BILDAD now attempts to answer Job and the basis of his remarks seem to be founded on traditions hand down from a former age. The Authority of wise and learned men of the past might seem to carry more weight than one’s individual experience as set forth by Eliphaz, but traditions were not what God had communicated to man. They were what man by his own reasoning had considered was truth. 1 Corinthians 1:2121For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. (1 Corinthians 1:21) tells us: “For after that in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”
Bildad says, “If thy children have sinned against Him, and He have cast them away for their transgression;... If thou wert pure and upright;...” Like Eliphaz he reasoned purely from what he saw of the moral government of God in this world, but he knew not God’s ways with His own. These men were saying it was impossible that God would cause grief to a really righteous man and cast him down—except there be some sin or fault found in him. But we know there was One who came into this world “who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth,” One whom God gave up to sufferings infinitely bond those of Job. “He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” These men did not know these things, for Christ had not come.
Bildad’s intimations that God had cast away Job’s children for their sins and that he was not “pure and upright,” were false and cruel, and deeply wounded poor Job. He speaks of Job as a hypocrite, and says God will not destroy a perfect man, nor will he help evil doers. Had not God spoken of Job as a perfect man, and that there was none like him in the earth?
Bildad then proceeds and calls on Job to prepare himself to the search of the fathers. “Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?” They did not apply to Job at all. We are exhorted in 2 Timothy 3:1414But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; (2 Timothy 3:14), “Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.” This refers to the New Testament Scriptures. Job’s friends evidently had not paid much attention to the other source of knowledge which was known in that day—that which God had communicated to man. Romans 1:2121Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (Romans 1:21) tells us, “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were they thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” It is apparent that Job’s friends had not received their information from men of faith.
When a believer is really passing through these deep waters, how few there are that thoroughly understand his case. But there is One who understands fully and enters into his sorrow with tenderest sympathy. The Spirit of God will always direct the eye of faith upward, away from self and circumstances to see in Christ our righteousness and God as our justifier. Human innocence was lost through sin, but divine righteousness is won in Christ. The earthly paradise was lost, but heaven is gained.
Job did not realize it then, but he learned afterward that God was as much for him in the hour of his deepest suffering and trial, as He was in the brightest days of his prosperity. How much comfort and encouragement there is for us in the Word of God!
ML-02/21/1960