Verses 1-6
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Job's friends continued to insist that he was in some sin that made him deserving of his suffering. Because Job was confident that he was not knowingly practicing any sin, their words tormented him (verse 2). His friends were incessantly contradicting what he knew to be true.
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His friends believed that his sin brought about his suffering, while Job was arguing that God had brought his suffering undeservedly (verse 6).
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Verses 7-22
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In these verses Job describes how great his suffering is, in that God has oppressed him and that all people are against him, including children and his close friends. Not even his own wife supports him (verse 17)! If that were not enough, Job's flesh suffered a painful disease (Job 2:7), with seemingly only his gums remaining unaffected (verse 20). Truly, God allowed Job to suffer a season of life that was as hard as could be.
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Job described this to hopefully evoke some compassion from his three friends. Job already felt persecuted by God; he did not want to get the same from his friends. Did they want him to suffer even more? Were they not satisfied with how much he suffered already (verse 22)?
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A person does not want to be contradicted when they are hurting. It only adds to their suffering. So, if you find yourself able to speak to someone who is suffering, you should not want to contradict them unless they speak obvious falsities that must be corrected for their own benefit.
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Verses 23-27
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Verses 23-25. Job might have known that his story would be written for all posterity to read and learn from. Job knew of a living Christ who would save him then, we have his words to remind us of the same Christ who saves us now.
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We should stay reminded that even if all good in our lives perishes, Christ will always remain; He will stand as King and Savior. So, do not worry over the loss of physical life and luxury, but be content knowing that Christ endures forever. But why does this matter? How does it give us peace?
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Verses 26-27. We can know that, as believers, because Christ endures forever, when we die we will receive a new body in heaven and live in the kingdom face-to-face with Christ (2 Corinthians 5:1-8)!
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Job knew somehow that one day, after death, he would see his Redeemer. This gave him peace; it should give us peace also!
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Verses 28-29
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Job finishes by warning his friends. They persecuted him with their words and blamed him for his own suffering. He explains that they should fear God's judgment.
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We can learn from these words. If you boast of your theology by thinking that you fully understand the ways of God, or if you hurt another believer with your words, God will answer you on the day of judgment, and it will be painful. Fear this judgment, and let it humble you!
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