JOB 18
Since Job brought up the matter of death and the grave, Bildad decided to elaborate on the subject. He painted some vivid pictures of the death of the wicked.
It is like a light put out (5–6). For the lost sinner, death does indeed mean darkness, but not for those who have faith in Christ (
It is like an animal trapped (7–10). The wicked man tries to run away, but the path is filled with devices to catch him. Bildad named six different kinds of traps—but it takes only one. There is no escape when your time comes.
It is like a criminal pursued (11–14). As he tries to escape “the king of terrors,” the criminal runs, falls down, gets weary, and finally is caught. (See
It is like a tree rooted up (15–21). The tree seemed strong and solid, but the roots were already dry and death could easily pull the tree up. People even forget that the tree was once there!
This is the death of the wicked, not the death of the righteous. For those who trust Jesus Christ, death means “to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:1–8). Is that your confidence?