I have been going through Job again, and when I reached chapter 22-23, where Job described the “heritage of the oppressors” and showed the foolishness of anyone who set his heart on the things this world has to offer, he breaks out into a striking description of the trouble and pain that men expend as they search for earthly treasure. He then contrasts the wisdom that allows them to obtain the riches hidden in the earth with the value of “digging” for the wisdom that comes from above.
Silver has to be dug out of a mine with a lot of hard labor; gold has to be placed in a furnace to be refined; iron has to be taken out of the dust that it lies in, and brass has to be melted out of stone.
Now when you consider the amount of eagerness, perseverance, tenacity, and energy that men expend as they search for earthly treasures, how much more energy should we expend to find heavenly wisdom? Men understand the value of gold, but do they know the greater value of true wisdom and knowledge? They are willing to spend hours upon hours with their MLM and Day Trading, but how much time do they spend on their knees?
If they do set their hearts on getting His wisdom, do they know where to find it? It’s not in the depth of the earth, or in the sea. There is no amount of gold or silver that can buy it—it can’t even be compared, as Job stated, with the “gold of Ophir,” or the precious stones. Its value is above all the precious things of earth.
This is why I always feel compelled to share what I discover in God’s word. My greatest joy comes in sharing the Truth of God’s love and wisdom. My greatest desire is to inspire a hunger and thirst for the very heart of my Father. Hebrews 11:6b says that our God rewards those who earnestly seek Him. I want to stimulate your search for the Life that is only found in His presence. I don’t know what all of those promised rewards are, but I figure any reward from the heart of the Father is worth pursuing.
So where does wisdom come from if it can’t be found on earth or purchased with the most precious things of earth, and is hidden “from the eyes of all living?”
God understands the source of wisdom, and He is the only One who can teach the way to obtain it. All wisdom is hidden in Yehoveh Himself. “He views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens” including the hidden things which men try to discover with all their labor. So He alone knows the place of wisdom, and He says; “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.”
“Men think that wisdom is knowledge—knowledge of gaining wealth; knowledge of how to refine gold; to melt iron; to polish brilliant stones; to blast flinty rocks; to remove mountains by their skill, and to divert mighty rivers, so that all the secrets hidden in the earth are under their command and control.” God says that the highest wisdom is to be obtained in knowing Him, in understanding His will, and departing from evil.
This is the wisdom that “comes from above,” because “the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
Oh Father, I do desire Wisdom—Your Wisdom and not the “wisdom” found here on the earth—the supposed “wisdom” of men. I fix my heart to know only you. You have said that “Wisdom is supreme” and as a result we were to “get wisdom”—even though it cost all that we have . . .” (Proverbs 4:7). So indeed I lay my life down to obtain Your Wisdom. I long for nothing else. Open my ability to understand; grant me your Wisdom so I can deal wisely in every endeavor and difficulty I face. My trust is in You and in the power of Your Spirit.
