Bildad has spoken to Job with an arrogance, words that, on the surface, are so full of truth: If one seeks mercy from God, he will receive it; our days on earth are but a shadow; the hope of the godless shall perish; God will not reject a blameless man; etc. But none of this addresses Job’s need. Bildad is a well intentioned counselor to Job (I really believe he is); he’s also a worthless counselor.
Job responds by acknowledging the truth in Bildad’s words: “Truly I know that it is so . . .” (9:1). But Job needs someone other than Bildad to help him; he needs someone who can speak with God on his behalf. Job’s own experience is that he cannot seem to reach God on his own: “Behold, he passes by me; and I see him not; he moves on, but I do not perceive him” (9:11).
Furthermore, Job cannot simply put out of mind his troubles: “If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and be of good cheer [it just doesn’t work]’” (9:27; the last, a bit of paraphrase). Oh, if Job could only have a face to face with God but, as Job rightly understands, “he is not a man, as I am, that I might answer him, that we should come to trial together. There is no arbiter between us” (9:32). Yet, Job continues to cry out to God: “I will speak . . . I will say to God . . .” So, the questions begin to pour forth from Job (ch. 10). He seems to be at a complete loss, but he also seems to sense that if he is to find answers, he will find them with God, not with man. That's a good start! So, not just yet, but one day, Job will sing:
I will sing of my Redeemer
and his wondrous love to me;
on the cruel cross he suffered,
from the curse to set me free.
Sing, O sing of my Redeemer!
With his blood he purchased me;
on the cross he sealed my pardon,
paid the debt, and made me free. (P. P. Bliss, 1876)