Read: Job 8-11
Bildad has his say. His name means “confusing love” and he is from Shuah which means “the pit”. He says that God does not twist what it right so Job’s children must have sinned and they got what they deserved. That sounds like confused love from the pit to me. He does give him hope for the future if he will humble himself before God and ask for his favor once again.
Job answers that he knows what Bildad is saying in principle but sometimes principle is not what is happening. He claims that no one is innocent compared to God; he is sovereign. We have all sinned so who can stand before Him? Job holds to the fact that God has done this to him and not his sin. He concludes that God destroys both the blameless and the wicked. Job sees God as merciless and himself as unclean so he doesn’t see the use of trying to plead his cause. What Job needs, he concludes, is a mediator. The mediator would bring us to God and bridge the gap. He would bring mercy and relief. He would take the fear of approaching God away. Jesus is our mediator who fulfilled everything Job prayed.
While Job expresses his hopelessness, Zophar has been preparing his rebuttal. He accuses Job of talking the talk but he is wondering if he walked the walk. He claims that Job has his head in the clouds and that he deserves even worse than what he is getting. Now, that’s what I call encouragement! He calls Job to repent and turn from his sins.
I can’t help but think of the scripture that says the way you judge others is the way you will be judged (Matt. 7:2). Job’s friends are in for some tough judgment.
Lord, help us not to be like Job’s friends who exalt knowledge over mercy and wisdom. Help us to be listeners of the Holy Spirit and wait for his words before we speak. Thank you that we have a mediator, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit who bridge the gap between us and a holy God.
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