favourable opinion of Job's character. Job owned that God did not pervert judgment; yet it did not
therefore follow that his children were cast-aways, or that they did for some great transgression.
Extraordinary afflictions are not always the punishment of extraordinary sins, sometimes they are
the trials of extraordinary graces: in judging of another's case, we ought to take the favorable side.
Bildad puts Job in hope, that if he were indeed upright, he should yet see a good end of his present
troubles. This is God's way of enriching the souls of his people with graces and comforts. The
beginning is small, but the progress is to perfection. Dawning light grows to noon-day.
Verses 8–19
Bildad discourses well of hypocrites and evil-doers, and the fatal end of all their hopes and
joys. He proves this truth of the destruction of the hopes and joys of hypocrites, by an appeal to
former times. Bildad refers to the testimony of the ancients. Those teach best that utter words out
of their heart, that speak from an experience of spiritual and divine things. A rush growing in fenny
ground, looking very green, but withering in dry weather, represents the hypocrite's profession,
which is maintained only in times of prosperity. The spider's web, spun with great skill, but easily
swept away, represents a man's pretensions to religion when without the grace of God in his heart.
A formal professor flatters himself in his own eyes, doubts not of his salvation, is secure, and cheats
the world with his vain confidences. The flourishing of the tree, planted in the garden, striking root
to the rock, yet after a time cut down and thrown aside, represents wicked men, when most firmly
established, suddenly thrown down and forgotten. This doctrine of the vanity of a hypocrite's
confidence, or the prosperity of a wicked man, is sound; but it was not applicable to the case of
Job, if confined to the present world.
Verses 20–22
Bildad here assures Job, that as he was so he should fare; therefore they concluded, that as he
fared so he was. God will not cast away an upright man; he may be cast down for a time, but he
shall not be cast away for ever. Sin brings ruin on persons and families. Yet to argue, that Job was
an ungodly, wicked man, was unjust and uncharitable. The mistake in these reasonings arose from
Job's friends not distinguishing between the present state of trial and discipline, and the future state
of final judgment. May we choose the portion, possess the confidence, bear the cross, and die the
death of the righteous; and, in the mean time, be careful neither to wound others by rash judgments,
nor to distress ourselves needlessly about the opinions of our fellow-creatures.
Chapter 9
Chapter Outline
Job acknowledges God's justice. (1–13)
He is not able to contend with God. (14–21)
Men not to be judged by outward condition. (22–24)