8:1 Then Bildad the Shuhite spoke up and said:

 

Bildad means “son of contention.” A Shuhite was a descendant of Abraham and Keturah. This

is more internal evidence that the historical time period of this book was during the life time of the patriarchs, at least after Abraham.

 

Bildad is mean, brutal, blunt and crude. Satan often uses these kinds of enemies against believers who possess strong bible doctrine. Since liberal scholarship cannot stand up to biblical scholarship, then the liberal must resort to ridicule, name-calling, sarcasm, deception, and other crude methods in order to present his case. The liberal is scared to death of eternal life in the Lake of Fire, so he must find a way to eliminate this inescapable punishment out of his mind.

 

8:2 “How long will you speak these things, seeing that the words of your mouth are like a great wind? 

 

By this time, a crowd had probably gathered outside of the city to hear this intellectual debate. Bildad began his discourse by insulting Job. He told Job that he was speaking nothing but hot air.

 

8:3 Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert what is right? 

 

Bildad was saying that since God does not pervert justice, then Job must have committed some terrible secret sin. Bildad does not have enough bible doctrine to realize that this confrontation started in heaven. His limited bible doctrine gives him the same conclusion as that of Eliphaz. Job is a sinner and he deserves his punishment.

 

8:4 If your children sinned against him, he gave them over to the penalty of their sin.

 

Bildad made a very heartless remark here in an attempt to win his debate. His argument is that Job’s ten children sinned, so God killed them as punishment for their sin.

 

8:5 But if you will look to God, and make your supplication to the Almighty, 8:6 if you become pure and upright, even now he will rouse himself for you, and will restore your righteous abode. 

 

Bildad’s argument was that if Job would confess his sin and become lily-white, then God would restore Job. This was false doctrine. Job was not bearing this suffering for his own sin. Job’s suffering was the result of a spiritual battle between God and Satan.  Also, Job had already pleaded with God about his situation and nothing happened. Therefore, Bildad’s counsel was incorrect and unbiblical.

 

8:7 Your beginning will seem so small, since your future will flourish. 

 

God did flourish Job’s future later, but not for confession of sin. Job’s future flourished because of his humility.

 

8:8 “For inquire now of the former generation, and pay attention to the findings of their ancestors; 

 

Bildad is telling Job to forget about bible doctrine and listen to godless ancestors who lived before him. The religion of past ancestors was salvation by works and the karma of Hinduism - what goes around comes around. 

 

This is the same basic argument of evolutionism. Evolutionists ask believers to forget bible doctrine and believe in the godless scientists of the past.

 

8:9 For we were born yesterday and do not have knowledge, since our days on earth are but a shadow.

 

The people of Job were living to 200 years at this time, but their ancestors lived to 900 years. Bildad was closer to this time period than modern historians and scientists, so he should have more accurate information than the modern liberals and skeptics of today.

 

8:10 Will they not instruct you and speak to you, and bring forth words from their understanding? 

 

Instead of listening to sound bible doctrine, Bildad wanted Job to listen to the man-made philosophies of godless dead men who lived before him.

 

8:11 Can the papyrus plant grow tall where there is no marsh? Can reeds flourish without water? 

 

Bildad continued his insults upon Job. Just as a papyrus plant dies without water, so the person who opposes God will perish. Just as a reed dies without water, so will the man perish who opposes God. 

 

This was nothing new. This is first grade science and theology 101. Job knows the theology behind these principles much better than Bildad.

 

8:12 While they are still beginning to flower and not ripe for cutting, they can wither away faster than any grass! 

 

Flowers without water will wither and die. This was more first grade science.

 

8:13 Such is the destiny of all who forget God; the hope of the godless perishes, 

 

It is true that the godless perish. This was not new teaching to Job.

 

8:14 whose trust is in something futile, whose security is a spider’s web. 

 

Those who are godless will perish. They are trusting in things that are futile. Their security is placed upon a spiders web. Bildad was insulting Job again. He was telling Job that he was a godless person who was trusting in futile things. Job had committed some secret and terrible sin...that it was like trusting in a spider’s web. Job was nothing but a trapped insect in a spider’s web. The spider will eventually come down and devour Job. 

 

8:15 He leans against his house but it does not hold up, he takes hold of it but it does not stand. 

 

Bildad continued his attack. Job had built his foundation on doing evil things against God. This house will not stand. It will collapse.

 

8:16 He is a well-watered plant in the sun, its shoots spread over its garden. 

 

The attack continues. Job was planted in the garden by God. God took care of Job, by watering him every day. Job’s shoots began to sprout and spread.

 

8:17 It wraps its roots around a heap of stones and it looks for a place among stones. 

 

Bildad continues his insults. Instead of Job lowering his roots into the fertile ground, Job foolishly wraps his roots around stone where the roots could not grow.

 

8:18 If he is uprooted from his place, then that place will disown him, saying, ‘I have never seen you!’ 

 

Bildad gave his godless conclusion. Job had placed his roots among evil rocks, so God will pull him up and cast him away.

 

8:19 Indeed, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth others spring up. 

 

Bildad added more insults. If Job does not place his roots deep in God’s garden, and he chooses to place his roots in the evil of the rocks, then God will uproot him and plant another flower in his place.

 

8:20 “Surely, God does not reject a blameless man, nor does he grasp the hand of the evildoers. 

 

This is bad theology. First, there is no blameless man. Second, every man is totally depraved and evil. Third, God will not cast away His elect. 

 

8:21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with gladness. 

 

This is more bad theology. Bildad’s argument is that if Job is good, then God will prosper him. Christ has promised suffering, not prosperity, to those who follow Him. Job was suffering because of his strong bible doctrine and application.

 

8:22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.” 

 

This is more bad theology. The wicked will prosper in this world, but not in the next world. The righteous will suffer in this world, but not the next world. 

 

Bildad is a traditionalist. He thinks that by reason and science, he is smart enough to know how the world began and how it operates. He was telling Job the same thing that Eliphaz told him. Basically, Job had come to nothing because he was a great sinner. This is the best that the godless man can do. Bildad did not know God, Job, or himself. A man devoid of bible doctrine cannot see the truth or give beneficial advice to others who may be suffering.