The Bible Provocateur
The Bible Provocateur
LIVE DISCUSSION: (Job 8:1-7) - Bildad, A Cold Man - Part 4 of 4
Ever been pummeled by life and tempted to ask, “What did I do wrong?” We walk through Job’s raw questions, Bildad’s sharp-edged counsel, and the unsettling truth that God can feel distant even while he remains utterly sovereign. The conversation gets honest fast: how do you hold firm when the warmth of God’s favor seems gone and the blows keep coming? We turn to Job’s appeal to the “Preserver of men,” the silence that follows, and the hard grace of trusting a God who rules even when Satan swings the hammer.
We also unpack the friend problem. Bildad quotes true ideas with bad timing, using conditional promises like a club and calling Job’s rich past “small.” Technically correct, spiritually harmful. We dig into what wise counsel looks like—truth as a scalpel, not a sledgehammer—and how even clumsy comments can drive us back to Scripture for real comfort. Along the way, we trace a deeper pattern from Job to Jesus: humble beginnings, mockery, loss, then increase beyond measure. Christ’s path reframes our own, anchoring hope in a sovereign God who wastes no suffering.
This isn’t a lecture; it’s a shared ministry. Voices from the community bring cross-references, lived stories, and practical wisdom: be slow to speak, quick to hear, present without performance. Sit with the grieving. Pray. Let Scripture search you. If there is sin, God will reveal it; if not, he will sustain you. And when you counsel, refuse to be a “Bildad”—choose compassion that edifies and truth that heals.
Listen for a faith that can stand in cold seasons, a better way to care for hurting friends, and a deeper confidence in the God who keeps his people. If this encourages you, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review to help others find the conversation.
BE PROVOKED AND BE PERSUADED!
I forgot. When I said I forgot, when you said I said, Oh yes. Because isn't that what we do if we're honest? When we start going through something, most of the time, and and and we could click right out of it, but if we're being honest, we think, oh, oh man, what you know, what did I do? You know, what did I do? And this is why this is such a blessed study, because um, the more we're we're talking about this stuff, hopefully the quicker we're gonna get to the reality of if we go through something that it is not because of any particular thing that we did. I mean, that's not what the Lord does. So yeah, that's exactly what it was anyway. I just that's what it was.
SPEAKER_06:If you remember, at least the last night, the last two verses. Remember, there was those two last two verses. I said, uh, you know, we made this little agreement. Go read these last two verses. And and he, you know, he says, I I I've sinned, what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? Why have you set me as a mark against thee so that I am a burden to myself? And why do you not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity? So, you know, so you know, so he's thinking like you know, it's it seems like he's thinking, like, you know, did I do something? Did I? No, he's not giving he's not giving them the satisfaction because they don't know anything, but he does know that what that the preserver of men he would know. So he made this appeal to him.
SPEAKER_10:Yes, that's beautiful.
SPEAKER_06:You know what I mean? He made this appeal to him. These guys, they haven't pointed to anything, but but he knows his God will show him. And God has not showed him anything. And I also think this is part of what this is part of what um uh Satan got out of the deal with God. Yes, I will stay away and you just go for it. Only leave his life alone. So now you got even the absence of God's uh influence, our influence in Job's life. You see what I mean? And so, and so, but see, God never left him. Like my sister, like my missus, I'll never forget this. My sister Mariah said last night. If if if God if God would leave Job, if he would ever leave Job, then Job would curse God to his face. I'll never forget that. I love that. But that's and that is what was happening here. God hasn't left him, but his but his divine favor is not being felt. Job knows that he's feeling God, in his mind, he's feeling God's affliction, he's feeling God's wrath in a way of speaking, but he's not sensing God's favor. He's not, he's not, it's not that warm, comfortable blanket. You know, he feels out there in the cold, and they even and that and that God is not is not giving him his rays of heat that bring him comfort, and that's what he's missing. You know, instead, he's getting you know, gut punch, he's getting one blow after another, one blow after another, and he knows that they're coming from God, even though they're coming from Satan. And understand something, Job knows they're coming from God, and Job is right, even though it is Satan doing it. You understand what I'm saying? Job knows is coming from God, even though it is Satan who is the instrument and the tool that is inflicting it, and this is the hard thing for for modern Christians to understand. God is sovereign, he's on the throne. Nothing happens to his people that he doesn't do. Nothing, and it's for our betterment, and it's for the very reasons, it's for the very reason that Bildad said, which is a big part of it, which is in verse uh seven. Though your beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase. I mean, it's amazing how God takes even the words of the wicked to bring comfort to us if we just listen, instead of being too quick to lash back at them. Because sometimes they are they are being used as a mouthpiece for God to bring you comfort, and they don't even know it. They don't even know it. Um Sister Angie and then Candy and then Mariah.
