Old Testament Commentary - Job 8

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 8 Bildad asks: Doth God pervert judgment? He says: Our days upon earth are a shadow; and, God will not cast away a perfect man.
1 THEN answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said, 2 How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind? 3 Doth God pervert ^ajudgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?		3^a Alma 12:15
4 If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression; 5 If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty; 6 If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
7 Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase. 8 For enquire, I pray thee, of the former ^aage^a, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers: 9 (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our ^adays upon earth are a shadow:) 10 Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?	8^a the former age Though one might think this is but some former generations, in the context of 'ages', the former age of this second estate would be that pre-mortal realm of the preexistence. In that sense then it is here speaking of such of the 'fathers' of God, Elohim and Jehovah, the Son. We know that Jehovah's Father is our Father in Heaven, the Father of spirits. But the next step back is to then again consider just who it was that was the Father of our Father in Heaven. This verse may therefore be considered in one respect an authorization to so consider and/or speculate upon that matter as well.	8^a HEB generations 9^a Job 7:6
11 Can the rush grow up without mire? can the ^aflag grow without water? 12 Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb. 13 So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish: 14 Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web.		11^a OR reeds
15 He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure. 16 He is ^agreen before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden. 17 His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones. 18 If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee.		16^a HEB moist; i.e., thrives
19 Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow. 20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers: 21 Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing. 22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with ^ashame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.		22^a TG Shame