April 3, 2024

When Will the Wicked Finally be Punished?

Job 18

Dick Wakeman
Wednesday's Devo

April 3, 2024

Wednesday's Devo

April 3, 2024

Wednesday's Devo

April 3, 2024

Wednesday's Devo

April 3, 2024

Big Book Idea

God is at work even when we can't see it.

Key Verse | Job 18:5

Indeed, the light of the wicked is put out,
and the flame of his fire does not shine.

Job 18

Bildad Speaks: God Punishes the Wicked

1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:

2  “How long will you hunt for words?
    Consider, and then we will speak.
3  Why are we counted as cattle?
    Why are we stupid in your sight?
4  You who tear yourself in your anger,
    shall the earth be forsaken for you,
    or the rock be removed out of its place?

5  Indeed, the light of the wicked is put out,
    and the flame of his fire does not shine.
6  The light is dark in his tent,
    and his lamp above him is put out.
7  His strong steps are shortened,
    and his own schemes throw him down.
8  For he is cast into a net by his own feet,
    and he walks on its mesh.
9  A trap seizes him by the heel;
    a snare lays hold of him.
10  A rope is hidden for him in the ground,
    a trap for him in the path.
11  Terrors frighten him on every side,
    and chase him at his heels.
12  His strength is famished,
    and calamity is ready for his stumbling.
13  It consumes the parts of his skin;
    the firstborn of death consumes his limbs.
14  He is torn from the tent in which he trusted
    and is brought to the king of terrors.
15  In his tent dwells that which is none of his;
    sulfur is scattered over his habitation.
16  His roots dry up beneath,
    and his branches wither above.
17  His memory perishes from the earth,
    and he has no name in the street.
18  He is thrust from light into darkness,
    and driven out of the world.
19  He has no posterity or progeny among his people,
    and no survivor where he used to live.
20  They of the west are appalled at his day,
    and horror seizes them of the east.
21  Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous,
    such is the place of him who knows not God.”

Table of Contents
Introduction to Job

Introduction to Job

Timeline

Author and Date

The unknown Israelite author of this book presents Job as a person living in Uz (see note on 1:1). Job’s godliness (1:1) matches the ideals of Israelite wisdom literature. He clearly knows Yahweh (1:21). The events of the book seem to be set in the times of the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob).

Theological Themes

The book of Job concerns itself with the question of faith in a sovereign God. Can God be trusted? Is he good and just in his rule of the world? The book shows that the reasons for human suffering often remain a secret to human beings.

In the book of Job, God seems both too close and too far away. On the one hand, Job complains that God is watching him every moment so that he cannot even swallow his spit (7:19). On the other hand, Job finds God elusive (9:11). Though God is greatly concerned about humans, he does not always answer their most agonizing questions.

At the same time, Job’s friends offer no real help. They come to “comfort” him (2:11), but Job ends up declaring them “miserable comforters” who would console him “with empty nothings” (21:34). These friends represent an oversimplified view of faith. They think that all human troubles are divine punishments for wrongdoing. Their “comfort” consists largely of urging Job to identify his sin and repent of it. These friends are negative examples of how to comfort those who are suffering.

The book illustrates that one does not need to fully understand God’s will in order to be faithful while suffering. Those who suffer need not be afraid to express to God their confusion and questions.

Purpose

The book of Job was written to those who struggle with the question of how God can be good when the world is filled with suffering.

The author does not provide a formal defense of God’s justice. Rather, as Job’s friends offer their inadequate answers, the author shows how their reasoning fails. Then, in chs. 38–41, the Lord speaks in his own defense, bringing Job to fuller understanding (ch. 42).

Even during his suffering and confusion, before God finally speaks, Job can triumphantly declare, “I know that my Redeemer lives” (19:25).

Outline

  1. Prologue: Job’s Character and the Circumstances of His Test (1:1–2:13)
  2. Dialogue: Job, His Suffering, and His Standing before God (3:1–42:6)
    1. Job: despair for the day of his birth (3:1–26)
    2. The friends and Job: can Job be right before God? (4:1–25:6)
      1. First cycle (4:1–14:22)
      2. Second cycle (15:1–21:34)
      3. Third cycle (22:1–25:6)
    3. Job: the power of God, place of wisdom, and path of integrity (26:1–31:40)
    4. Elihu: suffering as a discipline (32:1–37:24)
    5. Challenge: the Lord answers Job (38:1–42:6)
  3. Epilogue: The Vindication, Intercession, and Restoration of Job (42:7–17)
The Global Message of Job

The Global Message of Job

Universal Questions

With its story of one man’s life and suffering, the book of Job raises universal questions. Why do people suffer, especially godly people? Where is God in suffering? Can God be trusted amid suffering? Job’s friends try to answer such questions with superficial and simplistic solutions, eventually earning God’s rebuke (Job 42:7–9).

