Overview
Job wanted his friends ears more than their mouth. [Listen carefully to my words; let this be the consolation you give me] (v2). The friends motivated is to comfort Job and ended up attacking Job with their mouth. Often time, when our friend is in distress, he does not need us to give them lectures. What they need is us listening to them. That is why God gives men two ears and one month. We need to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry (James 1:19).
Job agrees that the wicked suffer in the end, but in the meantime they seem to be doing rather well. They grow old and increase in power, and their homes are safe and free from fear (v7-9). The prosperity of the wicked undermines the friends’ argument, there seems to be no necessary connection between suffering and wickedness (v34). Suffering seems to be a tool that Satan uses to deceive the righteous. The wicked area already lost souls, why would Satan waste anytime on them? Their self-centered lifestyle will likely keep them in Satan’s camp without any extra effort on his part.