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Job

CHAPTER 8

1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said, 2 How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind? 3 Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?

Now Bildad speaks. His very first statement shows a lack of compassion and kindness. He accuses Job of being "full of hot air," so to speak.
His question in verse 3 is a good question; but he seems to use it in the wrong manner. However Bildad proposes that all suffering is due to sin.

4 If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression; 5 If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty; 6 If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.

Bildad proposes that God has killed Job's children because they sinned. And this man is supposed to be Job's FRIEND?
Bildad tells Job that if he were not sinful, then God would listen to him.
Now, it is true that our relationship with God is strained when we sin - much like the relationship between father and mother is strained when children do wrong. But would a father and mother fail to hear a child in trouble?

7 Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase. 8 For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers: 9(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:) 10 Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart? 11 Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water? 12 Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb. 13 So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish: 14 Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web. 15 He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure. 16 He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden. 17 His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones. 18 If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee. 19 Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.

Bildad accuses Job of being a HYPOCRITE (verse 13).
This is certainly not the way to minister to a man who is suffering. He is accusing Job of having forgotten God.

20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers: 21 Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing. 22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.

According to Bildad, God will not allow tragedy to happen to a man who is properly following God.
This is a very WRONG supposition. There is no biblical evidence for such theology.
The statement in itself is a truth, but is used in a perverted manner. God, the Bible says, does "cast down the wicked (Prov. 2:22)," and "vindicate the righteous (Prov. 13:21)." But those statements are made concerning the END JUDGMENT. Tragedy comes to ALL men upon earth - even the righteous.

CHAPTER 9
1 Then Job answered and said, 2 I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? 3 If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

Job says that there is a truth in the basic principle which Bildad has laid. God does not FORSAKE the righteous.
But man, of himself, cannot be righteous with God. He must have God to CLAIM him as righteous.
No man could ever be so good that he would not have sin in his life.

4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered? 5 Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger. 6 Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble. 7 Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars. 8 Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea. 9 Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south. 10 Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number. 11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not. 12 Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?

God is wise in heart, while man is wicked in heart.
God is the Almighty Who creates and upholds His creation.
God is a Spirit (verse 11) and lives among us though we do not perceive His presence.
Therefore, if God shall "take away," then who shall say He isn't RIGHT in doing so?

13 If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him. 14 How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?

God's anger cannot be opposed. Even the angels would back away from God in his anger.
Therefore, how can a mere man stand to reason with God.

15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge. 16 If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.

Even if Job were perfect, he would not REASON with God. Instead he would PLEAD with God.
And if he made a plea to God, and God answered, Job would not believe it was because of righteousness on the part of himself. It would be out of compassion on the part of God.

17 For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause. 18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness. 19 If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead? 20 If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse. 21 Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life. 22 This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

It is Job's understanding that at the present time God is BREAKING him!
If Job were to plead with God, Who will be the One to allow him to have set time for that plea? It would only be God Himself!
In verses 20 & 21, Job says if a man claims he is perfectly righteous he is LYING!
Therefore (verse 22), God DOES send trouble to the good and the wicked.

23 If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent. 24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he? 25 Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good. 26 They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey. 27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself: 28 I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.

A "scourge" is a disease that sweeps through a nation and destroys even the good with the evil.
Although God does not laugh at the innocent when this happens, God is SOVEREIGN and can allow it to happen.
Job is a temporary thing on the earth (verse 25) and the days of his life are quickly passing, and he sees NO GOOD.
The Bible says God looked down from heaven to see if there were ANY who did follow Him; and He saw NONE (Psalm 14:2-3).
Job cannot forget the question of "WHY ME?" (verse 27); but he knows that he is not INNOCENT.

29 If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain? 30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean; 31 Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me. 32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment. 33 Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.

If then, he is not perfect, why should he labour to present himself perfect before God?
God's righteousness so far exceeds man's that nothing we can do would bring us correctly into God's presence.
Job acknowledges there is need for a "go-between." Jesus is that "go-between!"

34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me: 35 Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.

If God would take away the rod of beating under which Job is suffering, then he would feel free to speak to God.
But God has not done so, and Job is fearful in his complaint to God.
Nevertheless, he cannot help but raise that question up to God in prayer.

When we are suffering in this world, we cannot help but ask God why. Even though we are sinners and realize that, we cannot help but wonder why God would allow such suffering to come upon His people.
Man simply does not have the distance of vision to see the end. Only God can see that far.

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