Job 18 – a continuation…

JOB 18

Job 18, sees the second of Job’s friends (Bildad) making his second speech to Job.

‘ThenBildad the Shuhite answered and said:
“How long will you hunt for words?
Consider, and then we will speak.
Why are we counted ascattle?
Why are we stupid in your sight?
You who tear yourself in your anger,
shall the earth be forsaken for you,
or the rock be removed out of its place?’

The opening four verses are overly critical harsh, it would seem that Job has just been complaining, complaining and complaining. And yes, he has questioned and wondered to God, why is this happening, why have you done this, ‘leave me alone’.

Oh yes, but much of his speech has quite frankly been wishing for death, and we can learn an important lesson on how to be compassionate from Bildad, for it was the total opposite of what he did.

As I said earlier a good friend is an honest friend, and yes perhaps the friends were justified in telling Job he has sinned and needed to watch out his ways and basically sort himself out as they saw this as the only viable reason for what was happening to Job. But on the other had they also had a duty of care, their friend was broken, as we saw just now in chapters 16 & 17, the man wanted to die, and was totally in despair.

‘my spirit is broken’ (chapter 17:1)

Let us not let truth and honesty get in the way of compassion. Jesus our Saviour is the perfect example, he spoke truth and often it was hard truth to the Pharisees and also to others. He spoke about hell openly and in strong terms, he spoke about sin, but that did not stop him loving others, it did not stop him serving! Let us look to him to gain perspective on the balance of truth and harsh rebuke, but compassion and empathy also.