What does it say?
Job says that he has become a byword for the people and men spit at him as if he were dirt. Bildad believes that only the wicked man receives the bad things that Job has received. Job feels insulted that his friends believe that he has done wrong. Job says that everything and everyone is against him, will not his friends at least have pity for him. Job believes that God is just, therefore, he will redeem him and when he does his friends should be afraid of judgment. Zophar says that the triumph of the wicked is short for God gives the wicked bitterness.
What does it mean?
In this present world justice is often not the case. A wicked man lives a rich productive life and a God fearing man has nothing to eat. Job believes that there is no justice on the earth but in the end God will be just. Bildad and Zophar believe in what is called retribution theology. What goes around comes around. So, who is correct? Bildad and Zophar are like ivory tower theologians. Their knowledge about justice does not fit with the actual world. There is a great deal of injustice in this present world. Job did not deserve to loose his health and wealth, nor did not deserve the ridicule of his friends and neighbors; yet, this is what he has been given. However, Job understands that in the end God will always do what is right and justice will be done. We may not see justice in this lifetime but the judgment of God is coming to the earth.
What shall I do?
I shall put my faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of my sins and observe all that Jesus Christ commanded. The kingdom of God is already and not yet. Jesus Christ has already been given all authority in heaven and on earth but he has not yet sat down on his glorious throne to judge the earth. Therefore, there is injustice on the earth. Yesterday I took care of three patients: an elderly woman with bilateral pneumonia, a young man with an injury caused by chronic illness, and a man who had coronary artery bypass surgery. Why should these people suffer while others do not. The woman lived a long life before becoming ill, but what about the young man? Why did she live a long life without illness, yet this young man had illness from childhood. One of the the excuses that people use for turning against God is the bad things that happen in their life. Yet, the Scriptures make no promises of good on the earth. However, the Scriptures do promise of judgment to come; “and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left...These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Mt 25:33, 46)
