Job 8
The Address of BildadBildad is the next friend to speak to Job. He begins by strongly rebuking Job for his words, thinking Job is speaking out of anger and not listening to good advice. Bildad believes he is defending God by insisting that God is always just. He even goes so far as to suggest that Job’s children must have sinned greatly to deserve their fate, which is a harsh and unfair judgment. Still, Bildad also says that if Job is truly innocent and turns to God, God will restore him in the end. v. 2: Bildad asks, “How long will you say these things, and the words of your mouth be like a strong wind?” . He criticizes Job for speaking with so much emotion, acting as if Job’s words are just noise and not worth listening to. v. 3: Bildad says, “Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert what is right?” . He insists that God is always fair and just, and never makes mistakes in judgment (Genesis 18:25; Romans 3:5-6 a). v. 4: Bildad continues, “If your children have sinned against Him, He has delivered them into the hand of their transgression.” . He claims that Job’s children died because of their own sins—a very harsh and insensitive thing to say. He assumes that great suffering always means great sin (Luke 13:2-4 b). v. 5–6: Bildad offers advice: “If you would seek God earnestly and make your supplication to the Almighty, if you are pure and upright, surely now He would awake for you and restore you to your rightful place.” (Job 8:5-6 c). He tells Job to turn to God with a pure heart and honest actions, promising that God will listen to the prayers of the upright (Psalm 66:18; Proverbs 15:8 d). – v. 7: Bildad adds, “Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly.” . He encourages Job not to give up hope. Even if Job has lost everything, God can bless him again and make his future greater than his past. This is a reminder that God can turn small beginnings into great blessings. Bildad Appeals to the Wisdom of the PastBildad continues his speech by talking about the fate of hypocrites and evil-doers. He argues that, in most cases, God brings wicked people—who may appear religious and successful—to ruin. Bildad uses examples from history and nature to show that fake faith will not last, even if it looks strong for a while. He encourages Job to learn from the experiences and teachings of past generations and to realize that only true faith and righteousness bring lasting hope.v. 8: Bildad says, “For inquire, please, of former generations, and consider the things searched out by their fathers.” . He wants Job to look at what wise people in the past have learned about God’s ways. v. 9: He explains, “For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days on earth are a shadow.” . Bildad admits that people today do not live long enough to see everything, and that the past can teach us much more. v. 10: Bildad continues, “Will they not teach you and tell you, and utter words out of their heart?” . He says that the wisdom of past generations is valuable because they speak from experience and deep understanding. v. 11–13: He uses a picture from nature: “Can papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Can reeds flourish without water? While yet in its greenness and not cut down, it withers before any other plant. So are the paths of all who forget God, and the hope of the hypocrite shall perish.” (Job 8:11-13 e). Bildad says that just as a plant cannot live without water, a hypocrite’s hope will die quickly because it is not rooted in God. – – v. 14–15: He adds, “Whose confidence shall be cut off, and whose trust is a spider’s web. He leans on his house, but it does not stand. He holds it fast, but it does not endure.” (Job 8:14-15 f). Bildad compares the hypocrite’s hope to a spider’s web—weak, shaky, and easily destroyed. – v. 16–17: Bildad gives another example, “He is green before the sun, and his shoots go out over his garden. His roots wrap around the stone heap, and look for a place among the stones.” (Job 8:16-17 g). He describes the wicked person as a plant that grows quickly and looks strong, but its roots are not secure. – v. 18–19: He warns, “If he is destroyed from his place, then it will deny him, saying, ‘I have not seen you.’ Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth others will grow.” (Job 8:18-19 h). Bildad says that the wicked may disappear so completely that even the ground forgets them. Others will take their place, and all their joy will be gone (Psalm 1:6 i). – Bildad’s Closing Words: Blessing for the Upright, Ruin for the WickedAs Bildad ends his speech, he sums up his main point: he believes God always rewards good people and punishes the wicked. Bildad tells Job that if he is truly innocent, God will restore him and fill his life with joy again. But if Job is wicked, God will not help him, and his home will be destroyed. Bildad’s words are partly true, but he makes the mistake of thinking that suffering always means someone has sinned. He does not understand that sometimes the righteous suffer for reasons we cannot see.v. 20: Bildad says, “Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, nor will He uphold the evildoers.” . He insists that God never abandons those who are upright, but He does not help the wicked. v. 21: Bildad continues, “He will yet fill your mouth with laughing, and your lips with rejoicing.” . He encourages Job that God will turn his sadness into joy if he is truly upright (Psalm 30:11; Psalm 126:2 j). v. 22: Bildad warns, “Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the dwelling place of the wicked will come to nothing.” (Job 8:22 k). He says that Job’s enemies will be ashamed if Job is restored, but if Job is wicked, his home will be ruined. Bildad does not realize that this is not always how God works in every situation (Psalm 90:1; Psalm 91:1 l).
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