Job 8

Job 8:1-22

BILDAD’S FIRST SPEECHJob_8:1-22.ONE is impressed with the thought that these professed comforters of Job are combining against him. They are not only men of parts, but men who know how to cooperate in argument. No sooner is one felled by the great philosopher, than another stands up to resist him. There is something of the wolf in man, and he often reinforces his personal weakness by calling his fellows to his aid. It is just possible that these three men came together because not one of them felt competent to successfully undertake alone.It is evident also in this eighth chapter that Job had somewhat worsted Eliphaz, and by so doing, exasperated Bildad.HIS ARE BRUSQUEHe charged Job with being a blow.“Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,“How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind” (Job 8:1-2).He reminded Job of God’s justice.“Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice”? (Job 8:3).He intimated Job’s sons were degenerates.“If thy children have sinned against Him, and He have cast them away for their transgression;“If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;If thou wert pure and upright; surely now He would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous” (Job 8:4-6).HIS WERE BROADHe appealed to the past.“For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:“(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:)“Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart”? (Job 8:8-10).He illustrated from nature.“Can the rush grow up without mire? Can the flag grow without water?“Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.“So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite’s hope shall perish:“Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider’s web.“He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.“He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.“His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones” (Job 8:11-17).He prophesied the skeptic’s destruction.“If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee” (Job 8:18).HIS WAS BLESSED He contends for adequate successors.“Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow” (Job 8:19).He defends God’s righteousness.“Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evildoers” (Job 8:20).He promises Job’s joy.“Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.“They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought” (Job 8:21-22).