The Fate of the Wicked
Job 18
December 6, 2015
I realize it has been a couple of weeks
Since we last studied the book of Job,
But I feel certain you have a grasp on what has been going on.
After all, the book of Job does maintain a bit of a redundant feel.
This debate/argument between Job and his friends
Seems to just go on and on and on.
AND CERTAINLY WE UNDERSTAND WHY.
Suffering is a difficult concept.
More than one person has set out to try and understand
Why they or someone they love is suffering.
But far more times than not,
Those same people don’t seem to make much headway.
Sure, there are a few cases like that of Joseph where the Lord makes it abundantly clear why the suffering occurred.
But for every Joseph there are at least 1,000 like that of Job.
People who suffer and never seem to be given
A suitable explanation as to what the purpose is.
Suffering can be difficult like that.
• You can ponder it
• You can question it
• You can analyze it
• You can evaluate it
• You can discuss it
And even after a long period of doing those things,
You still might not know the purpose behind it.
That seems to explain why the dialogue of the book of Job seems so long.
Neither Job, nor Bildad, nor Eliphaz, nor Zophar
Has the slightest idea why Job is suffering.
• Bildad, Eliphaz, and Zophar are convinced it is because Job must have done something wrong.
• Job thinks that in his case God got it wrong.
And they are all taking turns arguing their points to one another.
And quite frankly wading through their argument can be exhausting.
The dialogue of this book can wear you down.
However, studying this book is of tremendous value to us.
• Not only does this book deal a death blow to the prosperity gospel,
• It also helps us see our suffering more accurately,
• And teaches us how to better minister to others when they suffer.
That being the case we need to study everything Job has to say.
In our suffering we can often times identify with his logic and from him we are learning what is and what is not an acceptable response to suffering.
We also need to study everything his friends have to say.
For we have often times found ourselves looking at someone else’s pain and reaching the exact same conclusions they reached. We need to understand why that response is wrong.
So I do understand that this study is long and laboring,
But so is suffering, and that makes this book a perfect study.
We are now on round 2 of the rebukes of Job’s friends.
Job has just responded with a strong rebuke of his friends.
He actually told his friends what he wanted to receive from them, but he never did.
• Proper Comfort
• Positive Encouragement
• Productive Prayer
• Passionate Support
• Practical Hope
But Job’s friends hadn’t supplied any of that.
• Instead of comfort he has received condemnation
• Instead of encouragement he has received a rebuke
• Instead of prayer he has received scoffing
• Instead of a defense he has received insults
And because of that Job told them:
Job 16:1-2 “Then Job answered, “I have heard many such things; Sorry comforters are you all.”
Well now Bildad wants to respond again.
If you happen to remember Bildad’s first response to Job, you may remember that Bildad was very interested in the fate of the wicked.
Job 8:11-22 “Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh? Can the rushes grow without water? “While it is still green and not cut down, Yet it withers before any other plant. “So are the paths of all who forget God; And the hope of the godless will perish, Whose confidence is fragile, And whose trust a spider’s web. “He trusts in his house, but it does not stand; He holds fast to it, but it does not endure. “He thrives before the sun, And his shoots spread out over his garden. “His roots wrap around a rock pile, He grasps a house of stones. “If he is removed from his place, Then it will deny him, saying, ‘I never saw you.’ “Behold, this is the joy of His way; And out of the dust others will spring. “Lo, God will not reject a man of integrity, Nor will He support the evildoers. “He will yet fill your mouth with laughter And your lips with shouting. “Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, And the tent of the wicked will be no longer.”
Bildad’s accusation of Job was built on the reality that
The wicked will pay for their sin.
That of course is true.
All those who forget God will indeed perish.
Bildad then took that reality and applied it to Job.
What is obvious to Bildad is that Job didn’t listen.
(1-4) “Then Bildad the Shuhite responded, “How long will you hunt for words? Show understanding and then we can talk. “Why are we regarded as beasts, As stupid in your eyes? “O you who tear yourself in your anger — For your sake is the earth to be abandoned, Or the rock to be moved from its place?”
You can feel Bildad’s frustration with Job in his opening statement.
“How long will you hunt for words? Show understanding and then we can talk.”
In other words, “You’re just not getting what I’m saying. Pay attention, quit talking, just listen. Quit looking at us as though we are stupid and start listening to what we have to say.”
Then he calls Job, “O you who tear yourself in your anger”
That is to say, “Listen to us Mr. Angry! You are bringing this on yourself!”
Bildad was pretty convinced before
That Job was the cause of his own misfortune. Now he is certain of it.
Bildad sees the suffering of the wicked
As a universal and unbreakable law.
And he reminds Job that this is not a law
That will be broken just for him.
(4b) “For your sake is the earth to be abandoned, or the rock to be moved from its place?”
He is asking Job, “Do you really expect that universal truths will be abandoned just for you?”
So you can see that Bildad is frustrated with Job.
Bildad has the answer to Job’s suffering.
• Job is suffering because his is sinful.
• His refusal to listen and repent is only making matters worse.
So Bildad is trying to get through to Job to stop talking and listen.
At this point Bildad would have loved to have James 1:19-21
James 1:19-21 “This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.”
That is basically the exact rebuke that Bildad has for Job.
Then Bildad returns to the truth that he so desperately wants Job to hear.
It is THE FATE OF THE WICKED
In verses 5-21
Bildad will actually list 6 realities that the wicked will receive.
And I actually want to spend a second and examine them.
Here is why: Bildad is absolutely right. He is 100% dead on.
Every person who seeks to live this life
Apart from a relationship with God through Jesus Christ
Had better pay close attention to what Bildad says
Because he absolutely nails the fate of the wicked.
The problem of course is that Job is not wicked,
And we will address that in a minute.
But, I first want to listen to what Bildad has to say,
Because used in the proper application it is excellent truth.
So let’s look at these 6 realities that the wicked can anticipate.
#1 DARKNESS
Job 18:5-6
Bildad begins by pointing out that “the light of the wicked goes out”
• “light” in Scripture can be righteousness.
• “light” can be understanding.
Here it represents hope.
It is the hope that this wicked man has that his future is ok.
Matthew 4:16 “THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT, AND THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH, UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED.”
It’s like the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel (i.e. hope)
And that hope will not last for the wicked.
“the flame of his fire has no light. The light in his tent is darkened, and his lamp goes out above him.”
Isaiah spoke of the wicked
Who try to light their own fire (false religion) apart from the Lord.
Isaiah 50:10-11 “Who is among you that fears the LORD, That obeys the voice of His servant, That walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God. Behold, all you who kindle a fire, Who encircle yourselves with firebrands, Walk in the light of your fire And among the brands you have set ablaze. This you will have from My hand: You will lie down in torment.”
That is the promised fate for the wicked.
• Their hope will not be realized.
• Their hope for a good eternity is a false hope.
Those who are not righteous, who do not know the Lord,
Should not expect a pleasant eternity.
They will receive only darkness.
#2 CAPTURE
Job 18:7-10
Notice Bildad begins with the cocky walk of the wicked.
He calls it “His vigorous stride”
It is the idea of a confident man walking through life without fear or worry.
But Bildad says “His vigorous stride is shortened”
That is to say his confidence is taken from him
And he’s soon going to lose that pride.
WHY?
“his own scheme brings him down.”
That is to say his plans don’t work. They fail.
And then Bildad speaks of how this once pompous man
Will actually be snared and caught.
(8-10) “For he is thrown into the net by his own feet, And he steps on the webbing. “A snare seizes him by the heel, And a trap snaps shut on him. “A noose for him is hidden in the ground, And a trap for him on the path.”
In short this wicked man was once confident and full of hope,
But his hope perished and he was trapped.
He was captured.
Matthew 23:33 “You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?”
The writer of Hebrews asked:
Hebrews 2:3 “how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard,”
And the answer is – YOU WON’T
There is no chance that one single wicked person will sneak through the judgment. They will all be captured.
Just read the end of Revelation and the truth of the judgment.
No person hides, they all appear.
None will escape.
Isaiah 30:15-17 “For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, “In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength.” But you were not willing, And you said, “No, for we will flee on horses,” Therefore you shall flee! “And we will ride on swift horses,” Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift. One thousand will flee at the threat of one man; You will flee at the threat of five, Until you are left as a flag on a mountain top And as a signal on a hill.”
The wicked can look forward to this.
Darkness and Capture
#3 PAIN
Job 18:11-13
It pictures this once proud man actually caught in a trap
Waiting for the hunter to arrive.
• Maybe his leg is clutched in one of those iron traps,
• Or he’s hanging upside down, his foot having been caught in a noose.
• Or perhaps his hanging in a net.
There he is terrified
(11) “All around terrors frighten him, and harry him at every step.”
