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Why Do the Righteous Suffer? Lesson 3: Job’s Dialogue with Bildad

Scripture Text: Job 8:1-10:22

Memory Verse: “Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me. Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again?” —Job 10:8-9

Introduction:

The name Bildad means son of contention, which would be a very appropriate meaning, since this friend of Job seems to love controversy. Accusing Job of irresponsible and blustery speech, Bildad defends the justice of God in punishing the wicked and rewarding the upright. He says unkindly that Job’s sons were destroyed because of their transgression. If Job would earnestly turn to God, says Bildad, there was still hope for divine favor. He next appeals to history to prove the link between evil and retribution. God delights to replace the wicked with the blameless, whom He then proceeds to bless.

Job asks, “How can a man be righteous before God?” Job expresses the hopelessness of ever proving his innocence before one who is so great. In exasperation, Job complains bitterly, asking God to explain His unreasonable behavior to one He had created. Does He act like a mere man in judging, uncharitably, even when He knows that Job is not wicked?

Job dreaded the grave, describing it with seven statements depicting its darkness. In so doing Job sought to move God to answer his prayer for rescue and vindication. In Job’s day, God had not yet revealed the full truth about such matters, and thus the grave appeared dark and without order. This is a good example of progressive revelation in the Bible. Until God fully revealed His purpose for humanity, a revelation most clearly expressed through Jesus and the writings of the apostles, death was often portrayed as an entrance to a land of utter gloom. How blessed it is to be able to read God’s further revelation and be able to understand the good news of eternal life.

Studying the Word

Lesson Study

  1. Bildad’s conclusion was that if Job were really upright, he would be vindicated by God. Job was not vindicated by God, so he must be wicked. What is wrong with Bildad’s theology? (Job 8:1-7; Matthew 27:31-50)
  2. Bildad argues from nature that for every effect there is a cause. His conclusion was that if Job is suffering, there must be a cause, and since God is just, that cause has to be Job’s sin. What is wrong with Bildad’s conclusions? (Job 8:8-22)
  3. What was Job’s reply to Bildad’s accusations? If Job was not perfectly righteous, as he said himself, why did he not accept his suffering as his punishment? (Job 9:1-13)
  4. If God truly loved Job, why was God silent in the midst of his painful situation? (Job 9:14-20)

 Applying the Word

Because Job was experiencing severe affliction, he felt that God was against him. Believers today often feel the same as Job felt. What revelations about hardship are there in the New Testament that can help the believer to accept affliction and even glory in it? (2 Corinthians 1:1-5; 2 Corinthians 4:10; Philippians 3:10; Colossians 1:24; 1 Peter 4:13)