In Part 1 of these posts on the book of Job we looked at how Job seems to have suffered for either for no reason at all, or because he was an upright and godly man. Either answer leaves us very confused. But there's another reason the book of Job is so tricky: You don't know who to listen to.
For chapter after chapter we read the dialogue between Job and his three friends and they debate back and forth the reasons for Job's suffering.
But oddly enough God rebukes both Job (chs. 38-41) and all three of his friends (Job 42:7) at the end of the book when he begins to speak.
From chapters 3 to 31 we're constantly confused. Who do I listen to? Is anyone speaking things that are correct about the Lord? What am I supposed to agree with and what am I supposed to reject? How do I know?
Well the first thing to know is that there are times where all four men speak things that are correct about God. But there are also times where all four men are in the wrong.
So as you're reading the book of Job, don't just automatically take everything you read as something you're supposed to believe is true.
Often when we read the Bible we think that anytime we see a statement about God it's automatically true. But we have to understand the context. For instance, who's saying it?
Not only that, but we also have to compare what we read to the rest of the Bible. Does this statement contradict some other part of Scripture? Is it contrary to another clear biblical teaching on God's character?
Also we must remember that Job's friends are miserable comforters. Initially they sit with Job in silence for a whole week (Job 2:13) - something that can be very helpful to those going through immense trials.
But after a while they can't hold back and they try to start rationalizing - which is rarely helpful.
Even when they say things that are true on the surface, it's just the wrong time. As Christians we're not only called to speak the truth, but to speak it in a timely fashion (Prov. 15:23), and in love (Eph. 4:15).
Sometimes spouting off accurate theology only exasperates someone who's suffering.
Finally, it's also helpful to know that a fifth man, Elihu, begins to speak in chapter 32 and goes on until chapter 37. And this man is perhaps the only one of whom we can say everything he speaks is accurate and God-glorifying.
So as you're reading chs. 32-37 you can relax a little and be less critical.
I hope these two posts help you to better understand the book of Job the next time you read it, and to connect more effectively with God's message to us through this amazing book.
