Friday, November 17, 2017
Job 18:11 says, Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall drive him to his feet. Bildad is still speaking of the fate of the wicked, but again he is applying this to what was happening with Job. He said that the wicked would be so afraid that they could not rest. I am not sure that the lost people in the world all have trouble resting in this world, but if they acknowledge the fact that the soul of man never dies, they should have trouble resting. In this life they may have comfort, but this life is but temporary. Verse twelve says, His strength shall be hungerbitten, and destruction shall be ready at his side. We need to remember that Bildad was still attempting to prove to Job that sin had led Job to his current condition. Bildad was saying that sin always brought pain and suffering to a person, but again we know this is not always true. We cannot attempt to claim that if a person, especially a Christian, is suffering that it is a punishment from God. Verse thirteen says, It shall devour the strength of his skin: even the firstborn of death shall devour his strength. Since Job was suffering such a fate, Bildad was saying that Job should expect this due to the sin in his life and his refusal to acknowledge it. When we see a person suffering today, we cannot attribute this to God's punishment of sin. They may be like Job and be having their faith put to the test. If God always materially rewarded those who follow Him, and materially punished those who do not, it would be much easier to get people to follow Him. We cannot put our faith in God only for those material blessings, but must remain true to Him, no matter what, just as Job did. Verse fourteen says, His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle, and it shall bring him to the king of terrors. This is the ultimate fate of those who do not accept Christ as their Savior and Lord, but it does not equate to material blessings in this world. When a person stands before God unforgiven, that person will indeed face the king of terrors. Verse fifteen says, It shall dwell in his tabernacle, because it is none of his: brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation. I believe that Bildad was saying that there was no place for the sinner to be safe from God's judgment. Bildad was still thinking about material things being a sign of God's blessings, and saying that God would tear down all that sinners did. Though it is true that ultimately, at the end of this world, no unsaved sinner, those not redeemed by personal faith in Christ, can find a place to be safe from God's judgment, that does not mean that they will always be punished materially or physically in life. Verse sixteen says, His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his branch be cut off. Bildad was still attempting to apply the punishment of sinners to this world, and especially to Job. Verse seventeen adds, His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name in the street. Job had indeed been cut down and was already forgotten by all his friends for all practical purposes. Verse eighteen states, He shall be driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world. Job's world was indeed full of darkness and he was close to death. Bildad was telling Job that these things were proof that Job was being punished by God. We cannot apply eternal truths to temporary situations just to support our beliefs. Had Bildad and his two friends been praying for the understanding of God's will in what was happening to Job, they would have seen the truth of the situation. We can never just assume to know God's will, but must always ask His guidance in understanding it. Verse nineteen says, He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings. Once more, I believe that Bildad was attempting to apply his beliefs to Job's situation. We don't know about nephews, but Job's sons had died. I believe that among other things that are wrong with Bidad's reasoning is the fact that he assumes that children and relatives will be punished for the sins of some else. Each person is responsible for their own relationship with God. Verse twenty states, They that come after him shall be astonied at his day, as they that went before were affrighted. Those who saw Job were certainly astonished by his current state, even as before the had viewed him as a powerful man, whom they respected or even feared. Verse twenty one concludes, Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God. I believe that Bildad was telling Job that Job knew that this was what he should have expected due to his sins and hypocrisy. We can never claim that other people are deserving of suffering in this world due to their material or physical status in life. Suffering and a lack of material wealth do not equate to punishment from God.
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