Ultimately we learn from Job that we can hope steadfastly in our sovereign God. Instead of providing easy answers to hard questions, this incomparably glorious, all-knowing, and almighty God presents to people in all places and in all times the simplest, most powerful, and most universal answer to these questions. God’s answer to human suffering has everything to do with his own infinite goodness and care for his creation.

Suffering in a Fallen World

In the life of Job we see the breadth and depth of human suffering. We see suffering in health (Job 2:7), suffering in the loss of property (1:14–17), and suffering in the tragic death of family members (1:18–19). In Job we also listen in on a discussion in the heavenly courtroom between God and Satan (1:6–12; 2:1–7), in which God delights in the upright life of Job. There we are given a window into the normally invisible reasons for our trials and suffering.

Sin and suffering. Suffering is universal, though the kind of suffering differs from circumstance to circumstance. Sometimes we suffer because of our own sin. There is no such thing as sin without consequences. Sometimes God himself directly chastises his people for their sins. However, Job’s friends are wrong to assume that his suffering is a direct result of disobedience (Job 8:4), and it would likewise be wrong to conclude that all or even most suffering in the world today is divine punishment for specific sins. The speeches of Eliphaz (chs. 4; 5; 15; 22), Bildad (chs. 8; 18; 25), and Zophar (chs. 11; 20) reflect such wrong assumptions.

Common suffering. Another type of suffering is what we might call “common suffering.” This is suffering that affects all people without distinction. It is simply the result of living in a fallen world. It includes health problems from colds to cancer. It includes bad weather, earthquakes, and typhoons. It includes financial struggles, and even death itself. Each tragic incident in Job’s life includes an element of this common suffering.

Godliness and suffering. Not only are godly people afflicted with suffering just as others are, but the godly experience some kinds of suffering due specifically to their godliness (Matt. 10:24–33; Acts 14:22; 2 Tim. 3:12). Faithfulness to Christ will bring insult and at times persecution—suffering that could be avoided if we were not disciples of Christ. We see this principle in Job, for it was precisely Job’s uprightness that prompted God to single him out to Satan and then led Satan to seek to afflict him (Job 1:8–12).

Devastating suffering. Job’s suffering is uniquely profound and painful. Some suffering, we learn, defies any category. We discover in Job that Satan has a hand in some of the suffering of God’s people (Job 1:6–12; 2:1–7; compare 2 Cor. 12:1–10). But even such demonically instigated suffering is not outside of God’s sovereignty. Nor should our focus be on Satan when we suffer but rather on persisting in steadfast faith amid such God-ordained pain. At the very least a lesson to be learned from Job is that our vision and insight into suffering is severely limited. What is not limited, however, is God’s perfect understanding and sovereign control over every event in our lives. In the “Yahweh speeches” of Job (chs. 38–41), God does not engage Job in the details of his questions and complaints. Rather, God reminds Job that God is God and Job is not. God laid the foundation of the earth (38:4); he is God over the seas (38:8, 16), over the stars (38:31–33), and over every creature (39:1–30; 40:15–41:34).

A Global Message of Comfort and Hope

The almighty, all-good God. Despite its focus on challenges and sufferings, the book of Job speaks a message of great hope to the world. We live in a world longing for comfort and hope, and such hope is found in the sovereign God who sees, who is good, and who is faithful. We are not victims of random fate or uncontrolled circumstances. We are loved faithfully and passionately by a sovereign God who works all things for our good (Rom. 8:28). The suffering global church can take comfort amid suffering, knowing that God is pleased with our faithfulness to him, even as God expressed delight in “my servant Job” (Job 1:6–8; 2:3). James 5:11 reminds us that God will fulfill his good purposes and is indeed compassionate and merciful toward his people.

