We are going to examine wisdom a whole lot more today, because Job brings it up in our readings this week. But first I want to draw your attention to a few more things from our first week of reading Job. I hope you highlighted or underlined these verses when you came across them, but in case you missed them, let's look again.
Job 13:15a -- Though he slay me, I will hope in him...
This verse is quoted by Much-Afraid in Hind's Feet on High Places, but it is a Job original. It sounds an awful lot like Jesus' words in the garden before His arrest: "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." (Luke 22:42) Once again, Job points ahead to our Savior. May we also be able to say these words with Job in the most difficult of circumstances, trusting the One who has written all of our days in His book before one of them came to be (Psalm 139:16).
Job 19:25-27 -- I know that my Redeemer lives,
and that in the end He will stand on the earth.
And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my flesh I will see God;
I myself will see him
with my own eyes—I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me! (emphasis mine)
There's Jesus again! In the midst of Job's grief and pain, he could still proclaim those beautiful words, "I know that my Redeemer lives." He was looking ahead to the hope of the promised Messiah whom he would one day see face to face in glory. Bet you didn't know that old hymn and the more recent worship song came from the words of Job.
Job 23:10 -- But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.
This statement refers to a glorious purifying of our souls that we all want, but most of us desire the beautiful results without the painful process. God compares our sanctification with the work of a silversmith or goldsmith, removing the dross from the metal until all the impurities are gone. Let me tell you one thing I've learned, my friend--when God mentions something several times in His Word, we should take note. Read the following:
- "But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness," (Malachi 3:2-3; emphasis mine)
- "I will turn my hand against you; I will thoroughly purge away your dross and remove all your impurities." (Isaiah 1:25; emphasis mine)
- In the whole land,” declares the LORD, “two-thirds will be struck down and perish; yet one-third will be left in it. This third I will bring into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’” (Zech. 13:8-9; emphasis mine)
Just as Jesus did not deserve any of the trials, suffering or death that He endured while on this earth, neither did Job do anything to deserve his suffering. But just as Jesus trusted His Father and endured for our sakes and His Father's glory, so did Job...and so can we. So much to learn from one little book of poetry.
Now onto wisdom. In chapter 24 we read Job's description of the plight of the poor and needy. We later learn these are people with whom he is very familiar because he has given so much of himself in serving them and meeting their needs. This way of life--upholding the cause of the powerless and those denied justice--is an outward manifestation of wisdom. Job certainly was a man of great wisdom.
So how do you and I become wise like Job? In Job 28:12, Job poses the question "“But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?" He eventually answers his own question. Let's read this entire section to get the answer we seek.
12 “But where can wisdom be found?
Where does understanding dwell?
13 Man does not comprehend its worth;
it cannot be found in the land of the living.
14 The deep says, ‘It is not in me’;
the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’
15 It cannot be bought with the finest gold,
nor can its price be weighed in silver.
16 It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir,
with precious onyx or sapphires.
17 Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it,
nor can it be had for jewels of gold.
18 Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention;
the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.
19 The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it;
it cannot be bought with pure gold.
20 “Where then does wisdom come from?
Where does understanding dwell?
21 It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing,
concealed even from the birds of the air.
22 Destruction and Death say,
‘Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.’
23 God understands the way to it
and he alone knows where it dwells,
24 for he views the ends of the earth
and sees everything under the heavens.
25 When he established the force of the wind
and measured out the waters,
26 when he made a decree for the rain
and a path for the thunderstorm,
27 then he looked at wisdom and appraised it;
he confirmed it and tested it.
28 And he said to man,
‘The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom,
and to shun evil is understanding.’” (Job 28:12-28; emphasis mine)
These words of Job are quoted and rephrased by other writers of Scripture. Take a look:
- The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever! (Psalm 111:10; emphasis mine)
- The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7; emphasis mine)
- The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. (Proverbs 9:10; emphasis mine)
- The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor. (Proverbs 15:33; emphasis mine)
- The voice of the LORD cries to the city—and it is sound wisdom to fear your name: (Micah 6:9a; emphasis mine)
For now, however, let's focus on the truth we get from these five verses and Job 28:28.
- What is the beginning of wisdom?
- What do you think "the fear of the LORD" means?
But let's face it. A lack of the proper fear of God is what got Adam and Eve in trouble...and it still gets us in trouble today. If you are a parent, you get this two-sided coin of God. You want your children to know how much you love them, yet you also want them to have a healthy fear of you so that they obey you. Too much of one or the other causes problems for them and for you. A proper balance of fear and love between parent and child makes for a healthy, happy relationship. It also sends them into the world prepared for life.
We do not need to fear God as a child fears a tyrannt of a father who goes on a rampage. That is not the character of our God at all (see Eph. 6:4). God is perfect and holy. His anger is always godly anger for our good and to bring about justice, not a sinful anger because He has lost control of His emotions as a human father might. Please remember this. There is a huge difference between the righteous anger of God and the foolish anger of mankind (Prov. 29:11; Ecc. 7:9).
Our God is a god of justice, and He punishes sin and evil. This should cause us to shudder. Remember how He punished evil in the days of Noah? Remember how He punished evil in the city of Sodom? When the world comes to an end and Christ returns, God the Judge will punish evil again as we have glimpsed in Revelation.
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from His presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the Throne, and books were opened. Another Book was opened, which is the Book of Life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:11-15)
God punishes sin. He punished our sin. When Jesus was whipped with 39 lashes (one lash short of an execution) with leather cords containing pieces of broken bones and pottery, our sin was being punished. When Jesus had a crown of thorns forced upon His precious head, our sin was being punished. When Jesus dragged His cross through the streets of Jerusalem upon His torn-up, bleeding back and shoulders, our sin was being punished. When soldiers nailed each hand and both of Jesus' feet to the cross, our sin was being punished. When Jesus hung upon that cross and His side was pierced with a spear, our sin was being punished. When Jesus cried out one last time, so that the earth shook, the sky quaked, and the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, our sin was being punished. God punished His beloved only Son instead of you and me.
"Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."
"So everyone who acknowledges Me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies Me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 10:28-33; emphasis mine)
Oh yes, dear one, we should fear the Sovereign God who holds our lives in His hands. Either we will stand before His judgement seat all on our own one day, ready to receive the fury of the wrath of God. Or we will stand before God with Jesus at our side, introducing us to His Father as one of His own, and be welcomed into eternal riches and glory. Let us never take for granted the great price that was paid on our behalf. Let us always have a proper and holy fear of the Lord who loves us THAT much.
HOW DEEP THE FATHER'S LOVE FOR US
by Stuart Townend; sung by Philips, Craig and Dean
How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory
Behold the Man upon the cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished
I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
(REPEAT)
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