SPEAKER_09:I just wanted to say, like, you know, Bill Dad comes Bill Dad comes to Job and he's he's saying these things, such as, you know, things that try to humble him. He's trying to humble him with the words that he's trying to say with them. But this whole time Job is actually even in his in his sorrows and all everything he's going through, he's still humble before the Lord because he's still worshiped, just like Meg said, he's still in worship. So that to me, uh Meg, that's an irony there that he's trying to come and give him humility, but Joe was doing it the whole entire time. And I really love how he used his words to give him comfort because I've had people say some things to me, and I'm like, wait a minute, uh, you know, especially during this time, wait a minute, hang on a second. That person says something. I'm gonna go look it up in the word, and when I do, I do get that comfort, even though I'm going through things, I my faith is not shaken. I am still right here with the Lord. I might be in solitude, I might not be in, but I'm still have not fallen away. So I'm with the Lord during those times. So this is really good to go through this and to understand. And then when you have a sister that shares everything like she does, because she's not ashamed um of anything, because this is God, this is God doing this. So it's beautiful to be able to stand in the word, even though I'm boo-hooing on my knees, I'm crying, I mean, I'm I'm talking tissues out the wazoo, but I'm still with the Lord, right? You know, I'm still in the word, and so sometimes, yeah, someone will talk to me and say something. I'm like, oh yeah, they're right. But then I go in there and I go, okay, what am I taking the log out of my own eye? And then I want to open up into the Lord and say, Okay, I'm gonna look that up, and I'm gonna read it myself. So just to encourage everybody, that's that Joe was doing that the whole time.
SPEAKER_05:Yep, amen, sister. Amen, sister candy.
SPEAKER_08:Something Meg said earlier, and it it made me go back to where um the strong man binding the strong man. You know what I'm saying? Yep, and so in the process of me trying to find it, in Luke, I don't know, I can't, I can't, I haven't found it yet.
SPEAKER_06:Matthew 12, 20. Matthew 12, Matthew 12, 29.
SPEAKER_08:Okay, well, in Luke, something something captured me, and it's when uh it's Luke uh 11 verse 21. When a strong man fully armed guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. Yes, but when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoils. Here's my favorite part, and this is Billy by this is all of Joe's friends right here. He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.
SPEAKER_04:Right.
SPEAKER_08:So we're seeing what was entrusted with his friends is divided, right? If that makes sense, that makes sense, but I can't remember uh there was something else, but that's right. So much you can't say I kind of lost it.
SPEAKER_05:That's right. When you if you find it, come back. If you find it, come back with it, okay. Sister Mariah, go ahead.
SPEAKER_07:Um, so first I want to say I honestly, when you were asking that question yesterday, the thought came to my mind, and you were asking other people, and I lost it, and I said, Oh Lord, what was that? And he reminded me. So all glory be to God. Um, because I I could not have just come up with that on my own. But I want to know what is your your thoughts on what did um I almost said Ellie Bass, what did Biladad think he was saying when he's telling him about um, you know, the beginning of him is smaller, but the latter will be greater. What do you think that he was trying to say, or he thought that he was saying, you know, from his perspective?