No neat formulas. Living an upright life of faith in God does not exempt us from suffering. This was the fundamental misunderstanding of Job’s friends (Job 8:6) and the reason that their “comfort” was so “miserable” (16:2). Indeed, in Job and in all of Scripture we see that suffering is a part of the experience of godly people, and that suffering is also a means for our sanctification. Suffering is a blessing as through it we learn that God’s ways and purposes are much greater than we can know (chs. 40–41). His purposes and faithfulness are much greater than the achievement of ease and a comfortable life; the global church must not make an idol out of worldly comfort and earthly abundance.

The sufferings of the Savior. Job confessed faith in the living Redeemer (Job 19:25). That Redeemer would one day come and suffer for us on a cross. Here we have yet another kind of suffering, the atoning sufferings of Christ. He suffered for our salvation, bearing the penalty for our sin. It is also our great privilege to share in his suffering (2 Cor. 1:5; 2 Tim. 1:8; 2:3; 1 Pet. 4:13). These are not the sufferings of health problems or bad weather or the consequences of our own folly. These are sufferings that flow from our union with and loyalty to Christ. There is a global attack on the righteous, but God will continue to provide sufficient grace to his people (2 Cor. 12:9).He will grow both his people and his kingdom through such suffering as it is endured in faith.

Our Intercession and Mission of Hope

Though God’s righteous anger burned against the three friends of Job, their folly was forgiven in response to the righteous intervention of Job’s prayers (Job 42:7–9). What then is the Christian response to those who suffer—and to those who cause suffering?

We are to intercede for the world, both in prayer and in life. We are to “comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Cor. 1:4). This comfort must find expression in our ministry and service to those in need both where we live as well as around the world—to orphans, widows, and all those who suffer.

This comfort is most gloriously and eternally known as the church ministers the gospel of new hope in Christ to the world—to the lost, to the downtrodden, and even to our enemies (Matt. 5:44). For the greatest suffering in this world is not the loss of property or even family; it is to be lost in sin, without the living Redeemer.

Proverbs Fact #1: Wisdom

Fact: Wisdom

Wisdom is a key term in Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes. The word can mean “skilled at making sound decisions in life.” Proverbs 9:10 states that “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.”

Job Fact #1: Comfort

Fact: Comfort

Comfort is a key word in the book of Job. When faced with personal tragedies, Job receives no comfort from his friends (16:2). But when God answers him (see chs. 38–41), he finds the comfort he needs.

Job Fact #7: Three cycles of conversations

Fact: Three cycles of conversations

The book of Job includes three cycles of conversations in which the friends of Job offer their comfort and advice, and then listen as Job responds. The first cycle covers chs. 4–14.

Job Fact #15: Elihu

Fact: Elihu

Elihu is the only character in the book of Job with a Hebrew name.

Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar

Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar

After the Lord allowed Satan to afflict Job, three of his friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, came to comfort him. However, all three wrongly assumed that Job’s suffering was the result of some hidden sin. Each man urged Job to repent so that God would have mercy on him. But Job insisted that he was innocent. Although it is true that some suffering is a result of sin, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar oversimplified this truth. They believed that all troubles are punishments for wrongdoing, which was not the case for Job. The wrong actions of Job’s three friends should remind believers today to be wise and sensitive when dealing with people in distress. The Lord rebuked Job’s three friends and instructed Job to pray for them. (Job 42:7–9)

Study Notes

Job 18:5–6 Bildad is likely responding to Job with the repeated images of the light of the wicked (flame, lamp) going dark (put out, does not shine). Job ought to take the “darkness” as a warning.

Study Notes

Job 18:7–10 Bildad uses the vocabulary of a trap (net, snare, rope) to argue that what Job describes as God breaking him apart (see 16:7–14) is better described as Job suffering the consequences of his own sin.

Study Notes

Job 18:11–14 Firstborn of death and king of terrors personifies the process and finality of death.

Study Notes

Job 18:1–21 Like Eliphaz, Bildad expressed his frustration (vv. 2–4): Who is Job to maintain his position and criticize the words of his friends? The remainder of Bildad’s response is a description of the destiny of the wicked (vv. 5–21).

Job 18:14–21 Bildad refers throughout these verses to the destruction of both the house and the household of the wicked (both of which Job has endured; 1:13–19) to assert that Job’s circumstances show he is one who knows not God (18:21).

