Bildad now speaks and argues that Job is ignorant and must be instructed regarding his situation: “For inquire, please, of bygone ages, and consider what the fathers have searched out. For we are but of yesterday and know nothing, for our days on earth are a shadow. Will they not teach you and tell you and utter words out of their understanding?” (8:8-10). Now, it’s a good thing to consider the wisdom of those who have gone before us. One of the great challenges of our day (and every generation?) is that we think we have arrived at some great, new awareness that was hidden from our ancestors. What arrogance and foolishness! And we are likely to suffer greatly by ignoring past generations and what they can teach us.
However, we must ever be cautious to weigh that knowledge against what God has told us. Though Job has not yet arrived at the place in which he can wholly trust in God, he at least knows that answers to his predicament ultimately will come only from God: “I will say to God, ‘Do not condemn me; let me know why you contend against me’” (10:2). Thus, Paul wrote to Timothy, encouraging him to stay in the Scriptures for “from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15).
Praise we now the word of grace;
may our hearts its truth embrace:
from its pages may we hear
Christ our teacher, speaking clear.
May the gospel of the Lord
everywhere be spread abroad,
that the world around may own
Christ as King, and Christ alone. --S. N. Sedgwick (1983)