Job 17-18

Job 17
Job is broken and ready to die. He calls all his 'friends' mockers. Judging from the phrase in verse 4, "Therefore You will not exalt," this next string of verses is Job talking to God. In verse 3 Job asks God to make a pledge to Job that, in verse 5, his mockers children would languish if his friends were somehow gaining from their friend's trial. In the next few verses, it seems that Job is again loathing his existence, but he seems to begin to see that he will be stronger through the end of these trials. He says in verse 9 that the righteous (and it seems that he considers himself righteous) will grow stronger.

In the next verse he claims again to not find a wise man among his friends. Job then contemplates making death and hell his home.

Job 18
Job's friend Bildad calls out Job and asks why is it that he is regarded as stupid? Then Bildad continues the same chorus as the rest of friends, "Job you are wicked, and here is why it is bad to be wicked, so you should turn from your ways." So clearly Bildad has gotten it yet. He still thinks that Bad things happen to bad people and good things happen to good people. What they all miss is that there is no one good, not even one. If we all got what we deserved, we would not exist. Praise the Lord for his mercy!

Some verses to consider:
John 6:45 - Christ says that the people who come to know God are taught by God.
Jeremiah 31:31-34 - An old testament prophecy that says the same.
Hebrews 8:7-12 - A new testament reiteration of both of these.
What does it mean to NOT be taught by man, but to be taught by God?