Will they not teach you and tell you, and utter words from their heart?
11 "Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh? Can the reeds flourish without water?
12 While it is yet green and not cut down, it withers before any other plant.
13 So are the paths of all who forget God; and the hope of the hypocrite shall perish,
14 Whose confidence shall be cut off, and whose trust is a spider's web.
15 He leans on his house, but it does not stand. He holds it fast, but it does not endure.
16 He grows green in the sun, and his branches spread out in his garden.
17 His roots wrap around the rock heap, and look for a place in the stones.
18 If he is destroyed from his place, then it will deny him, saying, 'I have not seen you.'
19 "Behold, this is the joy of His way, and out of the earth others will grow.
20 Behold, God will not cast away the blameless, nor will He uphold the evildoers.
21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughing, and your lips with rejoicing.
22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the dwelling place of the wicked will come to nothing."
Chapter 9
1 Then Job answered and said:
2 "Truly I know it is so, but how can a man be righteous before God?
3 If one wished to contend with Him, He could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.
4 God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against Him and prospered?
5 He removes the mountains, and they do not know when He overturns them in His anger;
6 He shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble;
7 He commands the sun, and it does not rise; He seals off the stars;
8 He alone spreads out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea;
9 He made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south;
10 He does great things past finding out, yes, wonders without number.
11 If He goes by me, I do not see Him; if He moves past, I do not perceive Him;
12 If He takes away, who can hinder Him? Who can say to Him, 'What are You doing?'
13 God will not withdraw His anger, the allies of the proud lie prostrate beneath Him.
14 "How then can I answer Him, and choose my words to reason with Him?
15 For though I were righteous, I could not answer Him; I would beg mercy of my Judge.
16 If I called and He answered me, I would not believe that He was listening to my voice.
17 For He crushes me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds without cause.
18 He will not allow me to catch my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
19 If it is a matter of strength, indeed He is strong; and if of justice, who will appoint my day in court?
20 Though I were righteous, my own mouth would condemn me; though I were blameless, it would prove me perverse.
21 "I am blameless, yet I do not know myself; I despise my life.
22 It is all one thing; therefore I say, 'He destroys the blameless and the wicked.'
23 If the scourge slays suddenly, He laughs at the plight of the innocent.
24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of its judges. If it is not He, who else could it be?
25 "Now my days are swifter than a runner; they flee away, they see no good.
26 They pass by like swift ships, like an eagle swooping on its prey.
27 If I say, 'I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face and wear a smile,'
28 I am afraid of all my sufferings; I know that You will not hold me innocent.
29 If I am condemned, why then do I labour in vain?
30 If I wash myself with snow water, and cleanse my hands with soap,
31 Yet You will plunge me into the pit, and my own clothes will abhor me.
32 "For He is not a man, as I am, that I may answer Him, and that we should go to court together.
33 Nor is there any mediator between us, who may lay his hand on us both.
34 Let Him take His rod away from me, and do not let dread of Him terrify me.
35 Then I would speak and not fear Him, but it is not so with me.