Bildad just assumed that Job’s children had died because they sinned against God. Bildad also presumed that if repented, God would restore his wealth.  Bildad’s ignorant presumptions and assumptions proved that not all advice is worth heeding. Be careful to choose counselors who will listen to the whole story as well as advise and only those who believe in who God really is—Truth!  Yes, at the end of the day; only God knows our entire story. Most times God knows our story better than we do. He created us.  God also created love for that is who He is. 

Since God is love, a love that is beyond human love He demonstrates this extreme love, mercy, and grace with a glorious light guiding us on the path to His best for us.  With God, we do not need to fix, analyze, wonder, judge, or come up with a solution.  We need first to surrender, then trust and obey God’s direction.  Remember, our God is Sovereign.  There is no one like God. We are not God. Only God is God. Listen to Him.

Job 8

Bildad

Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:

² “How long will you say such things?
    Your words are a blustering wind.
³ Does God pervert justice?
    Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
⁴ When your children sinned against him,
    he gave them over to the penalty of their sin.
⁵ But if you will seek God earnestly
    and plead with the Almighty,
⁶ if you are pure and upright,
    even now he will rouse himself on your behalf
    and restore you to your prosperous state.
⁷ Your beginnings will seem humble,
    so prosperous will your future be.

⁸ “Ask the former generation
    and find out what their ancestors learned,
⁹ for we were born only yesterday and know nothing,
    and our days on earth are but a shadow.
¹⁰ Will they not instruct you and tell you?
    Will they not bring forth words from their understanding?
¹¹ Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh?
    Can reeds thrive without water?
¹² While still growing and uncut,
    they wither more quickly than grass.
¹³ Such is the destiny of all who forget God;
    so perishes the hope of the godless.
¹⁴ What they trust in is fragile;
    what they rely on is a spider’s web.
¹⁵ They lean on the web, but it gives way;
    they cling to it, but it does not hold.
¹⁶ They are like a well-watered plant in the sunshine,
    spreading its shoots over the garden;
¹⁷ it entwines its roots around a pile of rocks
    and looks for a place among the stones.
¹⁸ But when it is torn from its spot,
    that place disowns it and says, ‘I never saw you.’
¹⁹ Surely its life withers away,
    andfrom the soil other plants grow.

²⁰ “Surely God does not reject one who is blameless
    or strengthen the hands of evildoers.
²¹ He will yet fill your mouth with laughter
    and your lips with shouts of joy.
²² Your enemies will be clothed in shame,
    and the tents of the wicked will be no more.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

“How long will you say such things? Your words are a blustering wind.”  Imagine your dear friend saying you are nothing but a windbag as you lament over your life which seems hopeless with thoughts of wanting to die!  Tough love?  Maybe, but I think this happens more often that we’d like to think it does.  This response is from a busy friend who quickly assumes guilt while forming a “fix” for our problem on their lips before you even finish your story.  This is not a counselor who truly listens. 

Bildad is not the best counselor or advisor.  In fact, he used the same approach in his next speech in chapter 18. Job had poured out his grief and was waiting to hear a sympathetic word, but his friend again said that Job’s words were just a lot of hot air. Bildad was so concerned about defending the justice of God that he forgot the needs of his friend.

God is faithful, loving, and compassionate.  His love never fails or gives up.  His Word proves the character of God repeatedly by demonstrating the miraculous acts of God love, mercy, and grace.  

We learn as listeners and counselors we must be careful, oh so careful, not to assume what is wrong with words of solution that seem right to us but do not line up with God’s nature, character and His Word.

Warren Wiersbe writes;

“Bildad was angry that Job could even think that God would do anything wrong. Had Job forgotten what God did to sinners at the flood or what He did to Sodom and Gomorrah? Isn’t He the holy God, and doesn’t His very nature demand that He do what is right? Job was blaspheming God by questioning Him and accusing Him of wrongdoing. While Bildad’s theology was correct—God is just—his application was wrong. Bildad was looking at only one aspect of God’s nature—His holiness and justice—and had forgotten God’s love, mercy, and goodness.”

Bildad’s appeal in these verses is another echo of Satan’s philosophy. He was saying, “You say you have not sinned. Then plead with God to restore your prosperity. If you were right before God, He would do great things for you. Isn’t prosperity better than pain?” Little did Bildad realize that his words would come true, and Job’s latter end would be greater than his beginning. Eventually Job’s prayer would be for Bildad and the others, because they were the ones not right with God (42:7–13).

Bildad argued based on the law of cause and effect. If this law applies in nature, why not in human life as well?  Nobody pulls up a good plant and destroys it, so, according to Bildad, something must have been wrong with Job for God to so uproot him like this! God doesn’t cultivate weeds and cast away the good plants! Bildad reaffirmed his earlier promise that God would restore Job’s fortunes if he would only admit his sins and get right with God. It was the devil’s invitation all over again!

The devil bargains, manipulates emotions and feelings, slyly presents wrong as right, presents what seems best for us at the time, and leads people to places they do not want to be.  Jesus called him the prince of darkness and the father of lies.  He is the Deceiver, Distractor, and Destroyer of all that is God. Satan is crafty as he looks like an angel of light as he does his work to destroy our souls. But his power is limited by God as we will see in later chapters.

Lord,

Job is not an easy read as we want our own problems and set backs fixed as soon as possible, too.  But with your Holy Spirit guiding us to all that is Truth, we too, become overcomers with you—our Supreme Overcomer.  Teach us the difference between your character and satan’s deceptions.

In Jesus Name, Amen