Bildad's Slander (Job #7) - Bible Baptist Church

Text: Job 8

The Lord takes man’s words very seriously because they are an expression of his heart. Bildad responds to Job with a nasty spirit.

Bildad’s slander

Bildad’s accusation based on God’s justice (vss 3-7)
- God is just (that sounds real good), therefore God has taken everything from you because you’re wicked, Job.
- While God is just, God isn’t the one that took everything from Job. The devil did.
- Why didn’t God stop it from happening? Faith’s trials are precious to God.
Bildad’s accusation based on tradition (vss 8-10)
- This is the way we’ve always done it.
- It’s always been this way. Innocent people are never treated this way.
Bildad accuses Job of being cut off because he’s a hypocrite (vss 11-22)
- Vss 11-14 Bildad says you’ve forgotten God so your life has dried up.
- Vs 15 Bildad says Job’s life is a fake, a facade.
- Now Bildad says this stuff because Bildad is secretly jealous of Job’s wealth and now he has a chance to stick it to him. Proverbs 10:18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.
- Vss 16-20 Bildad argues that if Job were such a good person God would not have uprooted him. (Vs 16 photosynthesis)

Bildad’s folly

An interesting note: Joseph was in prison for 13 years for something he didn’t do. Joseph was sold into slavery and falsely accused of sexual assault by a very powerful wife in Egypt – she was a #MeToo. Joseph suffered greatly before being greatly exalted. Now look at Genesis 46:13; Job was one of Issachar’s sons, so Joseph is Job’s uncle.
If Bildad knew chapters 1-2 in Job where God gives the behind the scenes view of what’s going on he wouldn’t have answered Job this way.
Proverbs 18:13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
Bildad fails to give God time. The Lord is not done with Job, but Bildad thinks He is. Bildad thinks his disagreements with Job are also God’s disagreements with Job, but they aren’t.
- Aren’t there some folks who have more than you that you are jealous of? And if they took a shot in their income and lost some things you’d be glad and in your heart you’d say it’s because God finally got after them.

The consequences of Bildad’s slander

Job 42:7-8 And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. 8 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.
Bildad made God very mad at him.
Bildad had to go to the one he slandered and make amends.
Bildad could not pray to God anymore until the thing was right between he and Job.
Bildad ran the risk of living on without the ability to ever speak to the Lord in prayer again. That’s what happens if Job doesn’t pray for him.