Have you ever found yourself in a conversation where the words spoken cut like a sharpened blade?
Where someone’s words seem to pour salt into your wounds instead of offering comfort?
In the Book of Job, we encounter such a conversation, as Bildad, one of Job’s friends, responds to Job’s ongoing suffering with unrelenting words of condemnation.
Reconnect: Before we delve into Job 18, let’s recall the context. Job, a righteous man, has experienced unimaginable suffering—losing his wealth, health, and family. His friends Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar have come to offer comfort, but their words have often been filled with accusations that Job’s suffering is the result of some hidden sin.
(Summarized and continued after scripture)
Bildad Speaks of the Wicked
1Then Bildad the Shuhite responded,
2“How long will you hunt for words?
Show understanding and then we can talk.
3“Why are we regarded as beasts,
As stupid in your eyes?
4“O you who tear yourself in your anger—
For your sake is the earth to be abandoned,
Or the rock to be moved from its place?
5“Indeed, the light of the wicked goes out,
And the flame of his fire gives no light.
6“The light in his tent is darkened,
And his lamp goes out above him.
7“His vigorous stride is shortened,
And his own scheme brings him down.
8“For he is thrown into the net by his own feet,
And he steps on the webbing.
9“A snare seizes him by the heel,
And a trap snaps shut on him.
10“A noose for him is hidden in the ground,
And a trap for him on the path.
11“All around terrors frighten him,
And harry him at every step.
12“His strength is famished,
And calamity is ready at his side.
13“His skin is devoured by disease,
The firstborn of death devours his limbs.
14“He is torn from the security of his tent,
And they march him before the king of terrors.
15“There dwells in his tent nothing of his;
Brimstone is scattered on his habitation.
16“His roots are dried below,
And his branch is cut off above.
17“Memory of him perishes from the earth,
And he has no name abroad.
18“He is driven from light into darkness,
And chased from the inhabited world.
19“He has no offspring or posterity among his people,
Nor any survivor where he sojourned.
20“Those in the west are appalled at his fate,
And those in the east are seized with horror.
21“Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked,
And this is the place of him who does not know God.”
Summary Key Points:
- Bildad’s Harsh Accusations: In Job 18, Bildad continues his relentless accusations against Job. He portrays Job as a wicked man, describing him as a “fool” who brings trouble upon himself through his own actions. Bildad’s words reflect the prevailing belief of the time that suffering was a direct consequence of sin. He asserts that Job’s suffering is evidence of divine judgment.
- The Fate of the Wicked: Bildad paints a grim picture of the fate that awaits the wicked. He describes a series of calamities that befall the wicked, including the snare of the grave and the destruction of his household. According to Bildad, the wicked will be forgotten and their memory blotted out from the earth.
- Job’s Response: Job, however, remains resolute in his innocence. Despite Bildad’s harsh words and the overwhelming weight of his suffering, Job maintains his trust in God. He continues to seek answers, to plead his case before the Almighty, and to long for a mediator who can represent him before God.
As we reflect on Bildad’s words in Job 18, we are reminded of the importance of choosing our words carefully, especially when someone is going through a season of suffering. Instead of rushing to judgment or making assumptions about the causes of another’s pain, let us offer compassion, empathy, and support.
Take a few moments now and pray that we have the wisdom to speak words that heal rather than wound, and that we may be agents of comfort in the lives of those who are suffering.
Discussion and Comment:
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you were quick to judge someone’s suffering?
How can we learn from Bildad’s approach and strive to be more compassionate in our responses to those who are hurting?
Share your thoughts and engage in a discussion with friends or family about the importance of offering comfort and understanding in times of suffering.
May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.
John Golda
Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.
