Job 18-19 – Job vs. Bildad, Round 2

Bildad chimes in for the second time, beginning with a rebuke of Job (as per usual). As we’ve seen with the other men, including Job, Bildad asserts that he is, in fact, wiser than those who disagree with him. Then he spends the entire chapter telling Job, yet again, that what has befallen him is because of sin, because this is what God does to sinners. What they consider light, God turns to darkness (vv. 5-6). Their own plans lead them to destruction (vv. 7-8). They don’t even realize the danger they are in because of their sin (vv. 9-10). His ways lead to death (vv. 12-18) and even his children suffer for his sin (v. 19). Those who don’t know God are destroyed (v. 21).

Again, we see the same thing here as we’ve seen in the previous cycles of accusation and answer. Bildad is seeing Job’s situation though worldly eyes and relying on worldly wisdom. And, of course, he is eager to defend himself against Job.

And as per usual, Job accuses his friend of wronging him (19:2-3). Job tells Bildad that if he has sinned, that it is not for Bildad to judge (vv. 4-5), but for God (v. 6). Then Job resumes his complaint against God. This time, he goes so far as to accuse God of injustice (v. 7)! Note that Job claims for himself glory (v.9) – the heart of the sin of pride! Job even claims to have lost hope – the hope that he just reaffirmed in his answer to Eliphaz (17:15-16). God is wholly against him (vv. 10-12). In verses 13-19, Job says that not only is God against him, but everyone is against him. This is total despair! Job begs for mercy from his friends, because he says God is not giving it to him (vv. 21-22).

Then, the pendulum swings again. Job is on a rollercoaster of emotions! He now declares his hope in God. And we have here one of the greatest expositions of the resurrection in the Old Testament. Before the New Testament was written, before Christ finished His work, the words of Martha expressed this hope:

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” – John 11:21–24 (ESV)

This is what Job believed, too. He knows that God is not his adversary, but his Redeemer (v. 25). He knows that even though his body will die, not only will he live, but he will again live in his physical body at the resurrection (v. 26) and physically be with God (v. 27). And Job knows this resurrection will happen along with the final judgment of God (v. 29).

This is the promise Christ makes to all who believe:

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” – John 11:25–27 (ESV)

Though Job’s faith may waiver, his hope remains in God alone. And tough our faith may waiver, our hope is in God alone. Nothing in this world can change that.