Today I will comment on the reading from Job 8. So...
Read Job 8
Read 2 Samuel 8
How cruel can Job's "friends" be? Bildad believes the same as Eliphaz, that only the guilty suffer. So, even though Bildad may say some things that we could consider true, his application of those ideas to Job is horrific. Though Job is not perfect, as a man who is righteous before God (because of God's mercy) there is no punishment for his sin. There has to be another explanation for the suffering. Hearing no explanation, Job laments and asks "why" and "how long!"
But his "friends" don't wonder. They think that those who suffer certainly had it coming. Bildad says one of the cruelest things, that Job's children deserved what they got (v. 4). Awful.
Do we fail to have compassion on other brothers and sisters when they suffer? Do we secretly wonder what they did to deserve it? Do we publicly rebuke them or call them to repent? Surely they are sinful, but don't we believe that Christ has taken the punishment for our sin? Yes! So we cannot blame Christians for their suffering. It is much better to understand that they suffer with Christ, not suffer alone in their sin. Yes, we may be left to wonder "why" or "how long," but relying on the forgiveness and strength of Christ, we cannot say cruel things to each other when a brother or sister is suffering. Again, Job's friends did better when they did not try to explain the reason for the suffering. They did well when they just sat with Job in sorrow.
Comments from The Lutheran Study Bible help us even more: "Bildad argues backward: sin produces suffering; therefore, all who suffer must have sinned against God. The Bible does teach that sin brought suffering and death (Rm 5:12), but this does not mean than an individual's suffering is the direct consequence of one particular sin against God. In Christ Jesus, our perfectly righteous Savior, God atoned for all sin (Rm 3:21-26). In the midst of trials, we need constant and regular reassurance of God's love for us, anchored in the cross of Christ. Luther: 'People who have gone through spiritual trials know how necessary it is to support their heart with a sure and strong comfort that will finally bring them back to the hope of grace and help them to forget the wrath. Often a single day or a single month is insufficient for this purpose; but just as the alleviation of sickness requires a long time, so these wounds of the heart are not cured at once or by a single word.'" (TLSB p. 794).
One final comment. Bildad speaks something very true: that if God restores Job, then Job's latter days would be very great, so great that the former days of prosperity would seem small in comparison. Indeed we see this happen in Job's life. And we rejoice to see it! Not that we have confidence in a coming earthly prosperity, but Job's latter prosperity is certainly a picture of what God can (and will) do to restore us forever. We certainly have a heavenly home waiting for us through Christ! - a home with no sickness or death, no lack or want, only provision, abundance, health, and life. Goodbye world of death. Hello New Heavens and New Earth!
Pray:
"Lord, teach me each day to beg your pardon and believe Your promise that even amid suffering, You are working for my good. Amen." (TLSB p. 793)
Study with me tomorrow,
Pastor Jon
Soli Deo Gloria!
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