Job 18-19

< Back to Job Index

TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Bildad’s Second Speech and Job’s Response

BACKGROUND NOTES

In Bildad’s second speech to Job, like his two counselor friends, Bildad continues to try to teach Job the doctrine of _________________, which they believe was the only way God operates in His moral universe, and thus Job was suffering because of his ______.
In verses 5-21, Bildad describes his perspective on what the death of the wicked is like. List four of Bildad’s specific descriptions.
In verses 1-5 of chapter 19, what does Job challenge his three friends to prove about him?
It appears that Job is accusing God of wronging him (v 6), not acting with justice in His dealings with him (v 7), and demonstrating anger toward him (vs 8-12). In these statements about God, is Job guilty of blasphemy?
As Job declares his strong faith in God in verses 25-29, what are several of the great truths that he confidently states to Bildad?

Bildad and his friends continue to try to teach Job the doctrine of retribution, which they believed was the way God operates in His moral universe, and thus Job was suffering because of his sin.
Bildad says that the death of the wicked is like a light being extinguished (vs 5, 6), a person being trapped (vs 7-10), a criminal being chased (vs 11-15), and a tree being ripped up from its roots (vs16-21). Much of what Bildad says in these verses about the fate of the wicked is true, but it was not true of Job.
In verses 1-5 of chapter 19, Job challenges his three friends to prove that he was guilty of some unconfessed sin.
Job, in his statements about God (vs 6-12), is not mocking or despising God, but is rather longing for God to give him some understanding of what is going on and understanding of what appears to Job as unjust treatment.
Job declares with confidence that we as believers can know with certainty that our Redeemer lives and that He will ultimately stand on this earth as the Judge of the wicked. Job’s statement in verses 26 and 27 is the clearest statement in the Old Testament of the bodily resurrection of the believer. Job expected to see God with his eyes, which implies bodily resurrection.

Discuss the importance (and challenge) of not forsaking those who are suffering and those whose situation is unpleasant. Consider the need to depend upon the Holy Spirit to strengthen you in compassion and understanding, particularly with the “unlovely.”

Do you see your challenges and suffering in the light of the future, in the light of eternity? Have you grown in your faith so that you are absolutely confident that God has complete control, not only of your current circumstances, but of your future and eternity as well? “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)

“For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth. And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another.” Job 19:25-27