Searching for Wisdom

Scripture:

Job 28:1      ¶ “Surely there is a mine for silver,
        and a place for gold to be refined.
Job 28:2     Iron is taken out of the earth,
        and copper is smelted from ore.
Job 28:3     Miners put an end to darkness,
        and search out to the farthest bound
        the ore in gloom and deep darkness.
Job 28:4     They open shafts in a valley away from human habitation;
        they are forgotten by travelers,
        they sway suspended, remote from people.
Job 28:5     As for the earth, out of it comes bread;
        but underneath it is turned up as by fire.
Job 28:6     Its stones are the place of sapphires,
        and its dust contains gold.

Job 28:12      ¶ “But where shall wisdom be found?
        And where is the place of understanding?
Job 28:13     Mortals do not know the way to it,
        and it is not found in the land of the living.

Job 28:23      ¶ “God understands the way to it,
        and he knows its place.
Job 28:24     For he looks to the ends of the earth,
        and sees everything under the heavens.
Job 28:25     When he gave to the wind its weight,
        and apportioned out the waters by measure;
Job 28:26     when he made a decree for the rain,
        and a way for the thunderbolt;
Job 28:27     then he saw it and declared it;
        he established it, and searched it out.
Job 28:28     And he said to humankind,
    ‘Truly, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom;
        and to depart from evil is understanding.’”

Observation:

The chapter opens with an interesting account of mining for precious metals and stones. Humanity knows how to dig and search for the things which we deem precious. The work is hard and arduous, and yet, we continue onward because we somehow believe that by human effort alone we can discover wisdom.

Then there is the realization that wisdom will not be found anywhere here on earth.

There is a wisdom which belongs to God alone and this transcends all that we can see, touch and feel. This is a wisdom which we will never be able to comprehend for it belongs to God alone. Therefore human wisdom is found in this — to have a healthy fear (respect) for God that draws us closer to him and away from evil.

Application:

Yesterday was election day in the United States and I believe that somehow people were looking for wisdom in decisions which were to be made. Just like those who would like to mine for wisdom — pay for consultants and pundits — there will be no genuine wisdom found among the things of this earth.You cannot buy enough self-help tools or educational courses to become wise. True wisdom will not be found here!

You and I must look to the Lord on a daily basis and only in our relationship to him will we discover. This must be the prayer of our heart, as we seek his face.

It is in the healthy respect for the ways of God that we discover true wisdom for human desires for wisdom result in pride.  Fear of the Lord humbles us in the realization that any taste of wisdom which we may have from him pales in comparison to the wisdom of God.

Seek God - respect God — and trust in his wisdom alone!

Prayer:

Lord, may I keep my eyes directed toward you. Amen.