Read
Bildad's First Speech
How Long Will You Talk?
1Bildad from Shuah said:
2How long will you talk
and keep saying nothing?
3Does God All-Powerful
stand in the way of justice?
4He made your children pay
for their sins.
5So why don't you turn to him
6and start living right?
Then he will decide
to rescue and restore you
to your place of honor.
7Your future will be brighter
by far than your past.
Our Ancestors Were Wise
8 Our ancestors were wise,
so learn from them.
9Our own time has been short,
like a fading shadow,
and we know very little.
10But they will instruct you
with great understanding.
11Papyrus reeds grow healthy
only in a swamp,
12and if the water dries up,
they die sooner than grass.
13Such is the hopeless future
of all who turn from God
14and trust in something as frail
as a spider's web—
15they take hold and fall
because it's so flimsy.
16Sinful people are like plants
with spreading roots and plenty
of sun and water.
17They wrap their roots tightly
around rocks.
18But once they are pulled up,
they have no more place;
19their life slips away,
and other plants grow there.
20We know God doesn't reject
an innocent person
or help a sinner.
21And so, he will make you happy
and give you something
to smile about.
22But your evil enemies
will be put to shame
and disappear forever.
Reflect
Bildad can hardly wait to get into the conversation with his own wisdom! Know anyone like that? Of course we all do. Sometimes it’s us.
His argument isn’t really any different from that of Eliphaz but he is more brutal in his attack. “You’re full of hot air, Job. Stop complaining. Listen to what we have all been taught. God doesn’t pervert justice. Your children died because of their sin—so smarten up and start living right. Get your act together and God will reward you with even more than he took away.“ (my paraphrase!)
On and on he goes. Bildad is heartless in his effort to present truth—his truth.
How often do we live the same way. We are certain we know what the truth is because we have been taught well—or so we think. And then one day, we are confronted with something that doesn’t fit our tidy system. At that moment, we have a choice. We can be a challenger or a conformer.
Job was a challenger. Eliphaz and Bildad were conformers.
The one thing Job could not do and still maintain his integrity was to submit to the accusations that he was a hypocrite, even if that meant getting everything restored. Clearly his integrity was more important than either physical comfort of material blessings.
Challenging the current system of belief is not easy or without risk. In this sense, Job stands as a foreshadowing of Jesus, who refused to conform to the religious “truths” of the day about God’s character and, although innocent, was branded guilty.
Too often we accept the easy road, believing what we have been taught about God, rather than taking the risk of really getting to know God.
It’s our choice to be a conformer or a challenger.
Respond
God of truth, thank you for giving us Jesus to reveal yourself to us and your Spirit to teach us all truth. Help me to discern when I need to challenge and when to conform to what I hear about you, in order to know you truthfully. Amen.
Lynn Smith
Lynn served Tyndale University College and Seminary in Toronto as Dean of Students and Vice President of Student Development where leadership development became the focus of her involvement with students. After retiring, she co-founded NextLEVEL Leadership, an International organization focused on encouraging Christian women to develop in their leadership roles in the marketplace, profession or ministry. Her passion for seeing others grow in their leadership confidence has inspired her to teach and mentor wherever God calls. Publications: Gender or Giftedness: a Challenge to rethink the basis for leadership within the Faith Community; Mentoring: Leaving a Legacy; Fred's Not Here - Living with Alzheimer Disease takes Courage