SPEAKER_06:Wow. That's actually a good question, sister. I have to tell you that's a good question. Yesterday you had a good answer, today you got a good question.
SPEAKER_08:And um can I can I respond to that? Because it kind of goes with what I was talking about. Well, it actually helped out. Sure. So earlier I was thinking too that when the Romans and them were ch teasing Jesus and mocking him, like if you can, if you if you are the son of God or if you you know doing all these miracles, then save yourself. And then when when they were teasing him and mocking him about where is your God now, why he he can save you. Why is he not saved? You know what I'm saying? Let him come and save you. But then what she just said is when Jesus, when we read where he says, um he he doesn't lose what the father gives him, and he even brings to the father what has come to him. If that makes sense.
SPEAKER_06:But verse seven, what do you think what do you think is the mindset of Bill Dad? Is what she's at.
SPEAKER_08:Well, that goes back to what he was trusted with, that Satan is using him. I don't I don't think his his demeanor is is coming from God. I think his faith was not as strong as Job's, and he has been, what's the word you want to use, when you're um not possessed or something like that. But for example, when Satan's on your shoulder and he's chirping in your ear, whispering this and that, and causing you to condemn your brother instead of lifting him up and with with the characteristics of God, if that makes sense.
SPEAKER_02:Right.
SPEAKER_08:I mean that's where Billy I think Satan is using every every inch of everything in Job's life to cause Job to lose faith in God and curse him. Even it being his friends who are the ones that Job, you know, not necessarily dependent on him, depending on them to be there for him, but he's using that, Satan's using that as a benefit in his territory, so to say.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, I I I I think uh uh Mariah, that you know, and and this is me just speculating on it right now. Just because I I really that's a really, really good question. And uh, and I didn't think about addressing that in this in this way. But Bill that says, though your beginning was small, yet that latter end should greatly increase. What I what what I what what I feel like, and I'm gonna look at this uh later uh after we get done, because that's a really good question. Because I I also I I sort of think that when he says, though your beginning was small, I think he's I think there's something devious in that statement. Though your beginning was small, because Job was a big man. I don't mean size-wise, I mean like he was a he was a prominent figure. He was a he was a he had a he was a man of reputation, he was a man of renown. You know, when you read, when you read in in uh, you know how you read in Genesis 6 and talks about the giants that people always say that were the result of angels having sex with women? Well, that's not what that means, the giants. The giants, giant means that they were men of renown. They were big men, they were men of reputation. That was Job. Job was the giant, not in size, but in prominence, in in stature. And this is what and this is what was happening. But when he says your beginning was small, it it it but I don't know. To me, it seems like he's trying to like belittle Job. And and he, you know, and by telling them that your letter N will be greatly increased, it almost seems uh that that in addition to saying that what he had was was was small, I mean, I see you, Angie. I'm gonna go I'm gonna I'm gonna get you next. Um but it's almost like he's also reminding Joe in a way to dig a deeper, to dig a dagger in him again by saying, you know, like by by drawing his attention to what he had. You know, and Job had a lot, and he's calling it small. But yet he's causing Job to look back at what he had, seeing that it was small, and then digging it deep, digging it knife deeper by having him reflect on what he has, because right now he has nothing. There's nothing worse than when you when you fall off the mountain to have people say, like, you know, remind you of what you had. So this is what I would say on the surface. I wouldn't stand by it or argue anybody about it because I I really, I really do want to go back and look at this. I really do. So to be honest with you, sister, don't take what I'm saying as as the as the gospel on this issue. But it's my initial um, and I and I can't recall even in my own studies um having having to pay attention, having paid attention to this in a deeper way. So um I wish I had a better answer for it, but um, I hope to I'm gonna look into it, so I'm gonna be benefited by it.
SPEAKER_04:And if I find something, I'm gonna definitely share it. Sister Angie, go ahead. Angie and then Meg.
