Day #118
Scripture Reading: Job 27 - 28 …
The book of Job is considered to be part of what
some have labeled, "Wisdom literature" … a part of the
Bible that includes the Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Songs
(or Song of Solomon). While the books of Moses, the Pentateuch (the first
five books of the Bible, sometimes called the "Book of the Law"),
the books of history (Joshua - Esther) and the Prophets (Isaiah - Malachi)
certainly contain wisdom from God, they do so in the context of historical
circumstances. The wisdom literature of the Bible was written during a
certain historical period as well, but in many ways it transcends history by
revealing truth in principles that apply to God's people throughout the ages
and to every living being throughout time.
The Greeks and others considered the pursuit of
wisdom one of the highest goals of humanity.
The problem is, people without the Spirit of God may be “smart,” being
able to discover some of the truth and order God has placed in His creation,
but they have no capacity for discovering true wisdom. True wisdom is what we may call
“understanding” the deep things of life … seeing behind the scenes and knowing
where we came from, the purpose of life and where we’re going. Without wisdom life just is; there is no
meaning except what you make up. Surely,
we were created for a higher purpose, and the only place to discover that
purposed is in knowing our Creator!!
In the context of Job's theological debate with his
"friends," God reveals the path of wisdom and contrasts it with the
path of foolishness pursued by so many, including Job and his friends.
Like many today, Job and his friends believed in God and knew some true
things about God, but they didn't understand God's character or the purpose of
their lives in God's plan to make Himself known and to bring glory to His name. Many are like them, wandering through life
with God in the background, but ignorant of His ways. They want God to serve THEM, but they fail to
grasp the reality of their need for a Savior to free them from the guilt and
power of sin. Rejecting God as their
King and Jesus as their Lord, they do their own thing and go their own way and
then wonder why God isn’t giving them what they want. They are on the broad road to destruction but
don’t realize it. Their lives have no
meaning and they sense there is more, but have no idea where to find it. That fact that a book like “The Purpose-Driven Life” can become so
popular is evidence of mankind’s desperate search for wisdom.
In Chapter 27, we find Job once again holding on to
his claim to be righteous, refusing to acknowledge that his friends are right,
that God is judging him for some sin. We know, of course, that Job was
right. God was NOT judging Job for some sin he had committed. But in
defending his integrity against the accusations of his friends, Job went too
far and proclaimed that he WAS righteous … a claim that distracted him from the
truth that even though God was not punishing him for some sin, he WAS a sinner
and he deserved God's just judgment. When he says that God "has
denied me justice" (27:2), Job reveals a heart that had forgotten
that God is ALWAYS just and that we must all, in humility, approach God's
throne of grace and declare, "Your will be done."
Job goes on in Chapter 27 to explain the lot of the
wicked and rightly says that they are a breath away from destruction, and in
the end, they will face God's judgment. Then he goes on in Chapter 28 to
compare man's search for wisdom to digging a deep mine in the earth searching
for treasure. "Where can wisdom be found? Where does
understanding dwell? Man does not comprehend its worth; it cannot be
found in the land of the living" (28:12-13). Such is the state of man without the wisdom
that only the Spirit of God can bring through the Word He has inspired the
authors of Scripture to write down.
The Apostle Paul asked much the same question in I
Corinthians 1: "Where is the wise man? Where is the
scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made
foolish the wisdom of the world?" (1:20-21). Because wisdom
means understanding God’s purpose for life, true wisdom cannot be found outside
of God Himself. Only the God who created us has the answers! As Job struggles with understanding what is
going on in his own life, let alone the world around him, he realizes that "God
understands the way to it, and He alone knows where it dwells ..." (28:23).
You can't get wisdom from education or books or
even other people. You can get knowledge. You can learn things.
Job and his friends knew some things and even some truth about God, but
they didn't really know GOD and they didn't have wisdom that only comes from
God ... a wisdom that leads to faith, to trust, no matter what ... a wisdom
that sees beyond the events of life and finds joy and peace in God Himself.
"The fear of the Lord - that is wisdom, and to shun evil is
understanding" (28:28). True wisdom is found in knowing the God
of salvation who sent His Son to point us toward eternity - a new heaven and a
new earth where true righteousness dwells. If all you see is what is in
front of you, you have no wisdom!
Those who claim to be wise today apart from God are
fools. "For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom,
and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength" (I
Corinthians 1:25). Job revealed the beginning of true wisdom in chapters
1 and 2, but then he was distracted by his friends and began to be as
short-sighted as they were. Don't fall into that trap. Wisdom is
really quite simple: it is found in knowing God, trusting God, loving God
and serving God. This wisdom gives life meaning and purpose beyond
anything this world offers, and it is available to all!
Seek the Lord today. Read His Word and ask
for His Spirit so that true wisdom can be yours through faith in Jesus Christ
and obedience to His Word. In this way you will experience the peace that
passes understanding that God promises those who trust in Him and God will use
you to point others to Him.
"Heavenly Father, in You and You alone is
found true wisdom and understanding. The things of this world are empty
without You and all that is good in this life is temporary without faith in
Jesus. Help me to search Your Scriptures for wisdom and fill me with Your
Spirit so that I may know You and give thanks for Your grace in calling me to
be one of Your children. In Jesus' name, Amen"
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