By Jay T. Robertson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
WISDOM GAINED
Job 28:12–28
Despite the wonderful glimpse of faith in chapter 19, the debates of Job with his friends have continued. And by the start of Job 28, we may be wondering if these heated debates are getting anywhere at all. But Job 28 feels rather different. It has no smooth connection with the immediate contexts before or after, no accusations, no complaints and no responses to anything said previously. In verse 12, Job asked, “Where can wisdom and understanding be found?”
Valued (12–19)
Job wants us to have no doubt of the priceless value of gaining a grasp of how this world fits together, how it works and what its foundational structure (moral and material) is.
Wisdom is at the root of all creation, set in place before the world was made (Prov. 8:22–31). If Job could only gain access to divine wisdom, then his question — Why? — would be answered. He would be able to understand why all of this had happened to him. He would not be suffering in the dark.
In verses 15–19, Job wrote of precious things this world affords. You can acquire all the gold and silver, the very best onyx, sapphire, wonderful jewels, coral, crystal and topaz. You can collect together all the riches of the whole world, and still you will have insufficient wealth to purchase wisdom or gain access to this understanding for which you long.
Hidden (20–22)
Job has piled motivation upon motivation to pursue the search for wisdom. And yet we know from verses 12–14 that this search is bound to fail. Wisdom cannot be found on the earth or in the lowest part of the ocean. In verses 20–22, Job poetically personified two realities that have been with humanity since Genesis 3, Abaddon and Death. If these longtime associates of humanity could speak, they might have heard news of wisdom, but even these terrible personified powers would have to admit they do not know where wisdom can be found.
Job is giving us time to reflect. We have been caught up in a terrible human tension. Job longs to know why he has experienced such suffering. To understand why would be to understand the radical structure of the universe, and no greater goal can be pursued by the human seeker. He must seek wisdom, yet he will never find it by himself. Thankfully, this poem does not end with verse 22.
Found (23–27)
We are not told the location of wisdom, but our eyes are directed to the One who alone knows that place. Job pressed home his point by focusing on the weather.
When God ordered the weather systems of the earth, He also “considered,” “evaluated,” “established,” and “examined” wisdom (28:27). The imagery may be of a skilled jeweler seeing a jewel, examining it, preparing it and probing it for flaws.
Wisdom is the centerpiece of God’s crown jewels, utterly flawless and of infinite value. And God alone knows its location.
Offered (28)
This is the first time God has spoken in the book since the drama of Job 1 and 2. God directs our attention away from our agonizing questions and toward Himself. God says: “The fear of the Lord — that is wisdom. And to turn from evil is understanding.” Back in chapter 1, we saw Job fearing the Lord and turning away from evil. Now Job knows that what he was doing at the start is what he ought to have been doing, and it is what he must do.
We are not created to understand the hidden order at the heart of the universe. We are created to live by faith not by sight, bowing before God and looking to Him alone.
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