Nothing Like Kicking Me When I Am Down Series

Job 18: 1 – 21

Nothing Like Kicking Me When I Am Down

1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: 2 “How long till you put an end to words? Gain understanding, and afterward we will speak. 3 Why are we counted as beasts, and regarded as stupid in your sight? 4 You who tear yourself in anger, shall the earth be forsaken for you? Or shall the rock be removed from its place? 5 “The light of the wicked indeed goes out, and the flame of his fire does not shine. 6 The light is dark in his tent, and his lamp beside him is put out. 7 The steps of his strength are shortened, and his own counsel casts him down. 8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walks into a snare. 9 The net takes him by the heel, and a snare lays hold of him. 10 A noose is hidden for him on the ground, and a trap for him in the road. 11 Terrors frighten him on every side, and drive him to his feet. 12 His strength is starved, and destruction is ready at his side. 13 It devours patches of his skin; The firstborn of death devours his limbs. 14 He is uprooted from the shelter of his tent, and they parade him before the king of terrors. 15 They dwell in his tent who are none of his; Brimstone is scattered on his dwelling. 16 His roots are dried out below, and his branch withers above. 17 The memory of him perishes from the earth, and he has no name among the renowned. 18 He is driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world. 19 He has neither son nor posterity among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings. 20 Those in the west are astonished at his day, as those in the east are frightened. 21 Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him who does not know God.”

From time to time I come across people who want to fight God. They have taken upon themselves the desire to mock the bible. I am sure you have heard how people will say that it is just a bunch of stories, of myths put together over time. The first question I ask such a person is this, ‘Have you personally read the whole bible’. Guess a percent that had actually read the bible before shooting their mouths off? So far I have not come across one person who has criticized the bible as being false and has actually read it.

In my typical kindness I tell them to go and read the bible and then come back and we will talk about their disagreements. You know it’s a funny thing. Not one person has done this and has come back to talk about it being false.

In a similar way I see the same thing going on here in the book of Job. This guy Bildad is saying the same thing to Job. See if you pick this up?

1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: 2 “How long till you put an end to words? Gain understanding, and afterward we will speak.

In this chapter Bildad makes a second assault upon Job. Back in chapter 8 he came into the picture against Job. Then he had said that Job could hope that all things should yet go well for him some again in the future. But here there is not a word of that; he has grown more irritated, by Job’s reasoning’s. He sharply reproves Job as arrogant and obstinate in his opinion.

3 Why are we counted as beasts, and regarded as stupid in your sight?

I like a quote from Matthew Henry who said, “None so dear that will not hear. None so blind that will not see.’ Job had indeed called the visitors mockers, had represented them both as unwise and as unkind, wanting both in the reason and tenderness of men, but he did not count them beasts. This is how Bildad heard and interpreted Job’s remarks.

In situations like this I refer to my formula for the escalation of problems. Thoughts = emotions = actions. When you do not hear clearly what a person has said then you have incorrect thoughts. Would you agree? Then with the incorrect thoughts circulating in your mind you start to get angry. Which in many cases leads to actions that may be regrettable?

4 You who tear yourself in anger, shall the earth be forsaken for you? Or shall the rock be removed from its place?

Back in chapter 16 verse 9 Job had said that God, “He tears me in His wrath, and hates me; He gnashes at me with His teeth; My adversary sharpens His gaze on me.’ These words seem to circulate in Bildad’s mind. So, he answers Job, ‘No, God isn’t tearing you. You are tearing yourself in your own anger.’