Job 8:3-7
‘Bildad…then said…: “Does the Almighty pervert justice?…. If you would seek God betimes…, surely now He would awaken for you, and make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous! Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would greatly increase!”‘ Job 8:3-7.
Calamity is no proof of guilt in those on whom it falls. Bildad is enabled to hope the best for Job — if he would rightly take his trials to heart.
In his Sermons on Job, Calvin rightly remarks: “With God, we indeed distinguish His wisdom and His goodness, His righteousness and His power. But these all similarly belong to His essence. Even though God has unlimited power over all creatures — He nevertheless does not rule the world as a tyrant, but according to His holiness and His righteousness. This righteousness is partly hidden from us, so that we do not comprehend it. But the same is the case also with His power.”
Bildad said Job’s beginning was small. That is correct, looking at Job’s present condition. Yet Bildad rightly predicted that Job’s latter end would greatly increase. This was said of his future condition of prosperity (Job 42).
The verse Job 8:7 means that Job’s then estate would seem small in comparison with the splendour of his renewed prosperity. God here allowed Bildad to utter a prophecy, the literal fulfilment of which He took care expressly to get chronicled!
So there is still hope for Job if, turning humbly to God, he showed that he was nevertheless upright in his innermost mind. God would restore the habitation of Job’s righteousness. Indeed, God would not only restore — but increase beyond measure!
As far as you, Job, are concerned — if you seek the Lord from your heart, and pray for grace — He shall indeed again help you, and restore you in your earlier prosperity. He shall then raise you up again, as formerly!
The underlying conviction of Bildad that God is never unjust, was perfectly true. No charge was made against Job.
Bildad certainly still wanted to suppose that Job was essentially a pious man. If he would then humble himself and ask for mercy — it would also appear that his suffering was of a passing nature.
The end is always good for God’s children — either in this life, or after this life. In God’s fellowship, the latter days are always more glorious than the former. The stream which flows forth from the sanctuary, constantly becomes broader and deeper (Ezekiel 47). And God keeps the good wine for later (John 2:10). For, as Bildad reminded Job: ‘Your latter end would greatly increase!’
