Job 18-19
Dear RTB’ers,
Today we have the second of Job’s friends, Bildad giving his second speech. This second speech is the shortest that we have seen from Job’s friends. And he has little to say. After initially chastising Job, he spends the rest of his time responding to Job’s desire to die with his own soliloquy on death. For Bildad, death is not attractive. Even man’s name, his reputation, memory of him are gone: His memory perishes from the earth, and he has no name in the street. (v. 18:17) He closes with a harsh word for Job, implying that Job denies God and that an evil fate awaits him: Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous, such is the place of him who knows not God. (v. 18:21)
Job is insulted by Bildad’s remarks and responds accordingly: These ten times you have cast reproach upon me; are you not ashamed to wrong me? And even if it be true that I have erred, my error remains with myself. (vv. 19:3-4) Job continues to blame God for his troubles: He has kindled His wrath against me and counts me as His adversary. (v. 19:11) But finally, a light of hope for Job, a (temporary?) turning point in this book: For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will stand upon the earth. … yet in my flesh I shall see God… (vv. 19:25, 26b) So, is this a real transition for Job??!! It’s hard to wait one more day to see what’s next!
Blessings!
See also: