In my daily Bible reading, this section from the book of Job was highlighted from an earlier time when i had previously read the passage.
For man, wisdom is exceedingly difficult to even find. Comparison is made to mining where man is at least able to through exceedingly toilsome labour dig out the treasure of precious stones (see verses 1-11).
But such is not to be the case with wisdom. For man, wisdom is a much more elusive commodity than the gold, silver or precious stones located in the deepest and furthest mines.
What stikes me in the passage that follows (verses 12-28) is that we have wisdom as seen from God's perspective. This is the perspective where we are given God who stands ABOVE wisdom; testing and approving it. No elusive commodity for Him but very much at hand.
The punchline is verse 28 which is where man's only hope for even hoping to attain to something of this wisdom is given. It stands in contrast to all the pretention strivings man normally engages in to obtain wisdom or what he thinks is wisdom.
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Job 28:12-28 (New International Version)
12 "But where can wisdom be found?
Where does understanding dwell?
13 Man does not comprehend its worth;
it cannot be found in the land of the living.
14 The deep says, 'It is not in me';
the sea says, 'It is not with me.'
15 It cannot be bought with the finest gold,
nor can its price be weighed in silver.
16 It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir,
with precious onyx or sapphires.
17 Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it,
nor can it be had for jewels of gold.
18 Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention;
the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.
19 The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it;
it cannot be bought with pure gold.
20 "Where then does wisdom come from?
Where does understanding dwell?
21 It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing,
concealed even from the birds of the air.
22 Destruction [a] and Death say,
'Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.'
23 God understands the way to it
and he alone knows where it dwells,
24 for he views the ends of the earth
and sees everything under the heavens.
25 When he established the force of the wind
and measured out the waters,
26 when he made a decree for the rain
and a path for the thunderstorm,
27 then he looked at wisdom and appraised it;
he confirmed it and tested it.
28 And he said to man,
'The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom,
and to shun evil is understanding.' "
A ransom for many
4 years ago
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