Bildad Defends God's Justice
Study note
Bildad is frustrated with Job's long speech and tells him his words are like a strong wind. His argument is simple: God does not pervert justice. If Job's children sinned, God punished them for it. If Job himself is pure, then God will surely restore him and make him even more prosperous than before. This is a harsh and insensitive thing to say to a grieving father.
1 Then Bildad from Shuah spoke up and said, Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
2 'How long are you going to keep saying things like this? Your words are nothing but a blast of hot air.' How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?
3 'Would God ever twist what is fair? Would the Almighty ever bend justice?' Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?
4 'If your children did something wrong against him, he let them face the results of what they did.' If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression;
5 'But if you personally go and look for God with all your heart and cry out to the Almighty,' If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;
6 'If you are truly good and honest, then he will step in to help you. He will give you back what is yours.' If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
7 'Your situation might look small right now, but your future will end up being exceedingly great.' Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.
Lessons from the Past
Study note
Bildad appeals to the wisdom of past generations. He uses two word pictures from nature. First, a reed cannot grow without water -- and likewise, someone who forgets God will quickly wither. Second, the ungodly person's hope is as fragile as a spider's web. He may lean on his house, but it will not stand. He may seem to flourish for a time, but he will be uprooted and forgotten.
8 'Go and ask the people who lived long ago. Look at what their ancestors figured out.' For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:
9 'After all, we have only been around since yesterday. We do not know much of anything. Our time here is like a quick shadow passing by.' (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:)
10 'But those who came before us will teach you. They will pour out the wisdom they stored in their hearts.' Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?
11 'Can a papyrus plant grow tall when there is no swamp? Can marsh grass grow without any water?' Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?
12 'Even while it is still green and has not been cut, it shrivels up quicker than any other plant.' Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.
13 'That is exactly what happens to anyone who forgets about God. Every hope that a godless person clings to will crumble.' So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:
14 'Whatever they trust in is as thin and breakable as a spider's web.' Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web.
15 'They lean against that web, but it collapses. They try to grab onto it, but it falls apart in their hands.' He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.
16 'They might look like a healthy plant soaking up sunshine, spreading their branches out over the whole garden.' He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.
17 'Their roots twist around a pile of stones and wind their way between the rocks.' His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones.
18 'But once that plant is ripped out, the ground acts like it was never even there, saying, "I have never seen you before."' If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee.
19 'That is the only happiness it ever gets. And then other plants grow up from the dirt to take its place.' Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.
God Will Not Reject the Blameless
Study note
Bildad concludes by assuring Job that God will not cast away a good person or support evildoers. He promises that God will fill Job's mouth with laughter again. While these words sound encouraging, Bildad is still assuming that Job must have done something wrong, and that simple repentance will fix everything.
20 'Here is the point: God does not turn his back on someone who truly is blameless, and he refuses to help those who do evil.' Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:
21 'He is still going to fill your mouth with laughter and make your lips shout out with happiness.' Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.
22 'The people who hate you will end up wearing shame like a coat, and every home that belongs to the wicked will be torn down.' They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.