Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Job 18: More Worthless Platitudes

Bildad is up to bat again.  But he doesn't have anything more satisfying to add to the conversation.  Instead, he offers an avalanche of sayings that amount to nothing but a long list of platitudes.

The dictionary defines a platitude as a remark or statement, especially one with a moral content, that has been used too often to be interesting or thoughtful.  Basically, Bildad is full of meaningless proverbs.

After first scolding Job - again - for his impudence and impiety (vs. 2-4), Bildad launches into a speech that he is sure would be counted as wisdom.  But his diatribe against the wicked does not fit Job's situation.  They are empty cliches.

It would be like if I was trying to comfort you and I said something like, "It is what it is.  Into every life a little rain must fall.  Gray skies are going to clear up, put on a happy face.  Let a smile be your umbrella.  This, too, shall pass.  After all, tomorrow is another day.  The sun will come out tomorrow.  You have to be a friend to make a friend.  What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.  You're only hurting yourself.  And this hurts me more than it hurts you."

While there's nothing wrong with any of those statements, and they each have their purpose, to unleash a tirade of these trite sayings would add nothing to the conversation.

Bildad's endless stream of platitudes about the wicked getting their just desserts does nothing to help Job or lift his spirits.

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