We see in the book of Job that God gave some room for the false professors, the three friends, to express their views. However, Job was given far more room in this book to speak than they were. Then God Himself finished the book off by correcting Job and rebuking the false professors. God’s truth is more important than the devil’s lies. We need to know what false teachers believe and teach, but our priority needs to be to know the truth. When we know the truth, we will be able to discern the false teachings. If we are not convinced of the truth, we will be drawn into the false teaching.
Job bemoaned the fact that he was not living in the past. He had enjoyed the years where life had been going good for him. He had his family around. He had servants. He was prospering. He had the respect of other people.
The Hebrew word translated as “preserved” in verse 2 speaks of a watchman and of protection. Job did not understand that God never stopped protecting him. If God was not protecting him, Satan would have destroyed his life.
In verse 3 Job wished that God’s candle would still shine upon his head. Job was giving some good answers to the false accusations made against him. He did not get those answers from the wind. God was shining a light upon his head. God was still blessing Job. God’s blessings were of much greater value than the things that Job had lost.
Job was mourning the loss of things in these opening verses. As noted, he did not realize that God was still with him. He did not see his present state as a good thing. The flesh does not like to suffer. The flesh wants smooth things. We like to be able to sit back and relax. We struggle with sickness and even sickness that is going to end our lives. We struggle with the loss of family and friends. These things are quite normal for us. However, God shows us in this book and elsewhere that these things should not regulate how we think and act. We need to ask God to show us the greater blessings that He has for us.
As Job continued on, he noted that he had been well respected in his community. His words were sought after. It was like a refreshing rain to hear from him. He repeated the wisdom of God in his words. He was not a proud man as his friends falsely accused him of. He was a humble servant of God who took his direction from the Lord.
Job had also been generous to the poor and needy. He had sought to help those with genuine needs.
Job was also not ashamed to expose the wicked and to defend the righteous against them. A Godly person will expose the wicked. He does it because the love of God is in him. He loves people too much to see them blindly go the wrong way.
Job pointed out that when he spoke, his words were powerful. He gave good counsel and it could not be refuted. His counsel was such that it helped those who received it.
Job was directed by God to reflect on his influences that he had had over others. His testimony was much different than the accusations made against him by these three friends. There were people that knew him much better than these men did. However, it seemed that when trouble came for Job, the many that he had helped were not there to return the favour.
Many times people like to be around a wise person. However, when trouble comes to that wise person, others do not want to be too close to him any longer. They might be afraid that his troubles might rub off on them.
The Bible tells us:

Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.