In the 18th chapter of the Book of Job a man named “Bildad” speaks, for the second time in fact. (His previous speech was back in chapter 8. Where he called Job a hypocrite! Where he also implied that Job’s 10 children were killed because of sin in their lives. This man is brutal.)

And Bildad begins his “sermon” with another sarcastic question. “How long will it be ere ye make an end of words?” He is asking, in effect, “Job when will you shut up?”

Then, in 18:3, Bildad seems to have been “offended” at something Job has said. “Wherefore are we (Bildad and his 2 friends) counted as beasts, and reputed vile in your sight?” Well, it might be due to the fact that all 3 of Job’s “friends” have acted like ferocious and roaring “lions,” attacking their innocent victim!

Job indeed did call them “miserable comforters” in his last speech! Incidentally, Bildad’s word “vile” means “defiled” or “unclean.” And yes, Job has retorted to the cruel trio: “Ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.” Back in Job 13:4.

Anyway, Bildad is MAD, clearly!

He next “jabs” at Job. “He (here meaning Job) teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place?” Job 18:4, accusing Job of being “red hot” with fury! (How about “hurting” in agony, Bildad?)

Job also is full of pride, according to Bildad. As if the whole earth should “bow down” to serve his needs! As if God should stop running the universe and see about one simple man! Again … “Shall the earth be forsaken FOR THEE? and shall the rock be removed out of his place?”

Then in verse 5 (and continuing thorough the end of the chapter, Bildad’s whole oration) comes a “sermon.” A stern warning to the “wicked man!”

Here’s the beginning, the introduction: “Yea, the light of THE WICKED shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine.” Job 18:5

Yes, for 16 more verses now, one hammer blow after another, falls on poor Job!

“WICKED Job?”

The Job whom God calls “My servant Job, there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil.” Job 1:8

Wow!

Listen to me, dear readers.

Bildad’s “sermon” has merit, when applied to a genuinely wicked person.

But he has misapplied it in Job’s case!

He has made himself Judge and Jury, pontificating on Job’s “many iniquities!”

And he is a hundred miles off target!

No wonder God rebuked him at the end of the book!

Actually the opposite of everything Bildad says will happen to the wicked man … ultimately happened to Job! When God “turned” the captivity of Job!

For example, this is NOT true of Job: “His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name in the street.” Job 18:17

Let’s be careful how we apply certain bible Truths “across the board.”

Indiscriminately!

We do not have all the facts, only God does!

Right words, Bildad, wrong congregation!

Job that day needed encouragement, not censure.

Yes, Proverbs 18:8 is right. “Words are like wounds, going down into the innermost part of the belly!”

And Bildad was an expert swordsman. He was not a surgeon that day with Job, but a killer!

He was mean, too.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Bildad had not real Ephesians 4:32. And might not have obeyed it anyway. But we can! “Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted ….”

End of Lesson!