#job28

There is a mine for silver     and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth,     and copper is smelted from ore. Mortals put an end to the darkness;     they search out the farthest recesses     for ore in the blackest darkness. Far from human dwellings they cut a shaft,     in places untouched by human feet;     far from other people they dangle and sway. The earth, from which food comes,     is transformed below as by fire; Sapphire comes from its rocks,     and its dust contains nuggets of gold. No bird of prey knows that hidden path,     no falcon’s eye has seen it. Proud beasts do not set foot on it,     and no lion prowls there. People assault the flinty rock with their hands     and lay bare the roots of the mountains. They tunnel through the rock;     their eyes see all its treasures. They search the sources of the rivers     and bring hidden things to light.

But where can wisdom be found?     Where does understanding dwell? No mortal comprehends its worth;     it cannot be found in the land of the living. The deep says, “It is not in me”;     the sea says, “It is not with me.” It cannot be bought with the finest gold,     nor can its price be weighed out in silver. It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir,     with precious onyx or sapphires. Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it,     nor can it be had for jewels of gold. Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention;     the price of wisdom is beyond rubies. The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it;     it cannot be bought with pure gold.

Where then does wisdom come from?     Where does understanding dwell? It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing,     concealed even from the birds in the sky. Destruction and Death say,     “Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.” God understands the way to it     and he alone knows where it dwells, for he views the ends of the earth     and sees everything under the heavens. When he established the force of the wind     and measured out the waters, when he made a decree for the rain     and a path for the thunderstorm, then he looked at wisdom and appraised it;     he confirmed it and tested it. And he said to the human race,     “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom,     and to shun evil is understanding.”

July 18, 2014 Job 28

It was my World Literature subject and my professor asked us to read Job 28. And then he asked us how do we define wisdom?

My classmate said knowledge, he somehow accept but he said it's not the right answer.

I said, it's about righteousness and being just in accordance of great knowledge. He accepted it, too but not entirely.

Then one of my classmates said that wisdom is knowing what is right and what is wrong. He accept it, too but like mine, not entirely.

I can still remember what he said:

"If you say wisdom is about knowledge, then you can say that all who study garner wisdom? I don't think so. If you say wisdom is about righteousness and if wisdom is about knowing right and wrong then why those who we think are knowledgeable of what's right and wrong can still commit same mistake like those who are ordinary?"

That made me think, and made me realized lots of things.

He asked us to read again Job 28 and tell us where those wisdom may get:

In Job 28, it says that other people think that wisdom could get from wealth or in material things.

"1 There is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined. 2 Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."

But what's the real wisdom?

We cannot say that being wealthy is tantamount to being wise.

We cannot say that studying can consider always wise. People could study but not all of them are wise.

My professor said:

"Decision making is also part of wisdom. Choosing how to use your wisdom is a choice."

People may use their wisdom in evil ways. People may use in good ways.

The last verse of the chapter revealed what's the real wisdom.

Job 28:28 “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.”

Wisdom is the act of fearing the Lord. How?

Once we fear the Lord we ought not to sin. We ought not to be wicked. We ought to know what's right and wrong. We ought to know what's more right and not just right. If you fear the Lord, you also love Him.

And if you love him, you'll do what's His will. And His will is always rejoice into goodness and not in evil.

Fearing God is wisdom. Departing from the evil is understanding. It's not just about knowing it. It's understanding.

I remember my prof last statement to us:

"If wisdom is about knowing what's right from what's wrong then why those people who we thought that know what's right commit same mistake like those who don't know? I tell you folks, If you fear and love the Lord so dearly, and that's the time the wisdom will come."

Dear Lord, I pray that you may touch our hearts. That you may hold us Oh Lord, so that we may live into your wisdom. May we understand what's your will and what's proper. May we rise from adversities and use our wisdom for the goodness. Thank You Lord.

God bless!