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BILDAD SPEAKS AGAIN
MONDAY, MAY 9
Job 18:1-11

Psalm 73:22-28

 

“…they that are far from thee

shall perish…”

 

BILDAD SPEAKS AGAIN
 
Bildad began to answer Job by making a second speech. He urged him to be sensible so that they could talk and come to some agreement. Bildad was obviously angry at Job’s accusation that they lacked understanding and wisdom, charging Job with considering them as little more than stupid beasts of the field (Job 18:1-3). Often when Christians insist on truth, which runs contrary to commonly held beliefs, they are considered contrary, divisive and unkind people.
 
Bildad was sure his ideas were correct. It was not possible, he stated, to change eternal truth by becoming angry and fighting against it. According to Bildad, that truth was that suffering only comes because of sin (Job 18:4).
 
Bildad now spoke about the condition of the wicked. Job did not say that suffering never came because of sin. He was simply saying that in his case, there was no unconfessed sin that caused his suffering.
 
What Bildad said now was true but it simply did not apply to Job. The wicked will have their light snuffed out. This is an old proverb that speaks of trouble coming as when one’s fire does not give warmth and when one’s light goes out, leaving only darkness. While a sinner may approach life with great vigour, sooner or later, his assurance will be weakened (Job 18:5-7).
 
A wicked man is trapped by sin. There is no way for him to be freed. He must face death alone. There is no help for him. The Psalmist speaks of the heathen who are drawn down into a pit that they have made themselves (Ps 9:15). What a sad picture the Scriptures give us of the life of those who do not know the Lord (Job 18:8-11).
 
What a joy to know the Lord Jesus Christ and to walk through life with His guidance! May we be careful to share this joy with all that we meet along life’s way.
 
THOUGHT: In what way was Bildad’s speech correct?

PRAYER: I thank Thee, Father, for I have in Jesus a wonderful friend.

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