Job 8:1-22
8:1-7 Next to speak was Job's friend Bildad who, like Eliphaz, believed that Job was guilty. Ironically, Job was the most righteous person on the earth, and that was why he was a target to Satan. Bildad felt that Job was behaving obstinately. He thought that if Job would simple admit his sin, God would restore him.
8:8-10 Bildad wanted Job to consider that many people before him experienced discipline, but repentance always brought resolution. But Job could not apologize for a sin he did not commit; he could not be disciplined for he was not in need of correction. Job had to endure the season of despair as an example to Satan that a relationship with God can be steadfast.
8:11-18 Bildad warned Job that he would never prosper if he evaded God's discipline. This advice would be helpful for most of us, but for Job is was wrongly-accusatory. It did not apply to his situation. Job's friends had a difficult time accepting that Job was innocent. Only God is truly able to determine a person's innocence, but his friends delighted more in reprimanding Job than comforting him.
It's true that sometimes love comes in the form of tough-love. We have to tell our friends the truth, but we should not delight in doing it. We should not enjoy the sound or eloquence of our own words. Whatever we say should be said to help them.
8:19-22 Assurance from Bildad: God would restore. Indeed, God does. God's innocent children can expect healing and for all things to work out in their favor eventually. Had Job remembered to trust in that piece of advice, this portion of Bildad's speech might have been a comfort.
