Does Job allude to the criticism from his friends as not wise? Do we seek true wisdom? Let’s look at Job 28.
As valuable minerals are hidden, is true wisdom even harder to find?
Certainly there is a mine for silver And a place for refining gold. Iron is taken from the dust, And copper is smelted from rock. Man puts an end to darkness, And to the farthest limit he searches out The rock in gloom and deep shadow. He sinks a shaft away from inhabited areas, Forgotten by the foot; They hang and swing, away from people. From the earth comes food, And underneath, it is turned over like fire. Its rocks are the source of sapphires, And its dust contains gold. (Job 28:1-6 NASB)
As animals that roam earth’s surface know nothing of a mine, is wisdom also hidden from men?
No bird of prey knows that hidden path, no falcon’s eye has seen it. Proud beasts do not set foot on it, and no lion prowls there. People assault the flinty rock with their hands and lay bare the roots of the mountains. They tunnel through the rock; their eyes see all its treasures. They search the sources of the rivers and bring hidden things to light. (Job 28:7-11 NIV)
Where can wisdom be found? Is it as easy to find as valuable minerals?
But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? Man does not know its value, Nor is it found in the land of the living. The deep says, ‘It is not in me’; And the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’ It cannot be purchased for gold, Nor can silver be weighed for its price. It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, In precious onyx or sapphire. Neither gold nor crystal can equal it, Nor can it be exchanged for jewelry of fine gold. No mention shall be made of coral or quartz, For the price of wisdom is above rubies. The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, Nor can it be valued in pure gold. (Job 28:12-19 NKJV)
Where is wisdom hidden, that humanity in general does not find it?
But do people know where to find wisdom? Where can they find understanding? It is hidden from the eyes of all humanity. Even the sharp-eyed birds in the sky cannot discover it. Destruction and Death say, ‘We’ve heard only rumors of where wisdom can be found.’ (Job 28:20-22 NLT)
To whom can we go to find wisdom? What is a key ingredient in finding it?
God understands its way, and he knows its place. For he looks to the ends of the earth, and sees under the whole sky. He establishes the force of the wind. Yes, he measures out the waters by measure. When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder, then he saw it, and declared it. He established it, yes, and searched it out. To man he said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom. To depart from evil is understanding.’ (Job 28:23-28 WEB)
Do the Proverbs say something similar to what Job declared?
Wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7 CEB)
What does wisdom result in or produce as a fruit in our lives?
But the wisdom that comes from above leads us to be pure, friendly, gentle, sensible, kind, helpful, genuine, and sincere. (James 3:17 CEV)
Does Job allude to the criticism from his friends as not wise? Do we seek true wisdom? You decide!