SPEAKER_09:I was gonna say, Brother Jonathan, because if you look back at verse six, he is digging at him. He's saying, if you're pure and upright, and we know that he was. So therefore, if you're pure and upright, then surely, because he's going by what you know, what God's promises are. So, like, well, surely he'll rouse himself for you and restore your rightful habitation. And although your beginning was so there's another dig, he did it back to back, like double jab, yeah, um, you know, at him. So I think it's it is malicious, but it's also used for his goods. So that goes to show that you know he was telling him you know exactly what God does.
SPEAKER_06:He yeah, I think you're right.
SPEAKER_09:I think because we know the ending of the story, but he was telling him ahead of time. That's good. That's a good question, Mariah. I love it.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, that's that's a good question.
SPEAKER_09:He's been digging at him since he came at him.
unknown:Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_06:And so I think I think you're right. Because I mean, I think like when he says, when he says your beginning was small, like Job wasn't small. Job was big time. And so, and he's like, Yeah, your thing was small. And and and and think about this. Remember, he starts off this passage talking about how his kids got what they deserved. You know, I mean, he had 10 children on top of all the wealth and power that he had. And then this guy's like, Yeah, your beginning was small, but your latter end should end great should greatly increase. And and it and he's yeah, yeah, I think it is a I think it is a really bad dig at Job, and it's and it's really uh unfortunate that it was that way. But, you know, um, again, great question. Great question. Meg, go ahead, and then we'll wrap it up.
SPEAKER_01:Okay, so this verse also had me thinking about the Lord Jesus Christ, right? So he humbled himself and and came in the form of a man in his quote-unquote small beginnings here on earth. Yes, he was born in Nazareth, he didn't have earthly wealth, his people rejected him when he came here, but then his latter end, right, he was crucified, and he was risen above every king and every nation back to glory with the Father. And you know, this this verse really made me think about what the Lord Jesus Christ, who how people saw him through his eye, through the eyes of him being man and coming into earth and being exalted above all things, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, God Almighty at the end. And man, that that's what I was pondering on the last couple minutes I wanted to share with you guys.
SPEAKER_06:Amen. Uh, I'm gonna go around. I don't want to start the next verses because it's gonna start off another group, and I don't want to interrupt it. I don't want to break it up. So we'll pick up with verse 8 tomorrow. Um, so we will close off off with last words and uh no sermons, just last words, no sermons. And then we'll and then brother Jeff, if you would wrap it up for us and uh with your last word and and prayer for us, all of you, if you would. Um brother Pat, your last word for tonight.
SPEAKER_00:You know, um my last word for the night is that this really to me Job has me thinking about trusting God in no matter what our circumstances. It's just believe him even when you don't see why, or you don't understand what you're going through or the way things work, just trust him.
SPEAKER_04:Amen, brother. So right, so right. Uh Sister Lisa, last word.
SPEAKER_10:Well, um, just another great live. Um, I'm so enjoying this study. I I look forward to it every night. And you guys, all of your input is so helpful to me. I'm just really grateful for you all and just want to say thank you and God bless you, and I love you all very, very much.
SPEAKER_04:Thank you. Very much, sister. Appreciate that. Sister May, last word.
SPEAKER_01:Last word for me tonight is Romans 8 18. The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed.
SPEAKER_06:Oh, nice one. Ties very well with uh that last verse that we read. Verse 10.
SPEAKER_01:Amen.
SPEAKER_06:Very well. Very, very, very well done. Sister Mariah. I I I I rarely walk away with these things having help having homework. But sister, thanks to you, I have homework. Oh.
SPEAKER_01:I wanted to know Mariah's question. I didn't hear it because I had to let the dogs out. Can you can you repeat the question?
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, I said, because of um Bill Dad's position, what do we what will what does he think that Bilodad was trying to say? Because we know that it's prophetic, but we I know that you know the way he's been talking, he didn't mean it in the instance that we are seeing it, um, that God has increased his his end at the end.
