Bildad is convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that Job is wicked, proved mainly by the fact of his suffering. Wow. What friends.
So Bildad at first rebukes Job:
“How long until you stop talking? Show some sense, and then we can talk. Why are we regarded as cattle, as stupid in your sight?” (Job 18:2).
From then on he spells out what happens to the wicked man:
- His light is extinguished
- His own feet lead him into a net
- A trap catches him by the heel
- A rope lies for him on the ground
- A snare waits for him along the path
- Terrors frighten him on every side
- His strength is depleted
- Parts of his skin are eaten away
- He is ripped from the security of his tent
- Nothing he own remains
- His roots below dry up
- All memory of him perishes from the earth
- He is drive from light to darkness
- Etc… etc… etc…
Of course he is talking about Job implying that his current distress is because of his wickedness.
“Indeed, such is the dwelling of the unjust man, and this is the place of the one who does not know God” (Job 18:21).
Can you imagine having a terrible even like a car wreck, a loved one perishing, a health crisis, a financial fall and your friends telling you it is because you are evil? That you are wicked? And do not know God?
This is such a violation of the sacred it is unimaginable. Like not-good thoughts coming to your mouth about them.
And at the root of this is such self-righteousness. We know God and you don’t.
Yes, there are some sufferings that are the direct result of sin. One can’t run from that. But to say that all suffering is a result of sin is beyond God’s character. Don’t go there.
