06.26.2017 – Old Testament: Job 8.3–4

To read the Bible in a year, read Job 7–9 on June 26, In the year of our Lord 2017

By Don Ruhl

People can say cruel things to the suffering, sometimes without realizing it. Imagine if you had lost your job, all your children were killed, and you lost your health, then someone says to you,

“Does God subvert judgment?
Or does the Almighty pervert justice?
If your sons have sinned against Him,
He has cast them away for their transgression.”
(Job 8.3–4) 

Was that supposed to make Job repent? Bildad believed that Job had sinned to bring on his massive suffering, and Bildad believed that the words quoted above would bring Job to his senses! If you had been in Job’s place, would those words have softened your heart that you might repent?

Questions:

• What should you say to someone in the midst of their suffering?
• What words have others spoken to you that helped you?