I know how you feel! Job 17-18

Job was innocent, but he suffered greatly. Jesus was also innocent, and he too suffered greatly. Sometimes Job’s words remind us about Jesus’ death. See also Psalm 22 and Isaiah chapter 53. The authors of these books wrote these passages before Jesus was born. But these chapters describe well the troubles that Jesus suffered for us. Jesus died so that God would forgive our evil deeds (1 Peter 2:24).

Bildad thought that Job was wicked, so Bildad warned Job. Nobody would remember Job after his death.  Job’s children were no longer living (Job 1:18-19). His earthly possessions were gone, but Job trusted God to prove that he was innocent (Job 16:18-21). Bildad thought that Job’s situation was hopeless.

Although Job suffered greatly, he thought that his troubles had some good effects (Job 17:8-9). Bildad did not believe this was possible. He believed that a wicked man’s death may upset everyone, but a wicked man’s death would not help anybody.  Bildad said these things because he wanted to help Job. Bildad wanted Job to confess his evil deeds to God. He believed that if Job did this, then God would forgive Job (Job 8:5-6).  Bildad never really understood that Job was a good man (Job 2:3). 

So many people during the time of Christ did not believe that He was the Son of God.  Many believed he was a blasphemer and a false teacher.  Would anyone remember Him after his death?  He had little in the way of earthly possessions, and was criticized by the spiritual leaders of His day.  His Words of Life were not recognized by many until after His death.  Christ suffered greatly.  He suffered ridicule, scrutiny, and incredible physical pain leading up to His excruciating death.  Hanging on the cross, he was taunted for His claim of being the Son of God.  Those who crucified Him did not really understand He was their Saviour.

Job has been an example of faithfulness through trial, studied by many since his account was written.  How wrong Bildad was when he told Job no one would remember him after his death.  I think many of Jesus’ detractors didn’t believe that anyone would remember Him after His death.

When we suffer, we can identify more closely with His sufferings. This understanding of His own sufferings creates a greater intimacy between Christ and us not unlike the intimacy of two human friends who have been through similar experiences. 

“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— ¹⁰ that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” –Philippians 3:8-10