Job 25 - 26

Bildad's Final Speech, And Job's Response

Bildad's final speech is a fizzle compared to the other speeches by him and Job's other friends. There is nothing left to say.  All three say the same thing, albeit in different ways, but essentially the same message:

Job is a hypocrite and a sinner. His suffering is deserved. He has no hope even if he repents.

On a purely human level, it is sad to read, and was even more sad to Job, that his friends, his "comforters," could offer no compassion, no sympathy, no empathy, no hope, nothing to assist Job in his time of greatest need.  This is the unspoken message of Job.  While it is clear (and overtly spoken) that Job is being tested, what is not said is that Job's friends are also being tested.  And they utterly failed their test.  They demonstrated none of the attributes of God, when it comes to grace, love, and mercy.  To a person, all they did was condemn and vilify. Even when studied through the alembic of God's law (which at this point had only partially been given) Job's friends revealed that they did not have the slightest cursory understanding of forgiveness and mercy. In addition to the physical pain, and the feelings of spiritual abandonment by God, Job had to endure the mocking and coldness of his purported friends.

Job's response to Bildad, in chapter 26, articulates, in a sarcastic way, his frustration and disappointment with his friends. He asks six questions of his friends(vs 2-4):

1. How have you helped the powerless?
2. How have you saved the weak?
3. How have you enlightened the stupid?
4. What wisdom have you imparted?
5. How did you wise sayings help?
6. Whose spirit speaks through you?

These all indicate that Job is not pleased with the help his friends have provided. They have denied any motivation, and have trampled him in his weakness. They have added nothing to his understanding of God but have only spoke in trite parables.  Most importantly, they have manifested an evil spirit and not the Holy Spirit.

Job finishes his response with a paean to the greatness of God who is all powerful, who saves the weak, and enlightens the feeble minded. His is the fount of all wisdom and the father of every wise saying.  He is the provider of the Holy Spirit. "Who then can comprehend the thunder of his power?" (v. 14).

May God bless you and bless the reading of His Word.