Jewels From Job
Job – Chapter #18
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: Job 18:1 (NKJV)
THE PURPOSE OF BILDAD’S DEBATE
Bildad is about to go for the second round in the debate. He is to respond to Job. He is to give an answer to what Job has just said. Most of this chapter deals with what Bildad perceives will happen to the ungodly. Remember Bildad believes that Job is suffering because of the sin in his life. Bildad’s thought is that, “no one who is righteous would suffer as Job has. God does not allow it. Suffering like this does not happen to the righteous – therefore Job is not innocent.” Bildad’s speech to Job can be summed us: “Job you got what you deserve.” Bildad and Job’s two other friends had concluded that Job’s suffering was due to sin in Job’s life.
We who are standing on this side of the cross knows different. Look to the suffering of Jesus. He who was without sin suffered tremendously. God allows the rain to fall on the just and the unjust. He sends blessing to all of us and He allows suffering to knock on every door. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Bad stuff happens to good people – no one is exempt.
2 "How long till you put an end to words? Gain understanding, and afterward we will speak. 3 Why are we counted as beasts, And regarded as stupid in your sight? 4 You who tear yourself in anger, Shall the earth be forsaken for you? Or shall the rock be removed from its place? Job 18:2-4 (NKJV)
MAN IS NOT THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE
In verse two Bildad asks Job how long he will speak until he shuts up. Bildad does not think that Job is listening – if he was he would not be arguing the way he was.
In verse three Bildad feels Job has treated his friends as idiots. He says, “Why do you treat your friends like slow-witted animals? You look down on us as if we don’t know anything.” Job 18:3 (MSG) Job has not disrespected his friends but has tried to get them to understand his point of view. Just because you do not agree with someone should not lead polarization. True friends should be able to express their own opinions – disagree with one another – any yet still respect one another. Some people don’t understand that there can be diversity in friendship. They think in order to be friends we must think exactly alike.
Bildad then goes on to tell Job in verse four that the world does not revolve around him. The world has an order to things – and we are not the center of it. This is a hard lesson to learn for humans – we have a tendency to believe that the world revolves around us. When we were infants – we cried when we were hungry and we got fed. Some adults act the same way. They cry and get there way. They have learned that the more noise that they make – people will give them what they want. There is a saying which states, “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.” It means that if you make enough noise you will get what you want. I like the saying, “The squeaky wheel will eventually get replaced.” All of us may need to squeak at some time – but when you do – make sure it is at the appropriate time.
One of the hardest lessons to learn is that the world does not revolve around us. Rick Warren has captured this concept in his book “Purpose Driven Life”. In chapter one of the book Warren uses four short words to express that glorifying God is should be the goal of every man, woman, and child. He writes, “It’s not about me.” None of us are God – so why do I try to be? The Message Bible expressed this concept in verse four by saying, “Do you want the world redesigned to suit you? Should reality be suspended to accommodate you?” Job 18:4 (MSG)
5 "The light of the wicked indeed goes out, And the flame of his fire does not shine. 6 The light is dark in his tent, And his lamp beside him is put out. 7 The steps of his strength are shortened, And his own counsel casts him down. 8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet, And he walks into a snare. 9 The net takes him by the heel, And a snare lays hold of him. 10 A noose is hidden for him on the ground, And a trap for him in the road. 11 Terrors frighten him on every side, And drive him to his feet. 12 His strength is starved, And destruction is ready at his side. 13 It devours patches of his skin; The firstborn of death devours his limbs. 14 He is uprooted from the shelter of his tent, And they parade him before the king of terrors. 15 They dwell in his tent who are none of his; Brimstone is scattered on his dwelling. 16 His roots are dried out below, And his branch withers above. 17 The memory of him perishes from the earth, And he has no name among the renowned. 18 He is driven from light into darkness, And chased out of the world. 19 He has neither son nor posterity among his people, Nor any remaining in his dwellings. 20 Those in the west are astonished at his day, As those in the east are frightened. 21 Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, And this is the place of him who does not know God." Job 18:5-21 (NKJV)
THE PUNISHMENT OF THE WICKED
Bildad goes into a long description of what will happen to the “wicked”. Here is a summary of Bildad’s concept of what happens to the wicked:
The wicked will suffer – like a light being put out (verses 5–6).
The wicked will suffer – like a trapped animal (verses 7-10).
The wicked will suffer – like a pursued criminal (verses 11-14).
The wicked will suffer – like a tree that is up-rooted (verses 15-21)
In the last verse of the chapter he defines who the wicked are: they are those who do not know God. In Hebrew “wicked” literally means the “unjust one.” Bildad believes that Job is a culprit – a wicked one.
Here are the facts that Bildad perceives will happen to the wicked:
1. The light of the wicked goes out.
2. The flame of the fire does not shine.
3. Light turns to darkness in his tent.
4. The lamp beside him is put out.
5. His steps are shortened because he has lost his strength.
6. The wisdom that he has leads to disaster.
7. There is a trap set for him.
8. His own steps lead him into the trap.
9. The trap grabs him by the heel.
10. The trap will not let him go.
11. The trap is hidden on the ground.
12. There is a trap on the road that is set for him.
13. On every side there are terrors and make it so he can’t sit still.
14. He has no strength.
15. Destruction sits at his side.
16. Destruction eats up his skin.
17. The firstborn of death is consuming his arms and legs.
18. He can not stay in his own home.
19. He is paraded in front of the king of terrors.
20. Strangers dwell in his home.
21. Brimstone is on his dwelling.
22. His roots are dry.
23. His branches shrivel up.
24. No one remembers him any more.
25. He is not mentioned when others are spoken of.
26. He is driven into darkness.
27. He is chased out of the world.
28. There are no children to carry on his name.
29. There is no family to live in his house.
30. Those in the west are amazed at his life.
31. Those in the east are frightened at what they see.
32. This is the life of the wicked.
33. This is what happens to those who do not know God.
Bildad is expressing in detail what happens to those who do not know God. This is hell-fire preaching. Turn or Burn.
Notice in verse eight through ten that different words are used for various types of dangers: net, snare, noose and trap. This shows the intensity of what God has designed for the wicked.
In verses thirteen and fourteen two persons are mentioned: The Firstborn of Death and The King of Terrors. Some have suggested that this refers to death personified – others suggest that it may refer to Satan.
In verse sixteen Bildad contradicts Job’s previous argument that the tree is cut down but sprouts up from its roots. “For a tree there is always hope. Chop it down and it still has a chance— its roots can put out fresh sprouts. Even if its roots are old and gnarled, its stump long dormant, At the first whiff of water it comes to life, buds and grows like a sapling.” Job 14:7-9 (MSG) But Job realizes that this is not the case of people: “But men and women? They die and stay dead. They breathe their last, and that’s it.” Job 14:10 (MSG)
We must be aware that Job believes much of what Bildad is saying about the wicked is true. The wicked will suffer. But, Job knows that he is not suffering because of his wickedness. If there is anything to be said about Job – he never turned his back on God. He may have questioned God, he may have pleaded with God, but he never turned his back on God. That is why the scripture says, “See, we count as blessed those who have endured. You have heard of Job’s endurance and have seen the outcome from the Lord: the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.” James 5:11 (HCSB)
Here again we have Hebrew poetry. In Hebrew poetry the words do not rhyme. In Hebrew poetry a thought is expressed – then a reflective thought is stated. Hebrew poetry consists of parallel ideas.