SPEAKER_06:So she's talking about verse 7, uh Meg, verse 7, where he says, Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end shall be greatly increased. So what Mariah was asking, if you don't mind me saying Mariah, she was at the question she was asking was, What she asked me, what did I think, what did what was Bildad's mindset? What was what was he thinking when he was saying this? What was what did he what was he trying to say to Job? What was his mindset? Um, because you know, I looked at it like I did like that, looked at Caiaphas when he was saying that it's necessary that one man should die and that the whole nation die not. Now he meant that in a bad way. So she was relating the same type of a question to just Job 8.7. What did Bildad, what did he really mean, even though this is actually something that is prophetic with respect to Job. If I I probably could have said that better, but that's how it came out.
SPEAKER_07:Very great. You know, uh, and but my last word is just in all instances, let's not be a bildad, let's be uh, I think he has an issue with really listening and just can't wait to respond um from what we can see or and set our eyes upon. So if we could just be slow to speak and quick to listen, um just let us be mindful to just not sling the sword around, just cutting whoever can get it and you know, really use it in a meaningful way that would be um edifying for the next person and for ourselves as well, that we may learn to love one another in truth and deed.
SPEAKER_06:Bill Dad is a perfect example when I hear people say on on these on these some of these lies, I'm gonna cook such so I'm gonna cook this person. That's Bill Dad. He wants to cook people. He's gonna beat you over the head with doctrine. That's what he does. He's a billy club, he's an enforcer. He thinks he's an enforcer. Some people think that's a mission, that's a mission.
SPEAKER_01:I'm gonna start telling people you're being a bill dad right now.
SPEAKER_06:Y'all bill dad? Sister Angie, last word, sister.
SPEAKER_09:Well, I just want to say this was just a good study. I always enjoyed the study. It's absolutely beautiful. I love it. Um, you know, I just want to be here tonight that I can make it. And uh I just wanted to say, you know, this when we are dealing with this, since we're looking at this build out and how he's treating his so-called fellow brother, you know, um, you know, I just just to have humility and compassion for people. Can you ever put yourself in someone's shoes, not fully understand, because you can't, but to have understanding and and like Mariah said, and I say this a lot, a lot of people listen to reply instead of listening to understand, because then when you listen to, then you can kind of you know get a have compassion for someone else to be able to stay in their shoes and stand there with them and and just love on them because sometimes it don't take a word, it really doesn't. Sometimes it just means someone being there and checking in on you and stuff like that. We probably don't need to get the our problems fixed, we just need because we're trusting in God because we know God's sovereign. Well we know we and we love the Lord. We've He's been there so from the beginning. So um, yeah, just to have that kind of compassion and and humble yourselves too, because that's very important. So lots of love to you guys. Love you all.
SPEAKER_06:All right, sister. We'll talk soon. Sister Candy, last word.
SPEAKER_08:I'm just gonna say, Seek the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added to you. And then I'm gonna say, in Luke 12, 49, he says, I come to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled. Then I'm gonna jump down to 51. Do you suppose that I come to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. So we're either refined by the the all powerful consuming fire, or we will perish by it. So where are you gonna stand? What side are you on of the Gulf, so to say? There you go. The Gulf of America.
SPEAKER_04:Not from that side.
SPEAKER_08:I ain't talking about that Gulf, but you know what I'm talking about. Don't make me eat Lazarus in in the reach man up now.
SPEAKER_06:Brother Joe, go ahead, brother. Last word and close us out if you would.
