In this episode, we delve into Job 28, exploring profound questions about the nature and location of wisdom. Amidst life’s complexities, we reflect on Job’s poetic discourse, which vividly contrasts human achievements with the elusive pursuit of true understanding. Our discussion takes us through Job’s realization that wisdom is not a worldly commodity but a divine gift, encapsulated in the fear of the Lord and the shunning of evil. We journey further through personal journal reflections spanning decades, revealing a timeless thirst for wisdom beyond earthly knowledge. Highlighting wisdom’s roots in reverence for God, the episode draws connections to
Welcome to Add Bible, an audio daily devotion from the Ezra Project. Alan J. Huth shares a Bible passage with comments from over 35 years of his personal Bible reading journals and applies the Word of God to our daily lives.
Today we are in Job chapter 28. Job continues his discourse after Bildad’s last argument in chapter 25. This time Job questions, where is wisdom? Let’s listen in to Faith Comes By Hearing’s recording of Job 28.
Job 28 Surely there is a mine for silver and a place for gold that they refine. Iron is taken out of the earth, and copper is smelted from the ore. Man puts an end to darkness and searches out to the farthest limit, the ore in gloom and deep darkness. He opens shafts in a valley away from where anyone lives. They are forgotten by travelers. They hang in the air, far away from mankind. They swing to and fro. As for the earth, out of it comes bread, but underneath it is turned up as by fire. Its stones are the place of sapphires, and it has dust of gold. That path no bird of prey knows, and the falcon’s eye has not seen it. The proud beasts have not trodden it, the lion has not passed over it. Man puts his hand to the flinty rock and overturns mountains by the roots. He cuts out channels in the rocks, and his eye sees every precious thing. He dams up the streams so that they do not trickle, and the thing that is hidden he brings out to light. But where shall wisdom be found, and where is the place of understanding? Man does not know its worth, and it is not 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 bought for gold, and silver cannot be weighed as its price. It cannot be valued in the gold of ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire. Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold. No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal. The price of wisdom is above pearls. The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, nor can it be valued in pure gold. From where, then, does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding? It is hidden from the eyes of all living and concealed from the birds of the air. Abaddon and Death say, We have heard a rumor of it with our ears. God understands the way to it, and He knows its place. For He looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. When He gave to the wind its weight and apportioned 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 and searched it out. And he said to man, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.
In 1984, I read Job 24 through 28 on the same day, and I wrote in my personal Bible reading journal, How can a man be right before God? Job affirms his righteousness. lips don’t speak unjustly tongues that do not utter deceit hold on to integrity and righteousness and then concerning wisdom i wrote acquisition is above pearls where does it come from god understands its ways and knows its place defined It says the fear of the Lord, and understanding is, depart from evil. Thirteen years later, in 1997, I read Job 22-28 on the same day, and I wrote in my personal Bible reading journal, Man cannot figure out God or His ways, yet we try in our limited wisdom to do so. Job said, But where can wisdom be found, and where is the place of understanding? He later answers, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding. And 18 years later, in 2015, I read Job 28 and 29 on the same day. And concerning chapter 28, I wrote, Man can do much, as Job describes, but we cannot seem to find wisdom, godly wisdom. He understands God knows the way to wisdom. He understands God’s sovereignty. The fear of the Lord is wisdom, and to refrain from evil is understanding. Thus ends my personal Bible reading journal entries concerning Job 28. So let’s take a look at the question, where is wisdom? First of all, I think we would all agree we need godly wisdom in our world today. We always have. And as Job describes in the first 11 verses of this chapter, man is smart. Man can do many things. We can take minerals out of the earth. We can make light out of darkness. And out of the earth comes bread. We can cut channels out of rocks, for example, roads or train tracks. And we can even dam up streams to make lakes and to provide energy. Yes, man is gifted. We can do many things. But Job then asked the question in verse 12, but where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? He goes on to say, man does not know its worth. In other words, we don’t know the worth of wisdom. And he reminds us, it cannot be bought. though many seek it through various levels of education. The price of wisdom is above pearls. And then Job goes back to the very same question in verse 20. From where then does wisdom come, and where is the place of understanding? But then he answers the question in verse 23. God understands the way to it, and he knows its place. And then Job concludes the chapter in verse 28 by sharing how wisdom can be found. And he said to man, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom. And to turn away from evil is understanding. As we think about wisdom here in Job 28, surely we are reminded of Proverbs chapter 1, verse 7. