Job 18:1-19:29

Do you get the distinct feeling Bildad is talking about Job, though he used the term "the wicked"?  Here, he snarks at Job for being harsh and self-righteous, and then embarks on another caustic diatribe against the wicked [i.e. Job].  The wicked is thrown down, trapped, terrorized, famished, a horror to others; he is futile.  In the end, Bildad says, the wicked [again, i.e. Job] does not know God at all.

Job's response shows how low he's been brought by his friends words.  He is discouraged, disheartened, weighed down and defeated by his friends.  They are perhaps the worst calamity he has encountered.  He speaks of being tormented by them and broken to pieces by their words.  Job earnestly feels that God has turned animosity towards him.  He feels walled in so that he cannot go forward to meet his God; in fact, he feels as if God has armed Himself against him and launched an attack.  Not only is God distant, but so are family and friends (and the only ones who bothered to come near only came to condemn). 

Interesting that he cries out, hoping his words would be written down and that everything would be written in a book.  I wink here at you, friendly reader.  We know that they are, perhaps Job knew they would be.  (After all, we don't know who wrote it, but Job himself is an option.)  And here we have the most famous statement Job ever made: "I know that my Redeemer lives."  We ourselves sing that phrase in several worship songs.  Despite Job's apparent despair, despite the fact that he knew he was abhorred and abjured on every side, Job displays an amazing faith.  Not only is he sure that his Redeemer, a savior and advocate, lives but that someday he would see Him with his own eyes, not just hear the report of Him.  Even though he feels that a separation from God he's never experienced before, he does not doubt that there will be a reconciliation, even if it must come after he is dead and decomposed.  This is the kind of faith that we as believers should embrace: that despite the adversities, God is standing there waiting to redeem us and bring us into His fold.

Tomorrow's Reading: Job 20:1-29
And hopefully the next few days won't be as busy and access to internet will be easy!