Job is a famously difficult book to understand and apply. But God has not left us without interpretive guides to help us discern the book’s message. In a tragic pandemic like the one we’re experiencing now, the book of Job becomes especially relevant to each of our lives. But that book poses a significant dilemma any Bible reader has to resolve. It’s this dilemma: Which characters in the book of Job can we trust? Most of the book’s characters say things we cannot trust. The question today comes from a listener named Joel to Pastor John, who joins us over Skype today. “Thank you for your wonderful podcast, Pastor John. I’m a longtime listener and now a first-time caller (as they say). In the wake of this coronavirus pandemic, I have turned repeatedly to the book of Job. As you’ve said in past sermons, the book is timeless and therefore relevant to our present suffering. “I’ve read through Job before, and I understand the cycle of conversations between Job and his friends. But as I was reading through Job 5 Chapter 5 1 Call now; is there any that will answer thee? And to which of the holy ones wilt thou turn? 2 For vexation killeth the foolish man, And jealousy slayeth the silly one. 3 I have seen the foolish taking root: But suddenly I cursed his habitation. 4 His children are far from safety, And they are crushed in the gate, Neither is there any to deliver them: 5 Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, And taketh it even out of the thorns; And the snare gapeth for their substance. 6 For affliction cometh not forth from the dust, Neither doth trouble spring out of the ground; 7 But man is born unto trouble, As the sparks fly upward. 8 But as for me, I would seek unto God, And unto God would I commit my cause; 9 Who doeth great things and unsearchable, Marvellous things without number: 10 Who giveth rain upon the earth, And sendeth waters upon the fields; 11 So that he setteth up on high those that are low, And those that mourn are exalted to safety. 12 He frustrateth the devices of the crafty, So that their hands cannot perform their enterprise. 13 He taketh the wise in their own craftiness; And the counsel of the cunning is carried headlong. 14 They meet with darkness in the day-time, And grope at noonday as in the night. 15 But he saveth from the sword of their mouth, Even the needy from the hand of the mighty. 16 So the poor hath hope, And iniquity stoppeth her mouth. 17 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: Therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty. 18 For he maketh sore, and bindeth up; He woundeth, and his hands make whole. 19 He will deliver thee in six troubles; Yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee. 20 In famine he will redeem thee from death; And in war from the power of the sword. 21 Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue; Neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh. 22 At destruction and dearth thou shalt laugh; Neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth. 23 For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field; And the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee. 24 And thou shalt know that thy tent is in peace; And thou shalt visit thy fold, and shalt miss nothing. 25 Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, And thine offspring as the grass of the earth. 26 Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, Like as a shock of grain cometh in in its season. 27 Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; Hear it, and know thou it for thy good. (Eliphaz is speaking) and I came to verses 17–19, I began asking myself: When Job and his friends speak of God in their ranting, how do I distinguish theology that’s true about God from their own mistaken assumptions? The obvious answer is to survey the landscape of Scripture to find consistencies with other texts. But can we put any stock in what Job or his friends are saying?” Read or listen to this interview at our website: https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/which-characters-in-job-can-we-trust Find other recent and popular Ask Pastor John episodes: https://www.desiringgod.org/ask-pastor-john