Job 8:21

Next comes Bildad the Shuhite (Job 8). He follows Eliphaz, but with much more harshness, and so he draws a sharper reply out of Job. While rebuking Job, he does not hesitate to suppose that Job's children had brought on themselves what their deeds deserved. He also hints that Job himself could not be what he seemed. He speaks and thinks only of justice. Yet he urges Job to repent, and more blessing than ever would surely follow. The greenest, freshest plant is the first to wither. The hope of the hypocrite or the impure is no more than a spider's web, and the place where he stood will deny it ever saw him, while the upright is filled with joy.

If Job really is a perfect man, God will not cast him away. Neither does He take the hand of evildoers. God will keep him until He gives him the fullest grounds for thankful praise, confounds his enemies, and destroys the wicked forever. But in Job's case, Bildad's thoughts had no fellowship with God and no gracious care for the sufferer. He judged by appearances, and so his judgment was unrighteous.

Lastly Bildad reminds Job of the sure reward for the righteous. God will not join hands with evildoers by punishing the righteous. He will fill Job's mouth with laughter and his tongue with singing, and all wickedness will stop its mouth, if —

Job knew that much of what Bildad said was true. God will not cast away a perfect man. He will fill the mouth of the perfect man with laughter and his lips with rejoicing. Those who hated Job would be clothed with shame (Job 8:20–22). This is what happened to Job after his days of testing were over. But Bildad did not understand one thing. God could test very severely the man whose life was pleasing to Him, so that his life might please Him still more.

The reasoning of Bildad rests on exactly the same principle as that of Eliphaz. It is all founded on God's moral government. No one can grieve God or cast a truly righteous man to the ground, and God is sure to bring every wicked man to nothing. It is all founded on what is going on in the world now. There was no faith in it. There was conscience, conscience toward God. But conscience never reveals God and never can, however useful and important it is for the soul.

Yet the Lord does not let His saint go without proof of His interest and blessing. Job therefore received even then this testimony of what God is. He did not forget the man who had passed through such a storm of trial. Job had held on to Him even when He seemed to be against His servant… But Job only held on to God because God held on to Job. That was the real root of the matter. It is grace after all that gives and keeps integrity.