Can A Man Be Righteous Before God? - Job Chapter Twenty Five Series

This is now Bildad’s time to speak. Job has claimed his innocence throughout the debate. Bildad’s comments will be brief and to the point. Remember Job has just made the statement, “If what I am saying is not true – prove me a liar. If you can prove me a liar – then my words are worth nothing.”

1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: 2 "Dominion and fear belong to Him; He makes peace in His high places. 3 Is there any number to His armies? Upon whom does His light not rise? 4 How then can man be righteous before God? Or how can he be pure who is born of a woman? 5 If even the moon does not shine, And the stars are not pure in His sight, 6 How much less man, who is a maggot, And a son of man, who is a worm?" Job 25:1-6 (NKJV)

CAN A MAN BE RIGHTEOUS BEFORE GOD?

In this chapter Bildad will focus on God. He does not speak directly to what Job has just said – but he sums up his own thinking.

God is above all. He is in charge. There should be the fear of the Lord in all His creation – and since it IS His creation – He is in dominion. God has a right to rule – He is the creator of all. He who creates is greater than His creation. He ought to be feared – He ought to be regarded with reverence.

Bildad’s goal is to show that God is so great and glorious that it is impossible that man should be regarded as pure in his sight.

In Him is complete rest and peace. God never gets worried or upset. He never gets flustered. He who is in control – is in control completely. There is perfect peace. We worry and scurry about this world thinking we are in charge – but He who is in charge – never worries. Peace! Complete peace. He is the God of peace.

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely. And may your spirit, soul, and body be kept sound and blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Thessalonians 5:23 (HCSB)

Barnes says: “High places,” here refers to the heavenly worlds. The idea is, that God preserves peace and concord among the hosts of heaven. Numerous and mighty as are the armies of the skies, yet he keeps them in order and in awe. The object is to present an image of the majesty and power of that Being who thus controls a vast number of minds.

Two questions are asked in verse three:

1. Is there any end to the number in God’s army? NO!

2. Who in the world is there that God’s light does not shine? NO ONE!

God’s armies consist of heavenly host of angels, which are innumerable. There are more than twelve legions of angles. (See Matthew 26:53) Also the sun, moon, and stars, often called the host of heaven, the latter of which cannot be numbered, and which fought in their courses against Sisera. (See Judges 5:20) Also, all the inhabitants of the earth – every creature, even the smallest insect in it, which are without number are in God’s army. Thus, frogs, lice, flies, and locusts, were the armies of God, with which he fought against Pharaoh and the Egyptians. The Army of The Lord is surely great:

“God himself bellows in thunder as he commands his forces. Look at the size of that army! And the strength of those who obey him! God’s Judgment Day—great and terrible. Who can possibly survive this?” Joel 2:11 (MSG)

Again Bildad’s point in verse three is to show the majesty of God.

Now the question is asked in verse four: “How then can man be righteous before God?” The question can be stated another way: “How can one be pure when they have been born of a woman?” In other words: “Is it possible for humans to be pure before God?”

Bildad’s answer would be NO!

Job had already come to the same conclusion: “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? No one!” Job 14:4 (NKJV)

The New Testament quoting from the Old Testament confirms Bildad’s claim:

“There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, together they have become useless; there is no one who does good, there is not even one. Their throat is an open grave; they deceive with their tongues. Vipers’ venom is under their lips. Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and wretchedness are in their paths, and the path of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Romans 3:10-18 (HCSB)