Bildad (meaning “Bel has loved”) was the second friend to speak. Bildad speaks three times in the Book of Job: Job 8 and Job 18 and Job 25. Bildad came to comfort Job, but became more accusing
of Job the longer he had to listen to Job’s words.
Bildad’s first words are NOT words of comfort, but a rebuke of Job’s words which attacked
'common sense' theology. Bildad says:
“How long will you say such things?
Your words are a blustering wind.”
Job had argued that God must be unjust if a man’s disasters are equal to a man’s sin since God
has clearly overreacted in Job’s situation. Job claims he is innocent of great sin equal to the punishment God is getting credit for having sent.
To this Bildad firsts asks Job: “Does God pervert justice?” and “Does the Almighty pervert what is right?” The appropriate assumed response to these rhetorical questions is 'common sense' theology statement #2: “No, God does not pervert justice!” So, 'common sense' theology statement #2 combined with 'common sense' theology statement #1, “God punishes sin by sending disaster,”
gives us Bildad’s 'common sense' words of wisdom to explain to Job what is really going on. Bildad tells Job your children got what they deserved when all ten of them were killed by the desert storm.
“When your children sinned against him, he gave them over to the penalty of their sin.”
And, this leads to another 'common sense' theology conclusion: God sends prosperity, possessions, health, family and friends to people who are obedient to God and please him.
So, if you want to be rich you better go to church and do righteous things.
Remember, that at the end of the book when God finally speaks he says,
“The Lord…said to Eliphaz the Temanite, ‘I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has…My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly.” – Job 42:7-9 |