S3:064 Job 18

Listen Now

Dive Deeper | Job 18

When will the wicked finally be punished?

 Job 18 answers that question. For the wicked man, not only during his everyday life will he experience booby traps in the paths he takes, but his desire for life will be depleted. The wealth that he put so much trust in will fail to secure him. The memory of him by his family will not last. Rejecting God is a life-destroying experience. A person can do just about anything he wants, but he has no control over the consequences.

Hebrews 9:27 further amplifies the wicked man's fate: "And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment . . . ."

Jonah 2:8 (NET) lends further insight to the consequences of rejecting God: "Those who worship worthless idols forfeit the mercy that could be theirs."

If the Bible stopped there, how depressing that would be! But God's Word tells us how to have deliverance from the consequences of our wickedness. Romans 5:8 tells us that God proved His love for us while we were yet rejecting God. Jesus Christ died for us so that we would be ransomed from the consequences of our wicked rejection. All we have to do is to accept His grace gift and trust His death and resurrection to move us from wickedness to righteousness.

This month's memory verse

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

– Galatians 5:22-23

Discussion Questions

1. Although the book of Job was written around 3,000 years ago, what does it have to do with you today?

2. How does 2 Corinthians 5:15-20 help you understand that question?

3. How do you become trained to be God's ambassador?

As we gear up to release even more features for Join The Journey in 2025, our staff team, unfortunately, no longer has the margin to continue to support the comment functionality. We have big things in store for Join The Journey 2025. Stay tuned!

GJ

greg jones

Good morning Dick. That’s a great word about finding purpose in Christ in your bio. A great thing about Watermark and churches like it, they are the gold standard when it comes to creating ministry opportunities where people can plug into their purpose.
SB

Sue Bohlin

Thanks SO much, Dick. Your bio is one of my most favorites . . . I LOVED reading how long you've been walking with Christ! Thank you for telling us how old you are--every church needs seasoned saints, especially ones with a much younger demographic! I appreciated what Dr. Constable has for today's chapter: “Bildad felt Job did not really understand the doctrine of retribution. He probably considered Job weak on this subject because Job kept harping on how the righteous suffer and the wicked prosper. In these speeches Job and his friends had nothing to say about future retribution at the day of final judgment or the balancing of the scales of justice after death. This is a truth that unveils gradually (progressive revelation) in the OT.” Often when we counsel suffering people it is more important to help them think about God and talk to Him than it is to get them to adopt all of our theology. Job’s companions seem to have given up on Job because he would not agree with their theological presupposition. They failed to give him credit for being sincere in his desire to come to terms with God.
MS

Michael Scaman

Bildad speaks much shorter than Job, maybe half as long, Title: Some tough love short and to the point as if by Bildad (Verse 1) Job's understanding's like a cow, grazin' in the field, Bildad's words cut deep, makin' him yield, Lights out for the wicked, their flames gone cold, Consequences unfold, their story's told. (Chorus) Lights out, consequences, calamities, Job's wears the jersey of team wicked, can't you see? (Verse 2) Bildad drops the truth bombs, trap's set to unfold, Job's own schemes got him, now his story's told, Terrors chase him, his strength's all gone, Firstborn of death claims him, it won't be long. (Chorus) Lights out, consequences, calamities, Job's wears the jersey of team wicked, can't you see? (Bridge) In his tent, what's his ain't his no more, Roots dry up, branches wither, he's left on the floor, Memory fades, no name in the street, Thrust from light into darkness, a fate he can't cheat. (Chorus) Lights out, consequences, calamities, Job's wears the jersey of team wicked, can't you see? (Outro) Bildad's words hit hard, Job's fate sealed, In the darkness, his destiny revealed, Job's understanding like a cow, can't comprehend, Trapped in the cycle, his story's end.
AL

Amy Lowther

1. The book of Job gives me examples which help me think more about what I am doing today because we are not doing the same thing.. The book of Job helps me see the whole picture of what is going on in my life today. Sometimes things are overlooked or not considered. The Bible helps me address those ideas. 2. It establishes there is value which will help everyone. 3. I can become a trained ambassador by applying what I learn from God’s Word in daily life. If I make a mistake, I return to God and try again, knowing God supports me. Duck - Thank you for sharing your ideas. You made a good point in saying, “But God's Word tells us how to have deliverance from the consequences of our wickedness”. God is willing to help us through anything.