SPEAKER_03:All right. Uh, I just want to begin, uh, Jonathan. I I saw a couple of comments tonight down in the scroll of people that were passing through that made the comment they they really like being here because we communicate with each other. We do not yell, we do not scream, we do not threaten, we speak with love, we speak in turn as we're called upon and allowed to speak. And this is really starting to connect with a lot of people out there, folks. I just want to encourage all of us in the panel tonight to just keep doing what we're doing when we get together the way we're doing it. Because we're honoring God, we're sharpening our sword, and we're being a blessing to people. We may never see, we may never know, we may never even speak to, but they come by here and they hear this and they get a blessing. Or maybe they do want to come and be a part of it. That's even better. So I just want to say, well done, everybody.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, but Jeff, before you pray, I want to say one last thing. And that's this. That's this that I want everybody to know, especially the you know, the people that come here that are regular, Mariah, Meg, Pat, all you guys that are regulars, you know, that are here. Um, I don't you have to understand how I see this. I see us, I see Forever Blessed down there. Miss You Today, sister, Ocho. So all the people that that join here, whether they're in the panel or whether they're in the in in the chat box, I see us as ministering as a unit. I don't see it as me pontificating. I see this as a unit, and I hope that's reflected. Um, but I I see us as combined, we we we are combined with one minister. We are we we are one minister. And I say this because I heard some, you know, I I heard uh a video or somebody else, this guy making a comment about this lie. And um, and my first reaction was to respond in a way that would not have been very good. But I decided to let it go because I understand the benefit, the blessing, and the value of how we meet and how it is good for each one of us and for those who listen. And so, but what I just wanted to make sure you guys know that's how I see us. I see us as a unit, I see us as one man that is helping to perpetuate the glory of our Lord and Savior through this particular uh live. And I will continue to do that. And so, and that and that goes for everybody, like old school and and cause and all these people that usually hang out in the chat and they help from down there. So we, when we get together and do this, it's not just about me. And I mean that. I'm not just being trying to be humble or whatever. I see us as a unit. Um, and and that's how I look at it. Uh so go ahead, brother Jeff, go ahead and pray us out. And and uh I just wanted to say that and get that out there.
SPEAKER_03:Well, thank you, Jonathan. And I think those are words well said and they needed to be said. So thank you for sharing that. And again, thank you, panel, for everybody's contribution tonight. Uh let's uh close this out with a word of prayer. Uh Angie, it's really good, sister, to have you back. Father, we just thank you for Angie being back with us tonight. And Lord, we lift her up to you. We know she's going through some Job-like situations in her life right now. She doesn't need a bill dad, Lord. She needs blessing, she needs comfort, she needs uh uh encouragement, Lord, and to be provoked and persuaded and all those things, Lord, that she receives here. Father, may she continue to tune into this and be a part of this, as Jonathan has just said, Lord, and may she uh get the answers that she's looking for, Father, partly through this or entirely through it. But Lord, let us be a blessing to her. Thank you for her being here tonight. Thank you for her uh uh her contributions, Lord. They were awesome. Father, we also want to lift up uh Carly, Meg's sister tonight. We know that the surgery is still a ways away, but that doesn't mean we can't start building up prayers right now. That this uh is gonna be a successful procedure, everything's gonna go well, you're gonna bring healing, you're gonna bring joy, and father, you're gonna do a mighty work when that time comes. And Father, we just thank you for Meg. We pray that you give her uh peace about this. Don't let doubt creep in. Keep her strong, keep her by her sister's side at all times, Lord, as they go through this together with you hand in hand. And Father, we're so grateful tonight for your word. Thank you for this incredible lesson, Lord, from uh uh uh Job. Give us tonight, Lord, a soft heart. We don't want a heart like Bildad. We want a heart like, again, Lord, like the surgeon's scalpel where we see a problem. We can use your truth, Lord, to gently peel that away instead of taking a hatchet and making all sorts of damage and destruction. We don't want to be that way. So, Lord, we just thank you for the wise use of your truth. Thank you for your love for us tonight. Thank you for this group. They are awesome. Bring us back tomorrow night so we can praise, glory, and honor you and learn more about you. And we ask this now in the name of Jesus. Amen.
SPEAKER_01:Amen. Well, there's only one thing left to say. It's just be the building, beep. Don't be a building.
SPEAKER_09:Yeah, dude.
SPEAKER_03:Don't build it. Don't you ever be a building.
SPEAKER_07:Don't have a go-dad turn into Yoda.