OVERVIEW:
Job continues his response to Eliphaz: Job reproaches his friends; Bildad’s theory about Job’s tribulation; Job’s response to Bildad; Zophar’s accusations against Job.
HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:
As we saw in yesterday’s reading, Eliphaz was the first of Job’s friends to offer his “counsel”. (Job 3-4) In chapter 6, Job responds to Eliphaz’s speech. As we move into chapter 7 today, Job is in the midst of continuing his response. It’s as if he opens his soul and cries out, “If there is a set time for man to be upon the earth, surely my time is about up!” (7:1) Through all that has befallen Job, he has been brought to the total depths of despair. He feels there’s nothing left to look forward to in life but long, empty days and sleepless nights. (7:3–4) On one hand, he’s afraid his life is over, and on the other hand, he’s afraid that maybe it isn’t! In the midst of it all, however, Job has no clue that the things that have happened to him were actually the result of how blessed God was with Job’s godly character and pure heart. Job simply assumes that because all of these horrific things happened to him, for some unknown reason, God must have been displeased with him. As we read of Job’s awful plight, certainly our hearts go out to him. If we put ourselves in Job’s situation, we certainly have no problem understanding why he is so distraught. As Job brings his response to Elizphaz to a conclusion at the end of chapter 7, he readily admits that he is a sinner like everybody else, but holds tenaciously to the fact that his “tribulation” is not because of some secret sin in his life that he is refusing to confess.
Then in chapter 8, Bildad, the second of Job’s friends begins his “counsel”. Whereas Eliphaz at least made an attempt to grace his accusation that Job must be guilty of some secret sin, Bildad goes right for Job’s spiritual jugular. In effect, he tells Job that he’s sick of listening to his excuses, and that he’s full of hot air. If that weren’t assaulting enough, he even has the audacity to tell Job that his 10 children also had to be guilty of sin, and that they had gotten from God’s hand exactly what they deserved. Wow! With friends like Bildad who needs enemies?! Do be aware, however, that there are “Bildads” in every church. They are typically well-intentioned, but they are majorly misinformed! The typical problem with these people, however, just as in Bildad’s case, is that it is impossible to convince them of that. Basically, Bildad points the finger at Job and tells him that if he would simply pray and earnestly seek God, all of his “tribulation” would go away. As our wealth of biblical knowledge increases, we must be very careful that we don’t turn into a bunch of “Bildads”! We must guard against the pride that causes us to think that we know why every person goes through the things they go through. As Job can tell us, that arrogant and judgmental attitude can be extremely hurtful. Like Bildad, we can also be very wrong!
In chapter 9, Job responds to Bildad’s accusations. Though there were many things he could have said to defend himself, much of what Job chose to do was admit the truth of Bildad’s words. Do note that most of the things that all three of Job’s friends said to him were actually true. They all possessed a great deal of information about God and His ways. They were simply off in their timing and application of that truth.
Note the seven “IF’s” in chapter 9:
- the 1st “IF” – (9:16–18);
- the 2nd “IF” – (9:19);
- the 3rd “IF” – (9:20a);
- the 4th “IF” – (9:20b–26);
- the 5th “IF” – (9:27–28);
- the 6th “IF” – (9:29);
- the 7th “IF” – (9:30–35).
As chapter 10 begins, Job sets forth a series of questions for God. Job wants to know how God could understand the sufferings of a man, since He had never been one. Obviously, Job could say that in his day. But no one in the world has been able to register that complaint against God for the past 2000 years, because God has since become a man. We now have a God who is “touched with the feeling of our infirmities” (Hebrews 4:15a) because He became one of us, and was “tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15b) Because of that, Paul tells us in Hebrews 4:16, that we can “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help him in time of need.”
In chapter 11, Zophar, the third of Job’s friends begins to offer his “loving counsel.” He, too, comes on with both feet, saying, in effect, “Job, I’m not going to let you get by with all of your meaningless talk and lies!” (11:2–3) Like Bildad and Eliphaz, he also tells Job that it’s obvious that what he needs to do is repent, get his heart right with God, and everything would be all right.
Have you ever been an Eliphaz, Bildad, or Zophar, all up in somebody’s face, thinking you knew what they needed, when what they really needed was someone to simply be a loving friend to them? Maybe there’s someone you need to contact today, seeking their forgiveness for your haughty spirit and judgmental attitude.
CHRIST IS REVEALED:
- Through JOB’S SORROWFUL CONDITION — Job 7:1–6 (Christ is called “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” — Isaiah 53:3; Mark 15:34)
- Through the “DAYSMAN” (mediator) Job longed for — Job 9:33 (The Lord Jesus Christ is the only mediator (daysman) between holy God and sinful men. — 2nd Timothy 2:5)