Job’s Answer to Bildad
June 8, 2022
Commentary
God’s Awesome Power (vv. 1-13). Job arrived at a place in his life that was not pretty. Job is frightening as you watch his heart and mind wobble on the brink of disaster. Job is really a mess, at many points. Job is a tortured soul. He is in trouble but he is a hopeful mess. He is a mess that might get fixed, because, here in Chapter 9, he opens up, and we see him as he really is. One of the reasons that Job is a mess is that his friends have tried to teach him history. They are full of facts and figures. They know their stuff. They’ve got it down pat. Do you have any friends like that? They know their Bibles cover to cover and the covers too. They don’t spare the horses. Job’s friends insist on telling him he’s got to get it right. Bildad and Eliphaz and Zophar tell Job, who has lost everything except life itself, that they know the answers: God gives you what you deserve, so admit it, shape up, get with the program, Job. If you will just acknowledge your history, if you will just know how God works, it will make things better. Job cowered under God’s invisible nature, irreversible power (v. 12), and irresistible anger (v. 13).
God’s Arbitrary Power (vv. 14-20). Most of this section is a declaration focusing on the attributes of God, especially His wisdom and power. Job responds to some of the statements of Eliphaz as well as those of Bildad. He acknowledges the truth of what his two friends have said concerning the lack of righteousness in man opposed to God (v. 2). However, it is evident that Job would like to challenge God and be found innocent, but he knows that he can not defend himself before God (v. 3). Job wants an answer to his questions, and he wants God to answer him, but God seems to be far removed from him (vv. 4-8). Job knows that he wouldn’t stand a chance if he came into the presence of God. If God should speak to him, he wouldn’t know what to say (vv. 13-19). God would crush and overwhelm him in strength. Job does not say he is perfect, but he does contend that he is good, yet he recognizes that before God he would not be able to defend himself (v. 20).
Application
God can do whatever He pleases in my life and through my life, and I should not question Him as to why things happen the way they do. Instead I should ask Him what He wants to teach me.
Job 9:1– 20 (NET)
1 Then Job answered:
2 “Truly, I know that this is so. But how can a human be just before God?
3 If someone wishes to contend with him, he cannot answer him one time in a thousand.
4 He is wise in heart and mighty in strength — who has resisted him and remained safe?
5 He who removes mountains suddenly, who overturns them in his anger,
6 he who shakes the earth out of its place so that its pillars tremble,
7 he who commands the sun, and it does not shine and seals up the stars,
8 he alone spreads out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea.
9 He makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the constellations of the southern sky;
10 he does great and unsearchable things, and wonderful things without number.
11 If he passes by me, I cannot see him, if he goes by, I cannot perceive him.
12 If he snatches away, who can turn him back? Who dares to say to him, ‘What are you doing?’
13 God does not restrain his anger; under him the helpers of Rahab lie crushed.
14 “How much less, then, can I answer him and choose my words to argue with him.
15 Although I am innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my judge for mercy.
16 If I summoned him, and he answered me, I would not believe that he would be listening to my voice—
17 he who crushes me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds for no reason.
18 He does not allow me to recover my breath, for he fills me with bitterness.
19 If it is a matter of strength, most certainly he is the strong one! And if it is a matter of justice, he will say, ‘Who will summon me?’
20 Although I am innocent, my mouth would condemn me, although I am blameless, it would declare me perverse.