Bildad’s second charge of Job
Job Sermon Series, Part 9
Introduction (Job Slide)
- Today we continue to examine Job’s conversations with his friends
-- Re: These men came in Ch. 2 to sit with him and mourn his loss
- They appear to come to comfort … but quickly their real motives are shown
-- They are discouragers; ones who desire Job to stop holding onto his faith
-- In their eyes, there is a cause/effect with his sin and his condition
- These friends have three conversations with him…
• Round 1: they suggest Job has sinned
• Round 2: they imply Job is a sinner
• Round 3: they state Job’s sin
- Round two continues with Bildad looking to further accuse Job of sin
-- It’s curious to note how the tone begins to change with these discussions
-- First, they were merely trying to offer guidance; now it’s an assault
- Read Job Ch. 18-19
- Pray
Point 1 – Bildad’s Charge and Proclamation (Ch. 18)
- Bildad, like the others, again rails against Job’s constant talking (v1)
-- If only Job would be silent and listen to them, he could be healed of this
-- APP: He needed to come around to their way of thinking
- Bildad also resented being compared to cattle; they are above that (v2)
-- Note: He could certainly give it … but had a real problem taking it
- Therefore, his assessment again is this is all Job’s fault (v4)
-- Job is destroying his life with this foolishness (sin), not God or them
- So, he tries another avenue of discourse to get Job to listen to reason (v5-19)
-- His purpose is to describe various manners of death and destruction
-- Perhaps one of these will speak to Job and help him understand his life
• The light in his tent becomes dark
• The lamp beside him goes out
• The vigor of his step is weakened
• His own schemes throw him down
• His feet thrust him into a net
• He wanders into its mesh
• A trap seizes him by the heel
• A snare holds him fast
• A noose is hidden from him on the ground
• Terror startles him on every side
• Calamity is hungry for him
• Disaster is ready for him
• It eats away parts of his skin
• Death’s firstborn devours his limbs
• He is torn from the security of his tent
• He is marches off to the king of terrors
• Fire resides in his tent
• Burning sulfur is scattered over his dwelling
• His roots dry up below
• His branches wither above
• The memory of him perishes from the Earth
• He has no name in the land
• He is driven from light into the realm of darkness
• He is banished from the world
• He has no offspring of descendants among his people
• There is no survivor where once he lived
- In essence, since all these things happen to the wicked, this is your future!
-- APP: The only good wicked people do is leave warning for others (v20-21)
-- A warning that choosing this life will lead you to destruction as well
-- “Your life Job, will be meaningless and all men will be appalled by you”
- I’m not sure if there is worse fate that we can ever see for a man than this
-- His reputation is ruined and he will have nothing to be remembered by
Read “A Difference in Death”
- TRANS: “Then Job replied …”
Point 2 – Job’s Response (Ch. 19)
- Re: Satan had bet God that Job’s faith would crumble under pressure
-- His assertion was that once God stopped protecting him, he would fail
-- He would curse God’s name and turn away from loving Him
- Job asks his friends, “How long will you torment me and crush me?” (v2)
-- Rather than help him, they are tearing him apart and he is crushed
- They have gone at him again and again (10 times = round number)
-- He then makes a statement of who’s business this is really (v4)
-- If I have made an error in sin, then this is not your business to deal with
- You have exalted yourself above me (implied) … then know this (v5)
-- God’s rejection of me is WHY you are punishing me in this way (v6)
-- Job: I cry out to God for justice, and nothing happens, no help avail (v7)
- Job’s chief complaint is he is suffering from God, but doesn’t know why
-- Even worse: Job says God will not answer him, the silence is terrible
-- I cannot even find a way out of this mess, or see clear to leave it (v8)
- God has stripped me of my honor, removed my crown (esteem) from me
-- And now, my life is in complete shambles and you guys are piling on
- His declaration is clear: I am rejected by God and now at war with him (v10)
-- NOTE: He jumps to conclusions here about what God is doing …
-- Even so much as to compare God is using an army against him (v12)
-- Implies that again and again God is attacking and against him
- He is totally rejected, and lists the ways his life is over
-- Re-read v13-22 pick out keys words/phrases of his life in ruins
- TRANS: As easy as it would be to give up, Job makes a resolution …
Point 3 – Job’s Resolution (Ch. 19)
- His wishes that his words would be recorded for future people to read (v23)
-- That somehow, they would be saved and inscribed for eternity (v24)
-- IMP: Those very words are in your hands!
- His declaration: “I know that my Redeemer lives!” (v25)
-- His hope is that eventually, God would prove him innocent and save him
-- In deep despair and ruin in his heart – this statement of faith is awesome!
- After the grave, and my skin is gone, I will live again and see God (v26)
-- APP: I might have to wait until the last day, but I will see God one day
-- “I myself will see him with my own eyes - I, and not another.” (v27)
-- APP: To see God face to face is the only thing Job wanted to have
- Challenge: What is your desire most in life? To see Him also?
- Our lesson is to take a note from this man, his life experience is nothing
-- In the face of seeing God, even this is bearable; because God lives
- Therefore, to his friends he replies: (v28-29)
-- They should fear repercussions of their accusations on Job
-- The judgement they declare will come to Job will actually be on them!
-- Once they experience God’s judgment, they will understand what it is
- It is a warning to them about how they are treating him during this time
-- It is a warning that we too might want to hear and heed in our lives
-- APP: We need to not be so quick to tear people apart as well …
- TRANS: So, how do we end this tonight?
Big Idea: When we counsel others, be gentle and discerning
- Consider in our responses being gentle and discerning towards others
1) Being gentle means that we show compassion
-- Bildad has obviously lost his patience with Job, and it’s now showing
-- He has become condescending and cruel, and we should take note of this
-- What we say is just as important as how we say it
2) Being discerning means we must use wisdom in our responses
-- Bildad is quick to jump to conclusions, rather than see the entire picture
-- Lesson: Our challenge is the same … what’s not seen is just as important!
- Pray
References: Holman OT Commentary, Job
