Bildad's Final Word (Job 25-26)

Should we rely upon worldly wisdom claiming to be from God or study God’s Word directly ourselves? Let’s look at Job 25-26.

Does Bildad ask if there is any place where God does not have dominion?

Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said, Dominion and fear are with him, he maketh peace in his high places. Is there any number of his armies? and upon whom doth not his light arise? (Job 25:1-3 KJV)

Did Bildad ask a question that could only be answered by a new covenant?

How then can mortal man be right with God? Or how can he be pure who is born of woman? Behold even the moon has no brightness, And the stars are not pure in His sight; How much less mortal man, that maggot, And the son of man, that worm!” (Job 25:4-6 LSB)

Does the new covenant explain how a mortal man can be made right with God? Did Job have that faith? Do we?

Therefore, having been justified [declared righteous, acquitted] by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we also have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we celebrate in hope of the glory of God. (Rom 5:1-2 NASB)

What does the rest of Romans 5 say? How would we answer each of Job’s probing, sarcastic questions to Bildad?

Then Job replied: “How you have helped the powerless! How you have saved the arm that is feeble! What advice you have offered to one without wisdom! And what great insight you have displayed! Who has helped you utter these words? And whose spirit spoke from your mouth? (Job 26:1-4 NIV)

Does God know the state of the dead, and do those in the grave tremble before God?

The dead tremble, Those under the waters and those inhabiting them. Sheol is naked before Him, And Destruction has no covering. (Job 26:5-6 NKJV)

Did the ancients understand simple astronomy, that the earth was suspended in space upon nothing?

God stretches the northern sky over empty space and hangs the earth on nothing. He wraps the rain in his thick clouds, and the clouds don’t burst with the weight. He covers the face of the moon, shrouding it with his clouds. He created the horizon when he separated the waters; he set the boundary between day and night. (Job 26:7-10 NLT)

Does God have power over the things that we see as chaotic and powerful?

The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his rebuke. He stirs up the sea with his power, and by his understanding he strikes through Rahab. By his Spirit the heavens are garnished. His hand has pierced the swift serpent. Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways. How small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand? (Job 26:11-14 WEB)

Should we blindly follow ancient traditions, the words of Protestant Reformers, or even beloved preachers and friends, and not investigate God’s word for ourselves?

The Beroean Jews were more honorable than those in Thessalonica. This was evident in the great eagerness with which they accepted the word and examined the scriptures each day to see whether Paul and Silas’ teaching was true. (Acts 17:11 CEB)

Should we rely upon worldly wisdom claiming to be from God or study God’s Word directly ourselves? You decide!