Job 28 … Consider His Way to Wisdom

Originally posted: 9/03/2020

“But God understands the way to wisdom,
and He knows its location,” (28:23 HCSB).

Job has had absolutely enough of man’s wisdom. Remember how he silenced Bildad.

“What counsel you have given to one without wisdom!
What helpful insight you have abundantly provided!
⁴ “To whom have you uttered words?
And whose spirit was expressed through you?” (Job 26:3-4).

And while Job still doesn’t know the why of his circumstances, he is completely convinced that what his accusers have cited as the cause of his plight does not emanate from the Wisdom of God.

Wisdom. How does one go about finding it? Can you mine for it as for precious metals? With elaborate details, Job describes the laborious process involved in prospecting and quarrying for silver, gold, copper and iron. Is that the way Wisdom is to be found?

 “Where then does wisdom come from?
And where is the place of understanding?” (28:20).

As valuable as gold and silver are, Wisdom is far more precious; so much so that it cannot even be calculated.

“Man does not know its value,
Nor is it found in the land of the living.
¹⁴ “The deep says, ‘It is not in me’;
And the sea says, ‘It is not with me,’” (28:13-14).

Wisdom cannot be purchased. There is not enough gold or silver, or anything else of value in all the world that is able to acquire such treasure.

“Pure gold cannot be given in exchange for it,
Nor can silver be weighed as its price,” (28:15).

And it seems as though there’s not a living thing that has any chance of discovering the hidden Way to Wisdom.

“Where then does wisdom come from?
And where is the place of understanding?
²¹ “Thus it is hidden from the eyes of all living
And concealed from the birds of the sky, (28:20-21).

But God knows the Way, for it is His Way to Wisdom.

“God understands its way,
And He knows its place,” (28:23).

Consider His Way to Wisdom

“And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom;
And to depart from evil is understanding,’” (28:28).

The Lord has proclaimed His Way to Wisdom. It is two-pronged, like two rails of a train track; both essential for the train to proceed safely and as designed: “the fear of the Lord” and “to depart from evil.” The two work in harmony. If one is out of tune, the other is undoubtedly in a discordant state.

The fear of the Lord is both acknowledging and agreeing with the Truth: God is high above all and worthy of our reverence, awe, worship, praise, and humble obedience. It is not fear of the consequences that result in true repentance and the power to turn our lives around. Turning happens congruently. Turning to God (the fear of the Lord) and turning away from sin (departing from evil); one does not happen without the other, as He has proclaimed: this is His Way to Wisdom.

• His Way to Wisdom begins with a reverent desire for His instruction.
  • The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
    Fools despise wisdom and instruction, (Proverbs 1:7).

• His Way to Wisdom comes from His Word.
  • For the Lord gives wisdom;
    From His mouth come knowledge and understanding, (Proverbs 2:6).

• His Way to Wisdom bestows His blessing.
  • How blessed is the man who finds wisdom
    And the man who gains understanding, (Proverbs 3:13).

• His Way to Wisdom is with the humble.
  • When pride comes, then comes dishonor,
    But with the humble is wisdom, (Proverbs 11:2).

• His Way to Wisdom leads to good.
  • He who gets wisdom loves his own soul;
    He who keeps understanding will find good, (Proverbs 19:8).

• His Way to Wisdom is by His power in Christ alone.
  • …Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:24).

• His Way to Wisdom is our righteousness, sanctification and redemption accomplished in Christ Jesus.
  • But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, (1 Corinthians 1: 30).

• His Way to Wisdom carries out His eternal purpose in Christ Jesus.
  • …that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. ¹¹ This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, (Ephesians 3:10-11).

• His Way to Wisdom unearths His hidden treasures of encouragement, love, assurance and understanding, made manifest in Christ Himself.
  • that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, (Colossians 2:2-3).

• His Way to Wisdom is filled with His pure mercy and the fruit of the Spirit.
  • But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy, (James 3:17).

How do we respond to His Way to Wisdom?

• His Way to Wisdom always begins with humility as we consider Him in reverent fear and commit to depart from our prideful self-reliance.
  • Do not be wise in your own eyes;
    Fear the Lord and turn away from evil, (Proverbs 3:7).

• As we walk in the fear of the Lord and depart from evil, we must resolutely determine to pursue His Way to Wisdom.
  • The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom;
    And with all your acquiring, get understanding, (Proverbs 4:7).

• We choose to pursue His Way to Wisdom as we daily come to His Word ready to listen and receive His discipline.
  • Listen to counsel and accept discipline,
    That you may be wise the rest of your days, (Proverbs 19:20).

• When we have questions, let us not be influenced by the lies of the enemy, but rather be quick to ask in faith for His Way to Wisdom.
  • But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind, (James 1:5-6).

Oh, that we would so grow in His Way to Wisdom that it would not result in mere talk, but that we would be moved to obedience as we walk in His Wisdom and Understanding.

“And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom;
And to depart from evil is understanding,’” (28:28).

And let us pray that our behavior would truly be rooted in the gentleness of His Wisdom, that He might use us to draw others to His Way to Wisdom.

Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom, (James 3:13).

Let’s Grow Together!