Job 25-26, In which Bildad finds five bucks and Job goes off.

Have you ever told a joke that you thought was going to be really funny, except nobody laughed? Or have you ever told a story that you thought was really profound, only at the end everyone kind of looked at you as if to say, 'Is that it?' If you've ever done that then you know bad it feels. You feel silly and are desperately trying to find a way to save yourself.

Some guys I knew in college came up with a great save for these types of situations. If you ever tell a bad joke/story and nobody laughs, you can then just say, "And then I found five bucks!" It may have nothing to do with your joke, but it fills the dead, awkward air with something positive. Try it next time you say something not so funny. I promise you it'll pay off for you.

Bildad is about to have a "Then I found five bucks" moment. He's going to say something short and useless and will look stupid. Eliphaz and Bildad each spoke three times. Zophar has only spoken twice and will not speak again for the rest of the book. In short, they've said all they could and none of it was very helpful or true. Let us all rejoice that we no longer have to hear from Job's friends. Job is going to go off on his friends and God in the next five chapters, but first let's look at Bildad's comments. Please read along in the Bible.

Job 25:1-6 - Bildad: "Um...God is big...and you're small...and stupid!"
Okay, that's unfair and mean. I know he says more than that, but that's how it comes across, short and meaningless. Let's read it together.

"Dominion and fear are with God; he makes peace in his high heaven. Is there any number to his armies? Upon whom does his light not arise? How then can man be in the right before God? How can he who is born of woman be pure? Behold, even the moon is not bright, and the starts are not pure in his eyes?"

Let's remember that in the last section Job poured out his broken heart to God and his friends. He asked where God was, not only in his own suffering, but in the injustice he saw in the world around him. His friends have constantly said that men suffer because of their evil deeds. Job has clearly pointed out how this is not true as evidenced in his life and the world we live in. So let me ask you, does Bildad answer Job's arguments about the seeming injustice of God? No. Does Bildad answer Job's questions about where God is in the midst of pain and injustice? No. Bildad simply states that God is big and awesome and no one can be in the right before him. This makes God out to be a tyrant who doles out punishment to whoever he will because, (as Bildad argues), ALL men are guilty before him. Therefore, (according to Bildad), all men everywhere should live in absolute fear of God's judgment at all times. Is this a Biblically accurate picture of God? No. But Bildad and Job's friends have been so shut down by Job that they have very little to say at this point, as evidenced by the mere six verses in this chapter...but at least Bildad found five bucks.

Sidenote: What you think about God is important. Bildad thought wrongly about the Almighty, and therefore said hurtful and incorrect things. Not only will bad theology cause you to speak unwisely, it will lead you into immorality and destruction. See also any crazy cult where the leader has 90 wives. By the way, this works in reverse too. If you delve into immoral behavior you will eventually change your theology to suit your beliefs. You can't have good theology and bad behavior or vice versa. Paul tells Timothy to "hold faith (belief) and a good conscience (behavior). By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander..." (1 Timothy 1:19-20).
This is also why Job is struggling so much. He thought rightly about God and his character, which is why he couldn't understand the injustice and suffering he was experiencing. He knew God was good, righteous, powerful, and merciful. The problem was his experience didn't match up with what he knew about God. Thus he cried out "Why, God?" and "Where are you?"

Job 26:1-4 - Job responds: "Thank God I have such a wonderful instructor as you, Bildad!"
This is called sarcasm. Job is mocking Bildad for his wonderful wisdom and help in the midst of Job's pain and emotional crisis. "How you have helped him who has no power! How you have saved the arm that has no strength! How you have counseled him who has no wisdom, and plentifully declared sound knowledge!" (2-3). Bildad has not helped Job with their comments, and Job lets him know about it in a very forceful way.
*Mental note: NEVER, EVER try this with your mother, father, boss, spouse, or a large hairy man at a bar. It won't go well for you.

Job 26:5-14 - Where Job has a greater concept of God than Bildad
Job lays out a picture of God which is quite impressive. It would really make for quite an amazing worship song, if one were so inclined.

"He stretches out the north over the void and hangs the earth on nothing. He binds up the waters in his thick clouds, and the cloud is not split open under them...The pillars of heaven tremble and are astounded at his rebuke...Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand!" (6-14, selected). 

So what is the point here? In the previous chapter Bildad thought to instruct Job on God and his ways. Job shows Bildad he has just as good, if not better, of an understanding of the greatness and glory of God. Job understands God is big, awesome and mighty, probably even better than Bildad does. In this section Job again shows his friends they have not counseled him with any new information he did not know, even though they attempted to teach and instruct him in his pain.

Job is finally free of the advice of his friends, but he still has the same questions about the presence and purpose of God in his suffering. Where is God? Why does God act this way? Does God care? We're rounding the bend now to the end of the story. Job is going to go off on a long monologue, a mysterious figure will emerge and respond, and then God will show up.