PUTTING PAIN IN PERSPECTIVE
Job 18-19

We have seen that Eliphaz was more vicious in his attack on Job in his second speech than he was
in the first.   Job was accused of being a terrible hardened sinner who defied the counsel of God.
Eliphaz's theology was simple: God punishes the wicked and rewards the righteous.   Eliphaz's
premise was - since Job was suffering he must be wicked, and since he was not, he obviously was
good.   Eliphaz, in pride, spoke for God.   Bildad now follows.

  1. Bildad's Denunciation of Job (chapter 18).

    1. Bildad in the first four verses of this chapter, denounces Job for rejecting his counsel
      and that of his two friends.   They recognize they are getting nowhere with Job and
      accuse him of being irrational.
    2. When pride is present a person is easily offended and takes personal things that are
      not intended that way.   Job 18:2.
    3. Bildad really get aggravated with Job and says he thinks the world and the order of
      things ought to be changed just to suit him.
    4. The real problem with Bildad, Eliphaz and Zophar was that they did not really
      understand divine retribution.   Job had far more insight into the workings of God in
      the world than did his friends.
      1. Job kept insisting that the righteous do suffer and the wicked prosper.
      2. There is truth in what Job's friends said.   Gal. 6:7.
      3. If you follow the principles of God's Word and count the cost before going into
        debt you can stay out of financial bondage.
      4. If you obey God's Word concerning sex and morality you will not have to worry
        about sexually transmitted diseases.
      5. If you love and minister to people as the Bible teaches, you will have the
        blessing of friends.
      6. In the same way, those who violate God's Word will suffer the natural
        consequences of sin in this life.
      7. However, full retribution will only be experienced in eternity.
    5. Bildad says that a wicked person will lose all the comforts of life and dwell in
      darkness and confusion just like Job.   Job 18:5,6.   Light and fire in Old Testament
      times were symbols of comfort, warmth and happiness.
    6. Bildad and his friends looked at life in the present which caused them to focus on
      convincing Job that wicked people suffer in a fashion equal with their sins in this life
      and the righteous receive full rewards in this life.   Job 18:11-19.
    7. Bildad says later generations will be astonished and frightened at the completeness of
      the destruction of the wicked.   Job 18:20,21.   This was being applied directly to Job
      and lastly set forth that Job did not know God.

  2. Job's Defense (chapter 19).

    1. Job expresses his increased irritation at his friends lack of compassion and their
      merciless attacks on his character.   Job 19:1-6.
    2. Job reaches his lowest point emotionally and spiritually.   Job 19:6-11.

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    1. The mystery of sorrow and suffering can so overwhelm any of us that it can shake
      our faith in a good and loving God and Father as it did Job's.   Job 19:11,12.   From a
      human perspective, what is happening to Job does not concur with his view of God.
      Job's frustration still revealed his strong faith in a great and good God.
    2. Job's suffering is intensified by his loneliness.   Job 19:13-19.
      1. Those nearest and dearest to him had forgotten and forsaken him.   Job 19:13,14.
      2. His disease had caused his breath to be offensive to his wife and made young
        children despise him.   Job 19:17,18.
      3. Job had not one human being to stand with him in his hour of need.   Job 19:19.
    3. Job describes his terrible loss of weight.   Job 19:20.   The phrase "escaped with the
      skin of my teeth"       has been interpreted by some to mean that Job's body had so
      deteriorated that his teeth had fallen out and he had only gums with which to eat.
    4. Job wanted his story recorded permanently because he thought he was about to die.
      Job 19:23-24.   He wanted people to know how he suffered and what he had said.
      (Ezek. 14:14,20; James 5:11)   God did answer his prayer in placing his story
      complete in the canon of the Scriptures.
    5. In chapter 19, Job is seen in his lowest valley but also on his highest mountain.   Job
      19:25,26.   This is the greatest confession of faith concerning life after death found
      anywhere in the Old Testament.
    6. Job's friends and relatives may desert him, but God never will, no matter how bad
      things presently seem.   Throughout Job's terrible experience of testing and suffering
      his friends have falsely accused and slandered him.   Regardless Job continues to
      believe in a Divine Redeemer who will vindicate him at last.   He is fully confident that
      God's justice will prevail.
    7. Job had great faith through which another truth is revealed.   Job expects not only to
      hear about but also to be a witness of his vindication in a body.   Though his body
      dies and rots, he will still be there in a body to see it.   This is the clearest reference to
      belief in a bodily resurrection found anywhere in the Old Testament.   Note further
      revelation about a bodily resurrection.   John 11:23-25; I Cor. 15:54.
    8. Job did not see and understand things as a believer who has read the New Testament
      but he understood what faith in God is all about.   Many details and the full meaning
      of life after death was not fully revealed until the resurrection of Christ.   Now
      because of the resurrection of Christ we know that death is not an end; it is a
      beginning.   Death is not a period; it is a comma.   It is not the end of life; it is the
      expansion of life (when one really comes alive, with so many more dimensions, that
      cannot possibly be known until then).
    9. To reach the ultimate of consolation during times of suffering and tribulation, we
      must be able to say with Job, "I know[.]"   Job 19:25-27.   It is not enough to say "I
      hope"       or "I trust".
      1. Paul had suffered from imprisonment, beatings, poverty and loneliness, yet he
        could continue expressing his unwavering faith.   II Tim. 1:12.
      2. If we are to withstand, endure, and come through suffering, trials, and
        persecution, we must have a deep understanding of the character of our God.   It
        is time to take a new look at the Old Book.
    10. Let us now consider Job 19:27.   "Whom I shall see for myself[.]"   The Hebrew word
      translated see (HAZAH) suggests the idea of gazing on God for all eternity with his
      own eyes.   This may be only a part of Rom. 8:18.   There will be so much to behold

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      and experience in eternity in the presence of the Lord that all we may go through
      here now will be nothing in comparison.   It cannot even be compared!
    1. Job warns his friends about harassing innocent people.   Job 19:29; Matt. 7:5,12;
      Rom. 14:4; I Cor. 4:5
    2. Job asked a question in Job 14:14, "If a man die, shall he live again?"   He answers his
      own question with a resounding, echoing "Yes" heard through all the annals of time.
      Job 19:25-27.
    3. The assurance and certainty of eternal life after death makes our present pain more
      bearable because things always look different in the perspective of eternity.

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