Job 8:11–12

achu, a soft reed that can only grow in moist ground: it is eaten by cattle. Job 8:11.

The papyrus does not lift its head so high by any strength of its own. It rises from the abundant mire in which it thrives its little day. The same is true of the flag or bulrush of the East: it grows from sheer excess of moisture, not from solid ground. This is so true that they do not decay slowly, like other plants. They are the first to wither, even without being cut down.

Eliphaz argued from his own observation — from what he had seen. Bildad argued from tradition — from what could be learned in the records of earlier days. He distrusted conclusions drawn from personal experience, since the days of a man on earth are only "a shadow."

Bildad here seeks confirmation of his contention from the wisdom of past ages. He goes beyond Eliphaz: "For we are but as children of yesterday." That is true. But what does the stored-up wisdom of all the past give us when the question is God's truth? It is not to the past that we are to turn, but to God and His word.

Yet Bildad had much to say that was right and good. There is always a reason for things developing, but Bildad did not read that reason correctly in Job's case. Also he says that a reed may wither while yet green, and he uses this as a picture of those who forget God (vv.11-12). True enough. But he was wrongly suggesting that Job had forgotten God. He treated Job's perishing hope as a sign that Job must be a hypocrite (v.13). It is certainly true that the hypocrite's hope shall perish, but to apply this to Job was totally unfair.

And here we have the wisdom of Bildad as he learned it from the past. It is all true and sublimely stated: the wicked cannot prosper, their doom is certain. On the other hand God will not cast off the perfect man. But Job is in the position of a man God has cast off. So he must belong to the wicked who do not prosper. Bildad hides this beneath his fine words.

Well, that is just what their condition was — mire and water. There was no substance at all, just mire and water. Their thoughts were no better than the flag that grew out of the water, or the reed that grew out of the mire. And he talks about the hypocrite being no better than a spider's web. That is exactly what they were, though they were not hypocrites. Still, they were all wrong in their reasonings, and wrong reasoning is never better than a spider's web.

This is all true of the stony-ground hearers. But it is not true of Job, and not true of the soul that sincerely trusts in Christ. The water that is in him is a well of water, springing up into everlasting life. "The hypocrite's hope shall perish", but the feeblest sheep of Christ shall never perish. But if he looks at his own imagined greenness — at his own boasted goodness — it will fade away. And so Satan gets the advantage. There may be much freshness of soul at conversion, like the green flag; but beware of trusting in this.

The papyrus lifts its head so high by no strength of its own. Its height comes from the plentiful mud where it thrives for its short day. The same is true of the reed or bulrush of the East, which grows from sheer excess of moisture, not from solid ground. This is so true that they do not decay slowly, like other plants, but are the first to wither without being cut down.

The water-reed, or papyrus, grows thick and lush while water is around its roots. As soon as the water is gone, it withers faster than any other plant. So is the prosperity of the wicked, who for a time spreads himself as a green bay tree. The hope of the ungodly — not merely the hypocrite — perishes.

Things always grow for a reason. But Bildad read that reason wrongly in Job's case. He also says that a reed may wither while still green, and he uses this as a picture of those who forget God. True enough. But he was wrongly suggesting that Job had forgotten God. Job's hope seemed to be perishing, so Bildad took him for a hypocrite. It is certainly true that the hypocrite's hope will perish, but to apply this to Job was totally unfair.

A believer should not make haste; he should wait where he does not have the assurance of God's mind. Least of all should he have put the worst possible construction on what he did not understand. He did just that. It made Job's trial harder and provoked his spirit, which then gave an appearance of evil to those who suspected evil. So the confusion grew worse, and the true answer lay hidden in deeper darkness from their eyes. Did it ever occur to the three friends that the wise thing would have been to pray, instead of talking, judging, and condemning?

This is all true of the stony-ground hearers. But it is not true of Job, and not true of the soul that truly trusts in Christ. The water that is in him is a well of water, springing up into everlasting life. "The hypocrite's hope will perish" — but the feeblest sheep of Christ will never perish. But suppose he looks at his own imagined greenness, at his own boasted goodness. Then it will fade away, and Satan gains the advantage. At conversion there may be much freshness of soul, like the green reed. But beware of trusting in it. When the real character of the flesh comes out, the setback is often as great as the joy was. Then the darts fly: "Have I deceived myself?" "Perhaps I have no root in Christ." Then what darkness of soul, what confusion! The eye is off Christ, and the heart is listening to Satan. Even the very first question, that of justification, is no longer settled. It was just so with Job at the end of Bildad's speech.