In Job 18, Bildad, the
Shuhite, shows his lack of spiritual stature. In his description of “the
wicked” (Job 18:5), he implies that all that he says applies to Job.
His speech ends with the summarizing words: “This is what happens to the
homes of wicked people and to those who do not know God” (Job 18:21).
The opening words of the book of Job - “He was a man of integrity ... He
feared God” (Job 1:1) - make it clear that Bildad’s words do not apply
to Job.
For most of his speech, in Job 19, Job is in the depths of
despair, then, towards the end of his speech, there is a breakthrough-
“I know that my defender (or Redeemer) lives, and, afterwards, he will
stand on the earth. Even after my skin has been stripped off my body, I
will see God in my own flesh. I will see Him with my own eyes” (Job
19:25). There is, in Job’s heart, a great conflict. Immediately after
speaking these great words of triumphant faith and glorious hope, he
speaks, again, with deep agony - “My heart fails inside me!” (Job
19:27).
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