Will Anyone Remember Your Name? Job 18-19

 Job 18:16-17 (ESV)

His roots dry up beneath,

and his branches wither above.

His memory perishes from the earth,

and he has no name in the street.

The above two verses are from a speech given by Bildad, one of Job’s friends, to Job.  He is listing out all the things that fulfill his final words at the end of his speech:

Job 18:21 (ESV)

Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous,

such is the place of him who knows not God.”

He is listing out all the things that are true about those who don’t know God.  Like all of Job’s friends’ speeches, he is right on truth and completely false on application.   Yes, these things are true about those who reject God, but Job has not rejected God.  Those who don’t trust in God will not have a continuing legacy.  Their names will be forgotten, Bildad states.  However, we do still remember those who have passed away and rejected the existence of God.   Bildad is not saying their won’t be remembered as in existence.  He is trying to make the point that they will have no lasting legacy regarding anything having to do with spiritual matters.  Remember, Bildad (and the other friends of Job) are trying to get Job to see that the reason for his condition is his sin. We know that is not true based upon the beginning of the book where God declares Job righteous.  But these men are obsessed with blame and shame.  They can only minister to Job based upon their limited knowledge of life’s conditions. Since they observe people who sin in Job’s condition, Job must be a sinner.   Job’s name, however, will live on forever.  If we talk about Job we think highly of him.   James mentions him thousands of years later:

James 5:11 (ESV)

Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

Let’s realize that those who stand for God are remembered by God and others. Those who don’t have no lasting legacy.   If you gave people a Bible quiz and asked them to identify Job vs Bildad, which one of those two would they know?