Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
“When will you end these speeches?
    Be sensible, and then we can talk.
Why are we regarded as cattle
    and considered stupid in your sight?
You who tear yourself to pieces in your anger,
    is the earth to be abandoned for your sake?
    Or must the rocks be moved from their place?
“The lamp of a wicked man is snuffed out;
    the flame of his fire stops burning.
The light in his tent becomes dark;
    the lamp beside him goes out.
The vigor of his step is weakened;
    his own schemes throw him down.
His feet thrust him into a net;
    he wanders into its mesh.
A trap seizes him by the heel;
    a snare holds him fast.
A noose is hidden for him on the ground;
    a trap lies in his path.
Terrors startle him on every side
    and dog his every step.
Calamity is hungry for him;
    disaster is ready for him when he falls.
It eats away parts of his skin;
    death’s firstborn devours his limbs.
He is torn from the security of his tent
    and marched off to the king of terrors.
Fire resides in his tent;
    burning sulfur is scattered over his dwelling.
His roots dry up below
    and his branches wither above.
The memory of him perishes from the earth;
    he has no name in the land.
He is driven from light into the realm of darkness
    and is banished from the world.
He has no offspring or descendants among his people,
    no survivor where once he lived.
People of the west are appalled at his fate;
    those of the east are seized with horror.
Surely such is the dwelling of an evil man;
    such is the place of one who does not know God.”

• Job 18:1-21

Job 18:8-10  ”From the world of hunting, six words are used here to describe traps laid to ensnare the wicked man: A net that is primarily an instrument of capture to entangle the feet (v. 8); a trap that forms a false floor over a hidden pit (v. 8); a trap that grabs the victim’s feet (v. 9); a snare that constricts (v. 9); a noose that catches and raises its victim off the ground (v. 10); and a trap, the term that is inclusive of all these devices (v. 10). Once again the writer revealed not only his literary ability but also his extensive knowledge of hunting.”

• Dorothy Kelley Patterson, General Editor, NIV Woman’s Study Bible (Constance N. Wieler, Poetry contributor)

The Message

Bildad, the Shuhite, responds to Job calling the three friends “windbags” in so many words.  He thinks Job is the one who is the windbag.

Then from verses 5-20, Bildad describes the life and legacy of the wicked man.  In the descriptions in Proverbs, many of these concepts are repeated, but Bildad is speaking in third person about a wicked person.  Yet, many of the calamities that fall upon the wicked person are the calamities that have fallen upon Job.  Thus, Bildad is pointing out Job as the wicked man, in third person so that he could deny he meant Job.

Then, still in third person speech, he says in the 21^st verse that “such a person” does not know God.

In so doing, Bildad has not just accused Job, but he has acted as prosecutor, judge, jury, and executioner.

We are to correct and rebuke those who claim to be Christians but live in sin, if we have two or three faithful witnesses.  How else can they correct their ways?  But based on what has happened to Job, no evidence of wrongdoing at all, his three friends, and here Bildad in particular, are ushering Job off to Hell.  They tried to get Job to confess his sin.  That did not work, so to Hell you go.  It is obvious at this point that the “friends” are protecting their prejudice rather than consoling the person who had once been their friend.

And now let us sing.

The following song is Chain Breaker.  This is sung by Zach Williams.  No matter how low life has taken us, we can go to God.  He is the chain breaker.

 

Closing Prayer

Dear Lord,
We need Your wisdom.  Lord, we suffer.  What do we do, Lord, when others accuse us and even go as far as to say that we do not know You?  I suppose we do as Jesus did.  Lord, forgive them for they know not what they are doing.  Lord, I have heard those words about not knowing You.  I have been accused of so many bad things.  But forgive my accusers.  In some cases I might not have been right, but they do not know my relationship with You.  It is not up to them, but to You.  Forgive them, and help me to shine Your light to those around me.  In thy Name we pray.
Amen

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.