‏ Job 18

* Bildad reproves Job. (1-4) Ruin attends the wicked. (5-10) The

ruin of the wicked. (11-21)

1-4 Bildad had before given Job good advice and encouragement;

here he used nothing but rebukes, and declared his ruin. And he

concluded that Job shut out the providence of God from the

management of human affairs, because he would not admit himself

to be wicked. 5-10 Bildad describes the miserable condition of a wicked man;

in which there is much certain truth, if we consider that a

sinful condition is a sad condition, and that sin will be men's

ruin, if they do not repent. Though Bildad thought the

application of it to Job was easy, yet it was not safe nor just.

It is common for angry disputants to rank their opponents among

God's enemies, and to draw wrong conclusions from important

truths. The destruction of the wicked is foretold. That

destruction is represented under the similitude of a beast or

bird caught in a snare, or a malefactor taken into custody.

Satan, as he was a murderer, so he was a robber, from the

beginning. He, the tempter, lays snares for sinners wherever

they go. If he makes them sinful like himself, he will make them

miserable like himself. Satan hunts for the precious life. In

the transgression of an evil man there is a snare for himself,

and God is preparing for his destruction. See here how the

sinner runs himself into the snare. 11-21 Bildad describes the destruction wicked people are kept

for, in the other world, and which in some degree, often seizes

them in this world. The way of sin is the way of fear, and leads

to everlasting confusion, of which the present terrors of an

impure conscience are earnests, as in Cain and Judas. Miserable

indeed is a wicked man's death, how secure soever his life was.

See him dying; all that he trusts to for his support shall be

taken from him. How happy are the saints, and how indebted to

the lord Jesus, by whom death is so far done away and changed,

that this king of terrors is become a friend and a servant! See

the wicked man's family sunk and cut off. His children shall

perish, either with him or after him. Those who consult the true

honour of their family, and its welfare, will be afraid of

withering all by sin. The judgments of God follow the wicked man

after death in this world, as a proof of the misery his soul is

in after death, and as an earnest of that everlasting shame and

contempt to which he shall rise in the great day. The memory of

the just is blessed, but the name of the wicked shall rot, #Pr

10:7|. It would be well if this report of wicked men would cause

any to flee from the wrath to come, from which their power,

policy, and riches cannot deliver them. But Jesus ever liveth to

deliver all who trust in him. Bear up then, suffering believers.

Ye shall for a little time have sorrow, but your Beloved, your

Saviour, will see you again; your hearts shall rejoice, and your

joy no man taketh away.