ASK THE FORMER GENERATIONS

Passage: Job 8:1-22

Key verse: 8,9

NIV

Bildad

8 Then Bildad the Shuhite(A) replied:

2 “How long will you say such things?(B)
    Your words are a blustering wind.(C)
3 Does God pervert justice?(D)
    Does the Almighty pervert what is right?(E)
4 When your children sinned against him,
    he gave them over to the penalty of their sin.(F)
5 But if you will seek God earnestly
    and plead(G) with the Almighty,(H)
6 if you are pure and upright,
    even now he will rouse himself on your behalf(I)
    and restore you to your prosperous state.(J)
7 Your beginnings will seem humble,
    so prosperous(K) will your future be.(L)

8 “Ask the former generation(M)
    and find out what their ancestors learned,
9 for we were born only yesterday and know nothing,(N)
    and our days on earth are but a shadow.(O)
10 Will they not instruct(P) you and tell you?
    Will they not bring forth words from their understanding?(Q)
11 Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh?(R)
    Can reeds(S) thrive without water?
12 While still growing and uncut,
    they wither more quickly than grass.(T)
13 Such is the destiny(U) of all who forget God;(V)
    so perishes the hope of the godless.(W)
14 What they trust in is fragile[a];
    what they rely on is a spider’s web.(X)
15 They lean on the web,(Y) but it gives way;
    they cling to it, but it does not hold.(Z)
16 They are like a well-watered plant in the sunshine,
    spreading its shoots(AA) over the garden;(AB)
17 it entwines its roots around a pile of rocks
    and looks for a place among the stones.
18 But when it is torn from its spot,
    that place disowns(AC) it and says, ‘I never saw you.’(AD)
19 Surely its life withers(AE) away,
    and[b] from the soil other plants grow.(AF)

20 “Surely God does not reject one who is blameless(AG)
    or strengthen the hands of evildoers.(AH)
21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter(AI)
    and your lips with shouts of joy.(AJ)
22 Your enemies will be clothed in shame,(AK)
    and the tents(AL) of the wicked will be no more.”(AM)

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Job 8:14 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  2. Job 8:19 Or Surely all the joy it has / is that
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Bildad Speaks: Job Should Repent

8 Then (A)Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:

2 “How long will you say these things,
    and the words of your mouth be a (B)great wind?
3 (C)Does God pervert justice?
    Or does the Almighty pervert the right?
4 If your (D)children have sinned against him,
    he has delivered them into the hand of their transgression.
5 If you will seek God
    and (E)plead with the Almighty for mercy,
6 if you are pure and upright,
    surely then he will (F)rouse himself for you
    and (G)restore your rightful habitation.
7 And though your beginning was small,
    (H)your latter days will be very great.

8 “For (I)inquire, please, of bygone ages,
    and consider what (J)the fathers have searched out.
9 For we are but of yesterday and know nothing,
    for our days on earth are (K)a shadow.
10 Will they not teach you and tell you
    and utter words out of their understanding?

11 “Can papyrus grow where there is no marsh?
    Can reeds flourish where there is no water?
12 While yet in flower and not cut down,
    they (L)wither before any other plant.
13 Such are the paths of all who (M)forget God;
    (N)the hope of (O)the godless shall perish.
14 His confidence is severed,
    and his trust is (P)a spider's web.[a]
15 He leans against his (Q)house, but it does not stand;
    he lays hold of it, but it does not endure.
16 He is a lush plant before the sun,
    and his (R)shoots spread over his garden.
17 His roots entwine the stone heap;
    he looks upon a house of stones.
18 If he is destroyed from his (S)place,
    then it will deny him, saying, ‘I have never (T)seen you.’
19 Behold, this is the joy of his way,
    and out of (U)the soil others will spring.

20 “Behold, God will not reject a blameless man,
    nor take the hand of evildoers.
21 He will yet (V)fill your mouth with laughter,
    and your lips with shouting.
22 Those who hate you will be (W)clothed with shame,
    and the tent of the wicked will be no more.”

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Job 8:14 Hebrew house
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. We were born only yesterday (1-1

)

Bildad spoke truly when he reminded Job that we need a sense of history. He was rebuked in chapter 42, however, for misrepresenting God. He assumes that Job's problems are the result of some specific sin in his life, or in the lives of his children (4). God is just; if Job is righteous, and pleads with God, he will be restored. Bildad admits his ignorance. We must look at God's history, and seek answers from the people who have gone before.

2. Those who forget God will perish (11-21)

Our roots must be in God or we will perish like papyrus reeds without water or like a plant trying to grow among rocks. To trust anyone or anything other than God is like leaning on a spider's web. If a man continually seeks God, God will restore his fortunes. Job doesn't need friends who diagnose his problem; he needs friends who pray for him.

Prayer: Lord, give me a sense of history; help me to be rooted in you, so that I can know my ignorance and pray.

One Word: A sense of history; roots in God