A stand of dead papyrus, brown and bent, in a dried-out marsh of cracked mud, under a calm, pale, empty sky.

The Book of

Job 8

Bildad speaks. Round one, the second friend. He has heard Job’s cry and calls it wind. Then he speaks of Job’s children.

22 verses≈ 3 min1 personBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

1–3The testBlameless, stripped of everything, and his cry
4–14Round oneThe friends speak; Job answersChapter 8
15–21Round twoMy Redeemer lives
22–31Round threeThen wisdom, and Job's last defense
32–37ElihuA younger voice
38–41The LORD speaksOut of the whirlwind
42The endJob prays and is restored

Bildad: Job Should Repent

Bildad

Hard noon light at a gray ash mound: a short, heavy-set man in an ocher robe rises from the ground, shaking the dust from it, jaw set, a wrapped figure at the frame's edge from behind.

Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:

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Bildad

Bildad

“How long will you go on saying such things?

The words of your mouth are a blustering wind.

Does God pervert justice?

Does the Almighty pervert what is right?

When your children sinned against Him,

He gave them over to their rebellion.

But if you would earnestly seek God

and ask the Almighty for mercy,

if you are pure and upright,

even now He will rouse Himself on your behalf

and restore your righteous estate.

Though your beginnings were modest,

your latter days will flourish.

Bildad

Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?

Job 8:3

Bildad

When your children sinned against Him

Reflect

The cruelest true-sounding thing

Bildad thinks he is defending God. Have you ever reached for an explanation of someone’s loss? Write down what you could say instead, or whether silence would be better.

Bildad

A single spider's web between two dry stalks in low dawn light, beaded with a little dew, one strand already torn, under a soft blurred pale sky.

Such is the destiny of all who forget God;

so the hope of the godless will perish.

His confidence is fragile;

his security is in a spider’s web.

He leans on his web, but it gives way;

he holds fast, but it does not endure.

He is a well-watered plant in the sunshine,

spreading its shoots over the garden.

His roots wrap around the rock heap;

he looks for a home among the stones.

If he is uprooted from his place,

it will disown him, saying, ‘I never saw you.’

Surely this is the joy of his way;

yet others will spring from the dust.

0:36

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Bildad

Late evening under a dull red sky: a heavy-set man in an ocher robe walks back toward a small fire, his back to us, and far beyond him a wrapped figure sits alone on a gray mound, not moved at all.

Behold, God does not reject the blameless,

nor will He strengthen the hand of evildoers.

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter,

and your lips with a shout of joy.

Your enemies will be clothed in shame,

and the tent of the wicked will be no more.”

Question

Quick question

Bildad does not point to anything he has seen in Job’s life. He points somewhere else for his proof.

To whom does Bildad send Job for answers?

You’ve experienced

Job 8

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A verse to carry with you

Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?

Job 8:3

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