“People know where to mine silver
and how to refine gold.
2 They know where to dig iron from the earth
and how to smelt copper from rock.
3 They know how to shine light in the darkness
and explore the farthest regions of the earth
as they search in the dark for ore.
4 They sink a mine shaft into the earth
far from where anyone lives.
They descend on ropes, swinging back and forth.
5 Food is grown on the earth above,
but down below, the earth is melted as by fire.
6 Here the rocks contain precious lapis lazuli,
and the dust contains gold.
7 These are treasures no bird of prey can see,
no falcon’s eye observe.
8 No wild animal has walked upon these treasures;
no lion has ever set his paw there.
9 People know how to tear apart flinty rocks
and overturn the roots of mountains.
10 They cut tunnels in the rocks
and uncover precious stones.
11 They dam up the trickling streams
and bring to light the hidden treasures."
I have to say that it's simply amazing at how much people could do in Job's day. I don't know if you have ever thought of this or not, but I sometimes get caught up in the thinking that the people in Job's day didn't know how to do some of this stuff. Yet here Job is, talking about these things and using them as examples to show the wisdom and understanding of man in regards to the earth and the things of it. It's pretty amazing for me to think about at least.
Verses 12-19:
Where can they find understanding?
13 No one knows where to find it,
for it is not found among the living.
14 ‘It is not here,’ says the ocean.
‘Nor is it here,’ says the sea.
15 It cannot be bought with gold.
It cannot be purchased with silver.
16 It’s worth more than all the gold of Ophir,
greater than precious onyx or lapis lazuli.
17 Wisdom is more valuable than gold and crystal.
It cannot be purchased with jewels mounted in fine gold.
18 Coral and jasper are worthless in trying to get it.
The price of wisdom is far above rubies.
19 Precious peridot from Ethiopia cannot be exchanged for it.
It’s worth more than the purest gold."
Wisdom ultimately comes from somewhere (or someone) not of this physical world. Wisdom comes from God. He is the one who has created us. He's provided us with the methods of testing hypotheses. He's given us the ability to think cognitively. Without Him, we wouldn't even be here! Therefore all wisdom comes from God! This is a pretty important concept to think about, which brings even more appreciation for our Creator!
Verses 20-28:
Where can they find understanding?
21 It is hidden from the eyes of all humanity.
Even the sharp-eyed birds in the sky cannot discover it.
22 Destruction and Death say,
‘We’ve heard only rumors of where wisdom can be found.’
23 “God alone understands the way to wisdom;
he knows where it can be found,
24 for he looks throughout the whole earth
and sees everything under the heavens.
25 He decided how hard the winds should blow
and how much rain should fall.
26 He made the laws for the rain
and laid out a path for the lightning.
27 Then he saw wisdom and evaluated it.
He set it in place and examined it thoroughly.
28 And this is what he says to all humanity:
‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom;
to forsake evil is real understanding.’”
Verse 28 is a POWERFUL statement! Read it again, slowly if you have to! Solomon echos this in the book of Proverbs when he says that 'the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.' True wisdom, is realizing and honoring God for who He is, and obeying Him, doing what He desires and takes pleasure in.
"Father God, thank You! I thank You for wisdom and for the opportunity that we have to experience it! I pray that each person reading this right now would be filled with Your Spirit and that You would grant them wisdom. May they always turn to You when they don't understand something, and may You reward them for their dedication to You! It's in Jesus' name that I pray, amen!"
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