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 2, verse 6. For the Lord gives wisdom. From his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. He stores up wisdom for the upright. He is a shield to those who walk in integrity. Proverbs 2, 10 says, For wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. And there’s some famous verses in Proverbs 3, verses 5 and 6. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. So wisdom is not found in human understanding. Proverbs chapter 3 verses 13 and 14 go on to say, Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding. For the gain from her is better than gain from silver, and her profit better than gold. Proverbs chapter 4 verse 5 says, Get wisdom, get insight. And down at verse 7 it says, The beginning of wisdom is this, get wisdom. And whatever you get, get insight. Proverbs chapter 8 verse 11 says, And Proverbs chapter 9 verse 9 says, How do we get wisdom? James chapter 1 verse 5 reminds us, If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. in romans chapter twelve verses one and two say i appeal to you therefore brothers by the mercies of god to present your bodies a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to god which is your spiritual worship do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind that by testing you may discern what is the will of god what is good and acceptable and perfect yes there is much to be said in the scriptures about wisdom but the mystery of where wisdom is found is answered in the word of god we’ve just heard it haven’t we the fear of the lord is the beginning of wisdom that’s why we lack wisdom to-day we don’t have a healthy respect a fear of god almighty and we’re instructed if we lack wisdom to ask the lord and he will grant it to us but how many go to god for wisdom and we are reminded not to conform to this world but renew our minds how by staying in the word of god and seeking god’s wisdom In Job chapter 28, Job asks, But where shall wisdom be found? From where does wisdom come, and where is the place of understanding? He concludes the chapter as we have with our other references. Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding. Almighty God, may we apply these truths to our lives today. Many of us lack wisdom in the decisions that we face in life, but you guarantee that we can have godly wisdom if we fear you and seek wisdom from you. Whatever we’re facing today, may we do just that. May we bend our knee before the Lord. May we have a health of respect for God. May we seek him for the answers to the questions of life. Wisdom is found in the Lord. Wisdom is found in His Word. And it’s available to each and every one of us. Hallelujah. Thank you, Jesus. Amen. Our radio programming is set for 2025. We will cover 44 of the 66 books of the Bible using the Ezra Project day by day through the Bible 11 book series. We start at January 1 with the writings of Old Testament historical books beginning with Job. We will cover seven more historical books until spring when we jump into the New Testament writings of Mark, Peter, James, Jude, and Hebrews. By summer, we will go back to the Old Testament writings of all 13 of the minor prophets. We’ll finish 2025 with the writings of Paul. Maybe you don’t want to follow the AdBible radio programming in your daily quiet time. Okay, I offer you an alternative plan. Read the Bible chronologically starting any day you want. The Bible is not organized the way things occurred. You can order an Ezra Project Chronological Bible Reading Journal and experience an amazing journey through the Bible in the order things actually occurred. The first time I read the Bible chronologically, it was an aha experience. While reading Kings and Chronicles, I read the prophets who were alive at the time. In the New Testament, you read about a miracle or a parable by all four gospel writers on the same day. It was a very educational and inspiring way to read the Bible. One user said this about our chronological Bible reading journal. Some years ago, I used a couple of spiral notebooks for my journaling. I’ve attached pictures of the book, the first edition of the Ezra Project Bible Reading Chronological Journal. That was the picture he sent. I live in Phoenix now, and I cannot find any place that has this type of journal. I’ve used many types of journals recently, but this seems to work the best for my needs. Please let me know if these are still available. Yes, they are. In fact, it is our number one best-selling product of all time. Visit azureproject.net and order a chronological Bible reading journal today and start your chronological journey through the Bible. I know you’re going to enjoy it.
In this episode, we delve into Job 28, exploring profound questions about the nature and location of wisdom. Amidst life’s complexities, we reflect on Job’s poetic discourse, which vividly contrasts human achievements with the elusive pursuit of true understanding. Our discussion takes us through Job’s realization that wisdom is not a worldly commodity but a divine gift, encapsulated in the fear of the Lord and the shunning of evil. We journey further through personal journal reflections spanning decades, revealing a timeless thirst for wisdom beyond earthly knowledge. Highlighting wisdom’s roots in reverence for God, the episode draws connections to
