Scroll to the bottom for thoughts/discussion questions!
One-sentence summary: Job wishes his words were written in a book, argues that evildoers often seem to not receive judgment on Earth, points out the hypocrisy of his friends- who seem to think they are much more righteous than he- and describes wisdom as a thing hidden from all but God.
It is interesting that Job said in previous chapters how he wishes his words were written in a book. Who is capturing all this? It must be the Holy Spirit, God Himself, who is recording everything that is said and writing it down, later to be dictated to the unknown author. Job does get his wish.
Job continues arguing his point that not all evildoers receive a recompense on Earth, but rather seem to "get away with it." Prior to this, at least to our knowledge, no righteous person had ever experienced such calamity, so Job is wondering and thinking out loud the reason for this (his conclusion is that God is against Him since He can do whatever He wants, and for some reason, that includes persecuting Job.)
Job's friend says, in one "delightful" chapter, that man can't be pure before God, and that if even the stars are not pure before Him, "How much less man, who is a maggot [and] a worm."
Job turns it around to ask his friends what they have done for the less fortunate. He says he refuses to be deceitful by saying he has not been integrous. He calls his friends hypocrites and says that whoever rises up against him, may that person be treated like the unrighteous. He tells his friends they are speaking nonsense. Strangely, at times, it seems that they are on the same page regarding the reward of the righteous, which is why Job is pleading with God that he does not deserve this- as I said before, this kind of tribulation was unprecedented.
Job talks about the inside of the earth, how gold and silver and precious jewels reside there, how no animal sees it, but God does. Yet he asks where wisdom and understanding can be found. They, too, are hidden from the heart and sight of man. He says that the price of wisdom is above all riches (Proverbs 16:16.) He says God knows the path of wisdom and that "The fear of the Lord is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding." In all this, Job is seeking understanding. He remains humble and pure before God and man.
Thoughts/Questions:
Have you discovered any "treasures of darkness" in your life, i.e. good things coming out of "dark" times?
Have you ever wished someone were writing your story? You can be assured that God is!