Hello everyone! Today’s Bible study is on Job 8 – Bildad asks Job should repent. According to Bible scholars, the events of the book of Job took place approximately before 2100 B.C.
I encourage you to turn to Job 8 in your Bible. Kindly invite the Holy Spirit to guide you as you read and study Job 8 with me. I mention this in all the Bible Studies because it is through the Holy Spirit that we get fresh revelations. I am using the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible, just in case you want to know. All the scriptures that you find highlighted in purple in this post are from the NKJV.
In the Bible Study on Job 7, we read about Job comfortlessness in his suffering. Well, in this Bible study on Job 8, we will read yet again about one of Job’s friends giving Job advice to repent.
Without any further delay, let us begin the Bible Study on Job 8 and see what Bildad, Job’s friend has to say.
Bildad Advises Job To Seek God
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.
5 If you would earnestly seek God
And make your supplication to the Almighty,
6 If you were pure and upright,
Surely now He would awake for you,
And prosper your rightful dwelling place.
7 Though your beginning was small,
Yet your latter end would increase abundantly.
According to Verses 1-3 of Job 8, Bildad, the Shuhite, one of Job’s friends answered Job. He answers Job after hearing Job proclaim his comfortlessness in his suffering in Job 7. He asked Job how long would he lament his situation and speak harsh words. Bildad assures Job that God never subverts judgment nor perverts justice.
In Verse 4, Bildad says that God has cast away Job’s children for their transgressions. And if Job would earnestly seek God and make supplications while being pure and upright then God will surely prosper him (Job) in his rightful dwelling place. Bildad further said that Job’s latter half of his life would be better that his first half. In Job 1, we read that Job was the wealthiest man in his region during his time until disaster struck him. Therefore, imagine, when God prospers him in the latter half of his life how much more prosperous and joyful will Job be in every area of his life.
In short, Bildad wanted Job to call out to God and seek Him to find deliverance from his situation. For God is quick to forgive if we repent. However, Job has no idea of what to repent of. He does not know what exactly his sin is.
Bildad Asks Job To Learn From Their Ancestors
8 “For inquire, please, of the former age,
And consider the things discovered by their fathers;
9 For we were born yesterday, and know nothing,
Because our days on earth are a shadow.
10 Will they not teach you and tell you,
And utter words from their heart?
According to Verses 8-10 of Job 8, Bildad advises Job to inquire and consider the things that the forefathers have discovered and known. According to Bildad, he and Job do not know as much as their forefathers knew. If they (forefathers) were to speak, they would teach and tells Job about things from their heart, things that he had no idea of.
Observation
Most likely, the ancestors that Bildad is referring to, refers to their forefathers who were people of faith and who knew God. “The things discovered by their fathers”, in Verse 8 of Job 8 that Bildad talks of, most likely refers to the things that their fathers had discovered about God especially during times of test and trial. Kindly notice that even though the Bible is not clear on what their forefather’s discovery was, it could very well be things about test and trials and how God delivered them from it as Bildad is advising Job during his season of test and trial.
The Hope Of The Hypocrite Shall Perish
11 “Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh?
Can the reeds flourish without water?
12 While it is yet green and not cut down,
It withers before any other plant.
13 So are the paths of all who forget God;
And the hope of the hypocrite shall perish,
14 Whose confidence shall be cut off,
And whose trust is a spider’s web.
In Verses 11-14 of Job 8, Bildad compares the way of the hypocrite to the way of the papyrus without a marsh and reeds without water. The paths of people who forget God and the hope of the hypocrites will wither in the same way like the plants that are perfectly green wither without a marsh or water. Their (the hypocrite’s) confidence shall be cut off. Their trust is a spider’s web – fragile and slippery. A web where it is not easy to get out of.
The Hypocrite Puts His Faith In Himself And Everything Else Except God
15 He leans on his house, but it does not stand.
He holds it fast, but it does not endure.
16 He grows green in the sun,
And his branches spread out in his garden.
17 His roots wrap around the rock heap,
And look for a place in the stones.
18 If he is destroyed from his place,
Then it will deny him, saying, ‘I have not seen you.’
In Verses 15-18 of Job 8, Bildad explains how a hypocrite leans on his house for support yet his house does not stand nor endure. It does not provide him the support he needs. He (the hypocrite) grows green in the sun and he spreads his braches out in his garden and he wraps his roots around rocks and stones thinking it is safe and firm. However, if God destroys him from his place and snatches him out then the very same place where he was planted will deny him and tell him that it has not seen him. In short, Bildad tells Job to not be a hypocrite.
Observation
The hypocrite is compared to a green plant/tree that grows in the sun. He thinks he is steady, stable and able to prosper without God forgetting that his roots (trust) is not in God but on a rock. According tot he hypocrite, he is self-sufficient and he is enough. He thinks he is so prosperous even without God. Only sheer arrogance can do that. Moreover, he seeks comfort from his house, the ground where he is planted and the rocks (all material things) rather than leaning on God and seeking and trusting in Him. He forgets that God can pluck him away in a moment.
When he is indeed snatched away, the very same place that held him will deny that he was even there. This is also because places can be forfeited. A place that belongs to a man one day will belong (most probably) to another in the future. And the very place that he once stood on will deny his existence for now it has new owners. For the trust of the hypocrite is not in God.
It is important to let go of self and being reliant on all the material possesions that one has. A wise man puts his trust in God and is dependent on God.
Bildad Encourages Job About His Future
19 “Behold, this is the joy of His way,
And out of the earth others will grow.
20 Behold, God will not cast away the blameless,
Nor will He uphold the evildoers.
21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughing,
And your lips with rejoicing.
22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame,
And the dwelling place of the wicked will come to nothing.”
Verses 19-20 of Job 8, talks about the joy of God’s way where God will cause others to grow out of the earth and take the place of the hypocrite who did not believe in God. He will not cast away the blameless and He will never uphold the evildoers because God is eternally just. In Verses 21-22, Bildad encourages Job that God will fill Job’s mouth with laughter again and his lips will rejoice again in the goodness of God. He also said that those who hated Job will be clothed in shame (the mockers will be mocked) and the dwelling place of the wicked be no more.
Conclusion
This brings us to the conclusion of Job 8. Bildad encourages Job and gives him hope and encouragement about his future. We also learn in this chapter, how not to trust or believe in our own capabilites but to believe in God. Even though without God all seems well and good, it takes only a moment for eveyrthing to turn upside down and that is the story of the hypocrite who does not hope in God.
If you have any comments or questions, I invite you to leave them in the comments box below. I will reply to you as early as possible.
Until Next Time!