“Then Bildad the Shuhite replied: “When will you end these speeches? Be sensible, and then we can talk. Why are we regarded as cattle and considered stupid in your sight? You who tear yourself to pieces in your anger, is the earth to be abandoned for your sake? Or must the rocks be moved from their place? “The lamp of a wicked man is snuffed out; the flame of his fire stops burning. The light in his tent becomes dark; the lamp beside him goes out. The vigor of his step is weakened; his own schemes throw him down. His feet thrust him into a net; he wanders into its mesh. A trap seizes him by the heel; a snare holds him fast. A noose is hidden for him on the ground; a trap lies in his path. Terrors startle him on every side and dog his every step. Calamity is hungry for him; disaster is ready for him when he falls. It eats away parts of his skin; death’s firstborn devours his limbs. He is torn from the security of his tent and marched off to the king of terrors. Surely such is the dwelling of an evil man; such is the place of one who does not know God.”
Job 18:1-14, 21 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/job.18.1-21.NIV
Job
“If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me and use my humiliation against me, then know that God has wronged me and drawn his net around me. “Though I cry, ‘Violence!’ I get no response; though I call for help, there is no justice. He has blocked my way so I cannot pass; he has shrouded my paths in darkness. He has stripped me of my honor and removed the crown from my head. He tears me down on every side till I am gone; he uproots my hope like a tree. His anger burns against me; he counts me among his enemies.”
Job 19:5-11 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/job.19.5-11.NIV
These verses tell of the fact that in our flesh dwells no good thing- Romans 7:18, ESV: “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.” … Romans 7:18, NASB: “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.”
These verses from Job where his friends think they are able to help, is merely showing the pride of Job’s friends and the human goodness they are in. They are trying to comfort Job or help him out, but they are coming from a place of pride thinking that the torment Job is in comes from something Job is not doing right. The fact is ALL humanity has pride in their flesh and the way to overcome is to realize that only God is GOOD and he is able. It is wonderful when all is going well but when testing comes in our lives we have to be ready with our minds made up that God is ALWAYS good and EVERYTHING we do is by His amazing grace. It’s His grace that enables us to choose to live a lifestyle set apart for Him in holiness! It is not our outward works that justify us but really it is our heart decision to say YES to God. To surrender our ALL. He does the rest. What I love about the book of Job is the beauty of exposing the amazing heart and love of God for us. He does not want us to live from our works or flesh, but instead He, Daddy God in His mercy exposes the depravity of our flesh, and how He is not looking on the outward response. He is looking at our hearts and the Yes! From there He is God and does it ALL. That is why He sent His Son Jesus to pay the price for us because our flesh and good works have no access to God’s heart. The only thing that gives us access to God is our humility realizing in our flesh dwells no good thing. Job didn’t even have Jesus sacrifice yet but still choose by the grace of God to praise God!
