In the preceding days we've seen Job's patience in suffering and continued hope in God, and this continues to come through in these chapters also. He asks for a chance to plead his case before God, as he doesn't understand his suffering (something he is reproved for later), but he continues to praise God and stand in awe before all that God does in the world. Something for ourselves to contemplate - in the midst of suffering, do we also consider God in His majesty and continue to praise Him and describe all His deeds, or do we just focus on ourselves?
There were two themes that seemed to keep cropping up in today's reading. Firstly, the idea of righteousness, with Job's friends claiming he must have done wickedly, and Job justifying his actions before the suffering. The second was the perception of wealth, which is described in lavish detail. A third theme of the source of wisdom breaks in about half-way through the passage.
Concerning righteousness, Eliphaz describes a number of actions which Job 'must have' committed, since he is being punished for sin (in Eliphaz's eyes). Job answers that he has not done these, and goes on to list many more wicked acts which he hasn't done. It is interesting to note that all of these descriptions are in relation to others. Whether concerning Job's covenant with his eyes not to think about a woman, to withholding food or clothing from the poor, hindering widows or orphans, and not trying to assist them when they ask for help - all these are dealing not just with 'private morality' where only Job's actions by himself with God and his family count - no, the assumption is that righteousness entails a responsibility to the whole community, especially those in destitute circumstances. Both malicious action against others and unwillingness to act positively to support and help others are condemned as wicked. There are often no easy answers to how we should help others, especially in countries where government assistance is commonplace/expected, and it can be hard to work out who is really in need of help and who is just lazily pretending in order to get handouts, but it is a challenge that we must take up and seek to show God's love and uphold His righteousness in our dealings with the poor or disadvantaged in our communities. I know I struggle with this, both to make time for it and in wondering where/how to live this out. I can do things in small ways with people I already know, but many people that need help are not in my 'regular contact', so it is harder to make that effort to know what they need, and who I can help. Something for me to pray about.
Concerning wealth, first we see Eliphaz's take on wealth, which seems very much a 'social gospel'. i.e. do good/live by the rules and you will get rich. In some ways God did enact that principle with the children of Israel later, where the nation as a whole was blessed when they turned to God, and famines and war came when they rejected Him. A lot of that was specific to covenants with Israel though, and definitely does not apply to individuals, as we see in the New Testament where we (as with the apostles) are often called to suffer for His Name. Yes we will be blessed by following God in obedience, but this is not necessarily physical or monetary. As we come to Job's description of his wealth, we see that in his mind it is inextricably linked with his care for others through it. This is certainly a Godly use of wealth - being righteous does not mean we will get wealth, nor does it mean we shouldn't/won't get wealth, but if we do, then we are stewards of it for God to use it in blessing others around us. Ultimately, our true wealth is in God.
Finally, the third theme I was thinking about going through was the preciousness of wisdom. As previous posters have remarked, Job's friends show a lack of wisdom in applying what they know about God to Job's situation, without considering circumstances, instead adopting a 'one size fits all' approach - assuming that since they know how God works in some situations (for there are certainly consequences for the wicked designed by God), it must follow that God only works in that one way. Ultimately, Job shows that wisdom is found in the fear (reverence) of God - we cannot buy it with physical objects, or search for it with many adventures. We cannot reason it out by ourselves, for man's wisdom ends in futility (c.f. Ecclesiastes, which we will come to later). Consider also James chapter 1, where those that lack wisdom are encouraged to ask God, Who giveth to all men liberally (generously), coming in humility before the True Source of all Wisdom.
Lord, help us to be ever aware of the needs of those around us, and grant us the wisdom to respond to every situation in righteousness, seeking to show Your love, and upholding justice for those around us. Lord, we know You as the Creator and Sustainer of this world and all that is in it. Your compassion and empathy with the suffering here is more than we can grasp, for You comprehend the full situation so much more than we, and you are not tainted by the selfishness that dims our vision. You Who know every one of us while we are in our mother's womb, know our experience for You came to Earth to walk among us in human flesh, feeling our infirmities and receiving unjust suffering at our hands. Lord, mould our hearts to Your desires, and help us to be a comfort to those in dark circumstances, and a means to alleviate some of the suffering caused by sin. Grant us patience, and thank you for Your sustaining power and guidance now and forever. In Your Name, Amen.
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