Job 8

“Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert the right?” (v3). Job’s friends didn’t like the way Job reacted to his multiple tragedies. Job was angry and questioned God, which Bildad felt was both useless and arrogant (a “great wind”, v1-2). Bildad assured Job that his situation was perfectly clear: God was punishing him (and his family) for sin, and they should repent (v4-6). Bildad ignored the facts about Job’s righteousness because the reality was too disturbing: sometimes good people suffer.

Bildad got one thing right: “For our days on earth are but a shadow (v9).” God does not pervert justice; He is always good. However, we can’t always understand His ways.