There is starving and deprived
(12) “His strength is famished, and calamity is ready at his side.”
He is even starting to develop gangrene on his wounds
(13) “His skin is devoured by disease, the firstborn of death devours his limbs.”
This man is in terror and pain.
He is tormented in every possible way.
Such is the fate of the wicked.
Do you want to hear how Jesus described the fate of the wicked?
Matthew 8:12 “but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 13:42 “and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 13:50 “and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 22:13 “Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”
Matthew 24:51 “and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 25:30 “Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Picking up on the idea?
The wicked can expect pain.
Darkness, Capture, Pain
#4 JUDGMENT
Job 18:14
So far the wicked has been hanging in the trap
Waiting to see what his fate would be.
Here we find he is hauled to judgment.
“He is torn from the security of his tent, and they march him before the king of terrors.”
That sounds pleasant doesn’t it?
The writer of Hebrews said:
Hebrews 10:31 “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
And that is it here.
Revelation 20:12-13 “And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.”
In short, judgment is coming.
Just because man rejects God here on earth
Does not mean they won’t still have to answer to Him.
God is God and the wicked will face His judgment.
#5 DESTRUCTION
Job 18:15-19
Notice here that the wicked man is completely defeated.
• It’s not just torment.
• It’s not just punishment.
• It is the total removal of his entire lineage and legacy.
“There dwells in his tent nothing of his; brimstone is scattered on his habitation. His roots are dried below, and his branch is cut off above. Memory of him perishes from the earth, and he has no name abroad.”
In short, he is finished.
He’ll never be heard of again.
If you’ve ever read through Kings in the Old Testament.
You constantly see kings overthrowing one another.
Each time they would do this, they would also kill all the royal offspring.
The idea was so that they would never have to deal with that line again.
Not only where they captured and judged,
The line was completely destroyed.
That will happen to the wicked too.
Those in heaven will have recollection or concern about them ever again.
Revelation 21:5-8 “And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. “He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. “But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Revelation 22:14-15 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.”
They’ll never again be a problem.
They will be completely destroyed.
Darkness, Capture, Pain, Judgment, Destruction
#6 HORROR
Job 18:20-21
Everyone who honestly contemplates the fate of the wicked
Will be filled with horror at the thought.
Isaiah 28:14-19 “Therefore, hear the word of the LORD, O scoffers, Who rule this people who are in Jerusalem, Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death, And with Sheol we have made a pact. The overwhelming scourge will not reach us when it passes by, For we have made falsehood our refuge and we have concealed ourselves with deception.” Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed. “I will make justice the measuring line And righteousness the level; Then hail will sweep away the refuge of lies And the waters will overflow the secret place. “Your covenant with death will be canceled, And your pact with Sheol will not stand; When the overwhelming scourge passes through, Then you become its trampling place. “As often as it passes through, it will seize you; For morning after morning it will pass through, anytime during the day or night, And it will be sheer terror to understand what it means.”
The sheer notion of judgment is horrific.
And Bildad says, “Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him who does not know God.”
And so you see that Bildad is “dead on”
Concerning the judgment of the wicked.
They will suffer just as he has said.
Every single one of them.
If you are going to try and live this life apart from
Being reconciled to God through the death of Jesus Christ,
I don’t care how good you are, this will be your fate.
The problem with Bildad (as has been consistent throughout this book)
Is that he has correct theology and terrible judgment.
He knows what is true, he just doesn’t have a clue how to apply it.
He is a Pharisee
• He has assumed that these horrific circumstances that the wicked will
receive are precisely what Job is receiving.
• And since Job is receiving the punishment of the wicked then Job must
be wicked.
• Furthermore, since Bildad is not receiving these awful circumstances
then he must be righteous.
BUT BILDAD IS SO FAR OFF HERE.
First of all, what Job was facing was indeed horrible.
• He lost all of his life stock
• He lost all of his merchandise
• He lost all of his children
• He lost his health
• He is losing his reputation
Job’s predicament was horrific BUT Job’s predicament doesn’t hold a candle to the suffering of the wicked in hell.
The only real picture we have of that type of suffering
Was seen when the light came back on the cross.
Remember it?
For 3 hours man did their worst to Jesus.
• They beat Him
• They mocked Him
• They crucified Him
Then darkness came over the land
And for 3 hours God dealt with Christ as though He were wicked.
Remember?
2 Corinthians 5:21 “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
God punished Christ as though He were wicked.
