Read Job 6—8
Then Bildad the Shuhite replied: “How long will you say such
things? Your words are a blustering wind.”
Job 8:1–2
Job had poured out his grief and was waiting to hear a sympathetic
word, but his friend said that Job’s speech was just so much hot air.
Bildad was so concerned about defending the justice of God
that he forgot the needs of his friend. While Bildad’s theology was
correct—God is just—his application of that theology was wrong.
Bildad was looking at only one aspect of God’s nature—His holiness
and justice—and had forgotten His love, mercy, and goodness.
How are these two attributes of God reconciled? At the cross.
When Jesus died for the sins of the world, the righteousness of
God was vindicated, for sin was judged; but the love of God was
demonstrated, for a Savior was provided. God’s law said, “The soul
who sins is the one who will die” (Ezek. 18:4, 20); and God obeyed
His own law in the sacrificing of His Son on the cross. In Christ’s
resurrection, the grace of God triumphed over sin and death, and
all who repent of their sins and trust Jesus Christ will be saved (Acts
2:21; Rom. 10:9–10).
Something to Ponder
What steps can you take to ensure that you maintain a sense of both
God’s love and justice as you advise and console others?