Bible Study Guide Day 005: Job 6–9
What they trust in is fragile; what they rely on is a spider’s web.
Job 8:14
Job 6
Job
In chapter 6 Job, replies to Eliphaz’s speech, expressing his grief and lamentation over his situation.
He acknowledges the severity of his suffering and compares it to the weight of sands in the desert.
He says the arrows of the Almighty are in him, and their poison is drinking up his spirit. He longs for death but acknowledges that he has not denied the words of God, even in the midst of his suffering.
He wonders what strength he has left, as his hopes and trust have been broken. He appeals to God for mercy and asks Him to reveal the reason for his suffering.
His friends have proven to be unreliable and offer no comfort or understanding. Job is left feeling alone and misunderstood.
Job 7
In this chapter, Job continues to pour out his heart to God, lamenting his situation and the suffering he endures. He compares his life to a slave who longs for rest but is only given hard labor.
He questions why God would even bother with man, who has such a short and difficult life compared to Him. Job feels that God is constantly watching him, waiting for him to make a mistake so that He can punish him.
He begs for a moment of relief from his suffering, even if it means death. Job’s trust in God and His justice is beginning to falter as he struggles to understand the reason for his afflictions.
Job 8
Bildad
Bildad, one of Job’s friends, responds to Job’s speech with a rebuke. He accuses Job of being wicked and suggests that his suffering is a result of his sins.
He says Job’s children must have sinned greatly for God to punish them in such a way. Bildad urges Job to repent and seek forgiveness from God.
He uses a metaphor of a plant with deep roots, implying that Job’s wickedness runs deep and must be uprooted for him to experience restoration.
Bildad also says that if Job repents, God will restore him and make his future even greater than his past. He urges Job to consider the wisdom of their ancestors and follow in their ways.
Job 9
Job
In this chapter, Job responds to Bildad’s speech and acknowledges God’s power and sovereignty. He recognizes that no one can stand against God or question His actions.
Job states that God is just and mighty, but he also questions why the innocent suffer while the wicked prosper.
He admits that he does not have an answer for his suffering and cannot understand God’s ways. He longs for a mediator to plead his case before God, as he feels too insignificant and unworthy to do so himself.
Job ends by declaring that even if he were righteous, he would not be able to vindicate himself before God. He must rely on God’s mercy and grace instead of his own righteousness.