Job endures the continuing ridicule - this time from Bildad
Bildad is introduced as another counsellor. His advice is right but cruelly misapplied. Job continues to struggle through these assaults from his “friends”
Job 8: Bildad Speaks: Job Should Repent
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:
2 "How long will you say these things, and the words of your mouth be a great wind?
3 Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert the right?
4 If your children have sinned against him, he has delivered them into the hand of their transgression.
5 If you will seek God and plead with the Almighty for mercy,
6 if you are pure and upright, surely then he will rouse himself for you and restore your rightful habitation.
7 And though your beginning was small, your latter days will be very great.
8 "For inquire, please, of bygone ages, and consider what the fathers have searched out.
9 For we are but of yesterday and know nothing, for our days on earth are a shadow.
10 Will they not teach you and tell you and utter words out of their understanding?
11 "Can papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Can reeds flourish where there is no water?
12 While yet in flower and not cut down, they wither before any other plant.
13 Such are the paths of all who forget God; the hope of the godless shall perish.
14 His confidence is severed, and his trust is a spider's web.
15 He leans against his house, but it does not stand; he lays hold of it, but it does not endure.
16 He is a lush plant before the sun, and his shoots spread over his garden.
17 His roots entwine the stone heap; he looks upon a house of stones.
18 If he is destroyed from his place, then it will deny him, saying, 'I have never seen you.'
19 Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the soil others will spring.
20 "Behold, God will not reject a blameless man, nor take the hand of evildoers.
21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting.
22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more."
Job 9: Job Replies: There Is No Arbiter
1 Then Job answered and said:
2 "Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be in the right before God?
3 If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times.
4 He is wise in heart and mighty in strength ---who has hardened himself against him, and succeeded?---
5 he who removes mountains, and they know it not, when he overturns them in his anger,
6 who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble;
7 who commands the sun, and it does not rise; who seals up the stars;
8 who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the sea;
9 who made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the chambers of the south;
10 who does great things beyond searching out, and marvelous things beyond number.
11 Behold, he passes by me, and I see him not; he moves on, but I do not perceive him.
12 Behold, he snatches away; who can turn him back? Who will say to him, 'What are you doing?'
13 "God will not turn back his anger; beneath him bowed the helpers of Rahab.
14 How then can I answer him, choosing my words with him?
15 Though I am in the right, I cannot answer him; I must appeal for mercy to my accuser.
16 If I summoned him and he answered me, I would not believe that he was listening to my voice.
17 For he crushes me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause;
18 he will not let me get my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
19 If it is a contest of strength, behold, he is mighty! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon him?
20 Though I am in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse.
21 I am blameless; I regard not myself; I loathe my life.
22 It is all one; therefore I say, He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.
23 When disaster brings sudden death, he mocks at the calamity of the innocent.
24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; he covers the faces of its judges--- if it is not he, who then is it?
25 "My days are swifter than a runner; they flee away; they see no good.
26 They go by like skiffs of reed, like an eagle swooping on the prey.
27 If I say, 'I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and be of good cheer,'
28 I become afraid of all my suffering, for I know you will not hold me innocent.
29 I shall be condemned; why then do I labor in vain?
30 If I wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye,
31 yet you will plunge me into a pit, and my own clothes will abhor me.
32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I might answer him, that we should come to trial together.
33 There is no arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both.
34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not dread of him terrify me.
35 Then I would speak without fear of him, for I am not so in myself.
Things to think about…
1. Bildad begins his assault in Job 8. What you will notice with all Job’s cutting counsellors is that they are 100% right from a scriptural perspective regarding God. This truth is tragically misapplied of course. Bildad is right in Job 8:3, that God does not pervert justice, but Bildad is implying that Job’s suffering is as a result of the justice of God. We must be very careful in our counsel. Get all the facts and understand the heart and the situation before offering any advice. Paul put it well “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall”. 1Cor 10:12
2. What a cruel barb Bildad throws at Job in Job 8:4. He is saying Job’s children had sinned and therefore God gave them their just rewards. In their case, death in a day. Where there is such a blatant lack of sympathy or empathy one wonders whether these counsellors can be true worshippers of the Lord. Yet how many times have we been hurt by the words or actions of other Christians. May we check our spirits and consider the context of any given situation before we offer any words of counsel or advice.
