Our Daily Scripture – 11/13/23 (Monday)

SCRIPTURE:  JOB 28

Job used the natural resources with the example of mining to describe the difficulty of finding wisdom:

  1.  There is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined. (v. 1)
  2.  Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore. (v. 2)
  3.  Man puts an end to the darkness; he searches the farthest recesses for ore in the blackest darkness. (v. 3)
  4.  The earth from which food comes, is transformed below as by fire. (v. 5)
  5.  Sapphires come from its rocks, and its dust contains nuggets of gold. (v. 6)
  6.  No bird of prey knows that hidden path, no falcon’s eye has seen it. (v. 7)
  7.  Proud beasts do not set foot on it, and no lion prowls there. (v. 8)
  8.  Man’s hand assaults the flinty rock and lays are the roots of the mountains. (v. 9_
  9.  He tunnels through the rock; his eyes see all its treasures. (v. 10)
  10.  He searches the sources of the rivers and brings hidden things to light. (v. 11)
  11.  Man does not comprehend the worth of wisdom; it cannot be found in the land of the living. (v. 13)
  12. The deep says, “It is not in me”, the sea says, “It is not with me” (v. 14)
  13.  It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed in silver. (v. 13)
  14.  It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or sapphires. (v. 16)
  15.  Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold. (v. 17) Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies. (v. 18)
  16.  The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it; it cannot be bought with pure gold.( v. 19)

WHERE DOES WISDOM COME FROM?

  1.  It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds of the air. (v. 21)
  2.  Only God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells; for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heaven. (v. 24)
  3.  He looked at wisdom and appraise it; he confirmed it and tested it. (v. 27)

CENTRAL THEME:

“The fear of the Lord – that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding” (v. 28)

THOUGHTS:

Job asked this question:  “Where can wisdom be found?”  Wisdom is not found on the surface of things.  It has to be mined like silver and gold.  You must dig into God’s Word to find wisdom.  True wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord.  When we reverence and seek to please God, He will teach us His wisdom in our life.

People look to philosophy and earthly knowledge for their direction in life.  But they cannot procure enough insight to explain the totality of human experience.  Interpretation of life must come from outside and above our mortal life.  To look for guidance, seek God’s wisdom in His Word.

 

J