THE PLACE OF ONE WHO DOES NOT KNOW GOD

Passage: Job 18:1-21

Key verse: 21

NIV

Bildad

18 Then Bildad the Shuhite(A) replied:

2 “When will you end these speeches?(B)
    Be sensible, and then we can talk.
3 Why are we regarded as cattle(C)
    and considered stupid in your sight?(D)
4 You who tear yourself(E) to pieces in your anger,(F)
    is the earth to be abandoned for your sake?
    Or must the rocks be moved from their place?(G)

5 “The lamp of a wicked man is snuffed out;(H)
    the flame of his fire stops burning.(I)
6 The light in his tent(J) becomes dark;(K)
    the lamp beside him goes out.(L)
7 The vigor(M) of his step is weakened;(N)
    his own schemes(O) throw him down.(P)
8 His feet thrust him into a net;(Q)
    he wanders into its mesh.
9 A trap seizes him by the heel;
    a snare(R) holds him fast.(S)
10 A noose(T) is hidden for him on the ground;
    a trap(U) lies in his path.(V)
11 Terrors(W) startle him on every side(X)
    and dog(Y) his every step.
12 Calamity(Z) is hungry(AA) for him;
    disaster(AB) is ready for him when he falls.(AC)
13 It eats away parts of his skin;(AD)
    death’s firstborn devours his limbs.(AE)
14 He is torn from the security of his tent(AF)
    and marched off to the king(AG) of terrors.(AH)
15 Fire resides[a] in his tent;(AI)
    burning sulfur(AJ) is scattered over his dwelling.
16 His roots dry up below(AK)
    and his branches wither above.(AL)
17 The memory of him perishes from the earth;(AM)
    he has no name(AN) in the land.(AO)
18 He is driven from light into the realm of darkness(AP)
    and is banished(AQ) from the world.(AR)
19 He has no offspring(AS) or descendants(AT) among his people,
    no survivor(AU) where once he lived.(AV)
20 People of the west are appalled(AW) at his fate;(AX)
    those of the east are seized with horror.
21 Surely such is the dwelling(AY) of an evil man;(AZ)
    such is the place(BA) of one who does not know God.”(BB)

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Footnotes
  1. Job 18:15 Or Nothing he had remains
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: God Punishes the Wicked

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

2 “How long will you (B)hunt for words?
    Consider, and then we will speak.
3 Why are we counted as (C)cattle?
    Why are we stupid in your sight?
4 You who (D)tear yourself in your anger,
    shall the earth be forsaken for you,
    or (E)the rock be removed out of its place?

5 “Indeed, (F)the light of the wicked is put out,
    and the flame of his fire does not shine.
6 The light is (G)dark in his tent,
    and his lamp above him is put out.
7 His strong steps are shortened,
    and his (H)own schemes throw him down.
8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet,
    and he walks on its mesh.
9 (I)A trap seizes him by the heel;
    a snare lays hold of him.
10 A rope is hidden for him in the ground,
    a trap for him in the path.
11 (J)Terrors frighten him on every side,
    and chase him at his heels.
12 His strength is famished,
    and calamity is (K)ready for his stumbling.
13 It consumes the parts of his skin;
    (L)the firstborn of death consumes his limbs.
14 He is torn from the tent in which he trusted
    and is brought to (M)the king of terrors.
15 In his tent dwells that which is none of his;
    (N)sulfur is scattered over his habitation.
16 His (O)roots dry up beneath,
    and his branches (P)wither above.
17 His (Q)memory perishes from the earth,
    and he has no name in the street.
18 (R)He is thrust from light into darkness,
    and driven out of the world.
19 He has no (S)posterity or progeny among his people,
    and no survivor where he used to live.
20 They of the west are appalled at his (T)day,
    and (U)horror seizes them of the east.
21 Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous,
    such is the place of him who (V)knows not God.”

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Taking up again his insistence that Job is being punished as a sinner (ch. 8), Bildad uses poetic language to reiterate and call new attention to Job’s sufferings. For example, he points out the suffering in Job’s body (4, 13), and mentions fire, which had burned up Job’s sheep and servants (1:16). His allusions to Job having “no name in the land (17)” and directly stating “He has no offspring or descendants among his people (19)” bring to mind the terrible tragedy that cost Job the lives of all his children (1:18,19). Bildad compiles this list as evidence to prove that Job was an evil man; one who does not know God. As the saying goes: “With friends like these, who needs enemies?”

While Bildad’s principles seem logical and his application impeccable, as readers we know he is wrong. Job was not being punished. God declared from the beginning: “Job is blameless and upright (1:8; 2:3).” The fact is, although Bildad can deliver a fiery message of judgment and condemnation, it is he who is speaking as one who does not know God. Jesus is not like Bildad. He did not come to condemn, but to save (Jn 3:17). Jesus did not crush bruised reeds or snuff out smoldering wicks but brought good news to the poor. We are recipients of this good news. Let’s be like Jesus.

Prayer: Father, thank you for the good news you gave us in Jesus. Help us be like him, not Bildad.

One Word: What a friend we have in Jesus