3. Bildad’s counsel is plainly cruel. Does Bildad think for a minute that Job would not have carried out what he says in Job 8:5&6, I.E that he would seek God with a pure heart that the Lord would restore Job. Bildad knew Job’s character, that’s why he came to visit him in the first place. Let’s love people the way we truly know them in Christ. Never think evil of anyone, 1Cor 13:5, – what a disgrace it is when it happens in the church.
4. What do you think of what Bildad says in Job 8:20-22? Is it true? Well yes, it is. But clearly Job is not living out the prosperity gospel reality at this present moment. To be blunt, sometimes life is horrible and a challenge. Is God in control? Yes. Does He have a plan? Yes. But that does not deny that pain and suffering are sometimes a part of it. Remember we will all experience the valley of the shadow of death one day. We are also called to suffer with Christ and endure even to the spilling of blood if required. Many are doing so right now in North Korea and China – and the media aren’t there covering the suffering that has gone on for decades. Let’s never judge those who are suffering with our own misapplied truth. I trust you know what I mean here. Let’s continue to pray for the persecuted church.
5. Job is likely to have been a book written around the time of the Patriarchs – E.g Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Job is the family priest who prayed for his family remember, Job 1:5, so there was no nation of Israel. Job died at age 140, so more likely he was living around the time of Isaac. Job was not a savage or caveman. Look at Job 9:9 – he speaks about the constellations. This is ancient wisdom and we still have much to learn from their writings. After all – there is nothing new under the sun.
6. Does anyone know who Rahab is Job 9:13. Not the woman from Jericho, so who? The verse “beneath him bowed the helpers of Rahab” likely means the ‘helpers of pride’. The ancient meaning of Rahab. Job was written before the time of Joshua’s deliverance of Rahab. Here Job is saying God humbles the proud and those who help them. His concern is that the Lord is not helping him – a man who has been humbled.
7. Job says he is blameless, Job 9:21 with no one to help him. Is this true? Place yourself in Job’s shoes. His friends are letting him down and the Lord has ordained his affliction. May we be ministers of grace when we see or know that people suffering in any way. This is what it is to be Christ’s ministers of grace.
8. Self-help and putting on a brave face does not last. Eventually we must acknowledge the truth of our situation. Job tried having just a positive attitude in the midst of his suffering, in Job 9:26, 27 – he says “If I say, 'I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and be of good cheer,' I become afraid of all my suffering, for I know you will not hold me innocent.” A positive attitude in this case was of no benefit. Reality is reality. But suffering as with all seasons, will pass.
9. Look at Job 9:32, 33. These verses are perfectly fulfilled in Christ who became human, like us; who understands our weaknesses and is an arbiter for us. Job eventually understands this as we shall see later in Job 19.
Vision statement for CBC
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Join us on Wednesday nights as we study practical ways to apply God’s word.
Prayer Points
1. Please pray for Steve Hawkins and Glenys Zawada – Both are recovering well.
2. The conflicts in Israel and Ukraine. Praise for the peace of Jesus to reign.
3. Mathys has a prayer time at church on Monday afternoons. He would be happy for you to join him and to send prayer requests.
4. That those who are new to the church are encouraged and settle in well into the church.
5. That we be bold in our witnessing for Christ. Pray for a heart to see those around you to be saved. Pray for the blessing over the new pastoral care and hosting program.
6. Pray for our Carols program, Sun 17th Dec. Pray for the names and people that we will be inviting.
7. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. Praise God for the improved health of Steve Hawkins. He looked great on Sunday.
2. Praise God for our Kidz@church program this year. Thankyou to Rosie and all the leaders.
3. Praise God for new folk, pray they can settle into the church.
4. Continue to be blessed in our Wed mid-week meeting.
5. Good ministry after the service. Continue to pray for this blessing to increase.
6. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. Carols starting in the afternoon from 4pm Sunday 17th Dec. Please invite and pray.
2. Christmas day service, Mon 25th Dec 9:00am.
3. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
4. Tune in again this week on our YouTube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
Catechism questions for December...
Q. 15. Who wrote the Bible? A. Holy men who were taught by the Holy Spirit.
