Lesson Background:
Bildad, the Shuhite, was one of Job’s three friends who visited Job in Job’s affliction. Bildad was the first to attribute Job’s calamity to actual wickedness, albeit indirectly, by accusing his children (who were destroyed, Job 1:19) of sin to warrant his punishment (Job 8:4). Bildad’s discourse shows that he had not a favorable opinion of Job’s Character.e friends.
Condemnation (Job 8:1-4):
Blowing Winds (vv. 1-2).
Bildad’s language and murmuring against Job was like a tempest. It swept over all barriers, and disregarded all restraints. Bildad did not waste any time expressing his disapproval of Job’s illness. He described Job’s
words as a strong wind. He used Job’s own words against him (Job 6:26).
Blasphemous Claims (v. 3).
With the question, Doth God pervert judgment? Bildad was asking, “Does God twist justice so that it is unfair?” His second question, “Or doth the Almighty pervert justice?” Bildad knows that God does not “pervert judgment” nor does He ever go contrary to any of His settled rules of justice. He never oppresses the innocent, nor does He put a greater load on the guilty than they deserve. Men “pervert justice” sometimes for fear of the power of others, but God is almighty and fears no one. Sometimes men “pervert justice” to obtain the favour of others; but God is all sufficient, and cannot be benefited by the favour of anyone.
Blistering Accusation (v. 4). Bildad used Job’s deceased to illustrate his assumption as a matter of God’s justice. Previously, the actions of his children greatly concerned Job. Job “offered burnt offerings” for his children because
they may “have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts” (Job 1:5). What Bildad proposed provides of retributive justice. Retributive justice argues that God blesses the righteous and, conversely curses the wicked. Bildad asserted that Job’s children sinned, and so their deaths were the result of their wickedness.
Exhortation (Job 8:5-7):
Urgent Response (v. 5).
Bildad saw the fate of Job’s children not only proof that they have sinned but that their sin was deadly. He saw in Job’s affliction proof equally decisive that he had sinned, but the fact that he was still spared, however severe his afflictions, gave a different complexion to his sin, and also suggested a different meaning for his affliction.
Favorable Reply (vv. 6-7). Bildad promised Job that God would awake to restore a truly righteous Job. God’s awakening does not imply that God is unaware or unavailable: the psalmist provides a reminder of the ever-present nature of God as one who does not “slumber” or “sleep.” Bildad proposed that the most notable way God would act for Job is through the restoration of Job’s habitation.
References: Matthew Henry Commentary, Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges, 2021-2022 Standard Lesson Commentary KJV