Bildad's 1St Response: Job Is Nothing More Than a “Wind-Bag”
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JOB 8 Bildad’s 1 st Response: Job Is Nothing More than a “Wind-Bag” Introduction : In this chapter the second of Job’s friends, Bildad (who is presumably the second oldest of Job’s four friends), speaks. Similar to Eliphaz, Bildad shows Job no compassion and rather gruffly tells Job that he should repent. Of course the reason for this was because Bildad, along with Eliphaz, held to the common belief that a person’s misery and suffering is in direct proportion to unconfessed sin in their life. But this misconception is refuted in the case of the man born blind {see John 9:1-5}, which we have looked at previously. Obviously, a person who reasons this way is guessing about a person’s sin and is on very shaky ground. Making a judgment about a situation based on “guilt by association” is dangerous because it is unwise and unfair and usually leads to a misunderstanding. This brings to mind what Jesus says in Matt. 7:1-5: “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure 1 you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.” The point is that if Bildad had looked more clearly he would have seen a plank in his own eye! Bildad was also not very compassionate. Even if Job had grievously sinned, Paul tells us what the Christian’s response should be in Gal. 6:1-3: “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself”. Whereas Eliphaz primarily charges Job with resenting God's discipline { Job 5:17 }; Bildad accuses Job of questioning the justice of God { Job 8:3 }. Both of these self-appointed counselors held the view that a man's calamities are the consequences of his crimes against man and God {cp. Job 4:7-8 with 8:11- 13 }. Bildad { Job 8:5-7}, like Eliphaz { Job 5:8 }, admonishes Job to repent as the way to restoration. Bildad’s response to Job is basically, “You’re wrong about your innocence, you did something to deserve this and you need to repent and you’re ‘blowing smoke’.” This is again, just like Eliphaz’ response, not helpful and doesn’t challenge Job at the point of his need, which is his prideful attitude before God. Bildad describes Job’s problem without giving him the right solution. Also, Bildad thinks he needs to come to the defense of God’s righteousness—as if He needed defending! Bildad will respond to Job two more times, in chapter 18 and 25, so we get to hear from him again. 1 Please note that Jesus is not saying we should never judge. Only that when we judge we better use the exact same standard of judgment [“measure”; lit. “metered”] we would want someone to apply to us. If it is “benefit of the doubt” that we should extend that. If it is God’s moral standard of right and wrong we should use that. If we judge ourselves by God’s standards then it is perfectly acceptable to judge others by those same standards. In that case we are using the exact same standard on others as we would want others to use on ourselves. 1 Job Chapter 8 Klaus G. Schiessel Copyright © June 2014 vv. 1-4 BILDAD ’S RESPONSE —“J OB YOU ’RE IN ERROR AND A ‘WIND -BAG ’ [1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: 2 “How long will you speak these things, and the words of your mouth be like a strong wind? 3 Does God subvert judgment? Or does the Almighty pervert justice? 4 If your sons have sinned against Him, He has cast them away for their transgression .”] Bildad now answers Job’s lament and tirade against God. You’ll remember that he is listed as the second of Job’s friends { Job 2:11 } and because he is the second to speak it has been presumed that he was also the second oldest. Refer to introductory notes on Job. Bildad’s response is provocative and his irritation and indignation towards Job’s attitude oozes with sarcasm. He asks Job how long will he go on in trying to (a) justify himself and (b) accuse God of wrongdoing. He basically calls Job a “wind-bag”; “ How long will the words of your mouth be like a strong wind ?” Note that Bildad’s question may be in direct response to Job 6:26 ; “ Do you intend to rebuke my words, and the speeches of a desperate one, which are as wind ?” Well, he is answering the question in the affirmative—I am going to rebuke you! Bildad is attempting to lead Job to a preconceived conclusion [i.e., Bildad’s biased conclusion] by asking Job two logical questions, each of which is paired with a rephrased version of the question. First, Bildad asks Job how long is he going on to speak the things he’s saying, and rephrasing the question, how long will he go on blowing wind out of your mouth! Obviously, he seems not to have too much respect, or compassion, for Job’s words. Second, Bildad asks Job if God [“ El ”] ever renders a subverted [lit. “is blind ”]2 verdict , and rephrasing that question, does the Almighty [“Shaddai”] ever pervert [lit. “is blind”] that which is morally right . In other words, is El Shaddai, God Almighty, One who would ignore or distort, His own standards of righteousness? The obvious answer is “No, of course not!” But Bildad is not asking Job the right questions because Job already knows the answers to these question and the problem is that Job is ignoring the answers. In Job’s heart and mind he didn’t think he was just making “wind” nor accusing God of being unrighteous—although in reality he was! Bildad now makes a heartless statement, probably out of his frustration with Job. He claims that his children deserved their fate [they were crushed to death; Job 1:18-19 3] because they had sinned and he tells Job that is why God has “ cast them away ”. Can you imagine the impact this must have had on Job? Remember the physical suffering and agony he’s already going through—it’s become unbearable. 2 Note that this Hebrew word is sometimes translated “overthrown ” { Job 19:6}, “crooked ” { Eccl. 1:15 } or “ falsify ” { Amos 8:5 }. 3 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you !” 2 Job Chapter 8 Klaus G. Schiessel Copyright © June 2014 Ironically, by saying that Job’s words are like that a forceful windstorm , Bildad may be making an inadvertent allusion to how his children were killed { Job 1:19 }. If he’s deliberately making this association, it expresses a highly unsympathetic response with no consideration whatsoever for Job’s real issue. Nevertheless, Bildad, like Eliphaz before him, is being rather unkind and harsh with Job. But he, like Eliphaz, was only basing his response on the common belief in the Middle East at that time [as well as today], which is that misfortune and suffering in life is a direct result of God’s punishment for sin. We have already seen this previously in Eliphaz’ response. But we have also seen that this assumption is not necessarily the case {refer to John 9:1-5} and most often it is false because our knowledge is limited and fallible. Bildad’s questions should have been focusing on getting Job to acknowledge his true status before the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY , the One who created all things, including Job. What kind of questions are those? They would be questions that would cause Job to see the splendor, majesty, power, glory and holiness of God; and thereby the folly and futility of his own complaint and pride. These are the kinds of questions that the LORD asked Job. Later, in chapters 32—37, we’ll see that the youngest of Job’s friends, Elihu, is the closest one to getting things right. After Elihu finishes speaking, the LORD speaks { Job 38—41 }! Job did need an “attitude adjustment”, but as we’ll see at the end of this book, it doesn’t come from any of his friends—it comes from the LORD Himself! Here are the kinds of questions the LORD asks Job: “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge ?”—Job 38:2 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone …..?” —Job 38:4-6 “Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you set their dominion over the earth ?” —Job 38:33 “Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it .”—Job 40:2 “Would you indeed annul My judgment? Would you condemn Me that you may be justified? Have you an arm like God? Or can you thunder with a voice like His? Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor, and array yourself with glory and beauty.