This week we’ll be in Job 8-10, part of our sermon series on “A Man Called Job.”  Job has been grieving.  He’s been lamenting.  And now Job’s friends have shown up.  Last week, we saw Eliphaz get first crack at talking some sense into Job.  He’s the gentle one … and he got nowhere.

This week we get friend number 2, name of Bildad, and he’s less than gentle.  Bildad brings the straight-talking, tough-love approach that he obviously thinks Job needs.  Bildad is the cold, calculating thinker who’s debating the issue at the intellectual level.  His first question, basically, is "Can God do wrong?"  Now that’s a good question to ask.  And, of course, the answer is "No, God cannot do wrong."  After all, the basic ideas of what is wrong and what is right are founded upon the very nature and character of God Himself.

And just like with Eliphaz, Job fails to appreciate Bildad, or his words, which continues to annoy the three friends.  But now Job makes two appeals about how best to deal with a God he no longer understands.  And those two appeals will set the stage for how God will ultimately answer the problem of suffering. 

And God’s answer, to Job and to us, will serve as the basis for hope when we find ourselves in the midst of despair.  And that’s something to look forward to.  See you Sunday.  Dr. Dave