In Job, chapter eight, verse six, after the reply of the servant of God in the previous two chapters, the argument of Bildad was essentially the same as Eliphaz’s. If Job were upright, he would prove his innocence to God. However, from the perspective of Bildad, Job did not receive vindication. Therefore, he must be wicked. Bildad based his argument on his belief that because God was just, He would not bring trouble upon a righteous individual, as in verses three through four and twenty of this theme chapter. Bildad’s error was exposed later by God Himself in chapter forty-two, verses seven through eight. However, ultimately, the crucifixion of Christ, when God delivered His own Son over to suffering and death, as in Matthew twenty-seven, verses thirty-one through fifty.
Job spake much to the purpose. But Bildad, like an eager, angry disputant, turns it all off with this.
How long wilt thou speak these things? Men’s meaning is not taken away. And then they are rebuked as if they were evil-doers. Even in disputes on religion, it is too common, to treat others with sharpness and their arguments with contempt. Bildad’s discourse shows he did not have a favorable opinion of Job’s character. Job owned that God did not pervert judgment; yet it did not, therefore, follow that his children were cast-aways, or that they did for some great transgression. Extraordinary afflictions are not always the punishment of extraordinary sins, sometimes they are the trials of extraordinary graces: in judging another’s case, we ought to take the favorable side. Bildad puts Job in hope, that if he were indeed upright, he should yet see a good end of his present troubles. Still God’s way of enriching the souls of his people with graces and comforts. The beginning is small, but the progress is to perfection. Dawning light grows to noon-day.