And when the light came back on the cross,
Instantly the centurion knew this was the work of God.
Isaiah 52:13-15 “Behold, My servant will prosper, He will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted. Just as many were astonished at you, My people, So His appearance was marred more than any man And His form more than the sons of men. Thus He will sprinkle many nations, Kings will shut their mouths on account of Him; For what had not been told them they will see, And what they had not heard they will understand.”
Christ was marred beyond human recognition.
There is a tremendous difference between the suffering of the righteous in this life and the suffering of the wicked in the next.
Bildad had no concept of that.
The affliction Job was receiving
Was not like the affliction the wicked will receive.
That is one of his major problems.
The other is that Bildad has no discernment
Regarding who should receive the message of judgment.
Bildad is actually preaching the message of judgment
To the one man on earth who didn’t need to hear it.
Remember what God said about Job?
Job 1:8 “The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.”
Listen, there is certainly a time and a place for the preaching of judgment.
• One could easily argue that judgment isn’t preached nearly enough today.
• Jesus preached judgment more than any other preacher who ever lived.
But when judgment is preached to the wrong recipient
It is absolutely horrific.
The message of judgment is not for the righteous.
(not for Job and not for those redeemed by Christ)
Romans 8:1 “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Those who are in Christ no longer have condemnation.
Are you going to throw it on them?
Paul asked:
Romans 8:33-34 “Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.”
In other words, “What type of person would dare to preach condemnation to a person who has been freed from it?”
I can tell you what type of person would do that. – Satan
He is the accuser of the brethren.
The Pharisees would certainly do it.
Matthew 23:4 “They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.”
• They loved to shower people with guilt and condemnation and fear.
• People like that are easier to control.
• Furthermore, the more you point out other people’s flaws the better you seem to feel about your own.
That is exactly what Bildad is doing.
And because of his legalistic mentality he is actually preaching judgment to a person who doesn’t need it.
I CAN GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE
I’ve actually been exposed to this a little recently and it has been eye opening to me.
I’ve been in conversation with a pastor who is a proponent of what is called “The Hebrew Roots Movement”.
It is basically a belief that Christians are now Israel
And therefore should obey all the commands
Of both the Old and New Testament.
In fact this particular pastor told me
• He actually hates the term Old and New Testament since it is all God’s word
and he actually prefers to be called “Full Bible Believers”
• Also saying “we try to live by the entire word of God”
Hopefully you are picking up on the implications there.
They are “full Bible believers” implying that the rest of us…aren’t.
As I talked with this man about how we are no longer under the Law,
Here is how he responded.
“As far as our relationship with the law: The law is for saved people, not lost.
It’s how we show we love Him.”
The New Testament is clear that the purpose of the Law is to condemn.
The Law is the very epitome of the message of judgement.
And this pastor maintains that this message is for saved people.
1 Timothy 1:8-11 “But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.”
Paul said this message of condemnation was not for the righteous.
It was for the wicked.
This pastor (like all who are caught in legalism)
Is applying a right message to the wrong audience.
That is exactly what Bildad is doing.
And it is something you and I must be very careful with.
Do you remember the effect these Pharisees had on their congregations?
Matthew 9:36 “Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.”
Those people were beat down.
You would be too if all you ever heard was the preaching of Bildad.
My encouragement to you tonight is that
You not only rightly understand,
But that you rightly apply the truth.
The message of judgment is a true and necessary message.
• Every single person who has failed to place their faith in Jesus Christ must hear this message.
But once a person trusts in Christ,
That is no longer their message.
Their message must be one of encouragement.
Let me give you an example.
Hebrews 6:7-12 “For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned. But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way. For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
He spoke of judgment, but did you hear how he applied it?
We have recently studied Hebrews 10.
There the writer spoke of judgment.
Hebrews 10:29-31 “How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.” It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
Hebrews 10:38 “BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.”
But remember how he applied it?
Hebrews 10:39 “But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.”
That is a great illustration.
What if Bildad had come to Job and said, “Job the wicked will suffer for their sin. God will judge them for all eternity. Everyone who forgets God will pay for it. But Job, I don’t think that’s who you are. I think you love God and are intent on serving Him even though you are caught in a tough patch here. Let me encourage you to maintain your righteousness and rekindle your faith.”
That would have been much better wouldn’t it?
So learn here from Bildad.
• The message of judgment is true and necessary.
• Just make sure you are accurately applying it when you preach it.
