Sunday
Morning Bible Study
July 6, 2003
The Way to Wisdom
Job is in the middle of the worst ordeal anyone had ever gone through. It
would have been bad enough if he had simply lost all of his wealth. Even if he
had only lost all his money, people would have been wondering what he had done
wrong to deserve such a tragedy. But that wasn’t all that had happened. He had
also lost all ten of his children. I imagine at that point people were thinking,
“Wow Job, you must have done something really
bad to deserve this!” Yet it didn’t stop there, because he also lost his
health as well. And now, sitting in an ash heap scraping his boils with a piece
of broken pottery, his friends had shown up to comfort him. These were
supposedly older, mature, wise men. But instead of giving Job
comfort, they only brought grief as they sought to try and explain to Job what
must have happened.
They had a lot of ideas and a lot of knowledge, but their ideas weren’t
wise at all. In fact, their ideas were way off the mark.
And so as Job begins to muse about the subject of wisdom, he starts by
comparing the getting of precious metals with the getting of wisdom.
:1-11 Search for Treasure
:3 He setteth an end to darkness
A miner takes a torch with him down into the mines to look for precious
metal.
:4 The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant
The translation could go a couple of completely different ways:
This might be talking about how miners come across water as they dig
underground.
It could be talking the miners descending on ropes into the mines:
(Job 28:4 NLT) They sink a mine shaft into the earth far from where
anyone lives. They descend on ropes, swinging back and forth.
:5 As for the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under it is turned up as
it were fire.
On top of the ground, the earth is used for farming, but under the ground
things change when they’re thrown into the fire, like precious metals.
:7 …which the vulture's eye hath not seen:
There are some animals that have very, very keen eyesight. Yet they can’t
see the treasures under the earth.
Some people have a lot of knowledge about things, but they don’t have
wisdom.
:8 The lion's whelps have not trodden it
Wild animals don’t know how to get these precious gems.
:9 he overturneth the mountains by the roots.
Men know how to overturn mountains to get to precious metals and stones.
:11 He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is hid
bringeth he forth to light.
When a miner hits an underground reservoir, he might be able to stop up the
water.
Lesson
Buried Treasure
A miner digs for precious things that are hidden and brings them out into
the light.
I couldn’t help but think of how rich of a treasure we have in God’s
amazing, living Word. As we’re talking about wisdom, we shouldn’t forget that
we have at our disposal a HUGE wealth of wisdom treasures here in this book. But
sometimes we have to take the time to dig into it.
Warren Wiersbe writes,
The Word of God is like a deep mine, filled with precious treasures; but
the believer must put forth effort to discover its riches. It takes careful
reading and study, prayer, meditation, and obedience to mine the treasures of
the Word of God; and the Holy Spirit of God is willing to assist us. Why are we
so negligent when this great wealth lies so near at hand?[1]
Lesson
What is your treasure?
Sometimes we have our values all goofed up.
Some of us will work hard to save a few bucks here and there and get the
best price for something before we buy it. We might visit several stores, check
out the internet, and wait for a great deal. Yet there’s something we ought to
be more concerned about than getting some kind of new “stuff” for cheap. God is
concerned that we acquire wisdom.
Illustration
Firewalls
(1997, England)
There’s ordinary foolishness, and then there’s extraordinary foolishness.
Stealing fireworks from a storage depot is foolishness. But using a welder’s
torch to cut through the wall of the building housing the fireworks—that is
extraordinary foolishness. Several burglars pushed their luck to the brink of
failure when they tried to pull off a heist of a building containing a large
volume of fireworks. They used a cutting torch to slice through the main door,
which was eight feet tall and reinforced with a solid inch of steel. Just as the
torch penetrated the door, and success was at hand... a spark landed in a crate
of fireworks near the door. Fireworks are explosive, and this particular crate
contained the equivalent of a hundred pounds of gunpowder. The entire factory
exploded, and the door was popped from its hinges and slammed flat into the
ground. Astoundingly, the perpetrators were not killed, and have never been
found. Flabbergasted pyrotechnics professionals have dubbed them the “Hole in
the Ground Gang.”
:12-14 Finding wisdom
:14 The depth saith, It is not in me
We live in a world that is filled with foolishness.
Example of foolishness
Nabal – There is a story in the
Bible (1Sam 25) about a man whose name means “Fool”, his name is Nabal. He was
married to a wise gal named Abigail. Nabal must have been pretty smart because
he was fairly wealthy and had large flocks. David and his men had shown Nabal
much kindness by taking care of Nabal’s shepherds, protecting them from wild
animals and human enemies. Yet when David’s servants asked Nabal to share some
food with his men, Nabal just mocked David and turned them away. When David
heard what had happened, David got angry and organized his fighting men to wipe
out Nabal. Nabal’s foolishness put his family at risk. But Abigail came to David
with food and asked for forgiveness. She made up for her husband’s foolishness
and spared her family. When Nabal heard that David almost attacked him, he died
of a heart attack and Abigail ended up marrying David.
Defining Wisdom
There is a difference between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is the
acquiring of facts. Wisdom is the proper application of what to do with
knowledge. Nabal might have had some knowledge, but he didn’t have wisdom.
“Wisdom is the right use of
knowledge,” said Charles Spurgeon. “To know is not to be wise. Many men know a
great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a
fool as the knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.”[2]
Knowledge tells you that the little black animal with the white stripe down
its back is a skunk. Wisdom tells you to not to pick it up.
Illustration
Diaper Change
One day shortly after the birth of their new baby, the mother had to go out
to do some errands. So the proud papa stayed home to watch his wonderful new
son. Soon after the mother left, the baby started to cry. The father did
everything he could think of to do but the baby wouldn’t stop crying. Finally,
the dad got so worried he decided to take the infant to the doctor. After the
doctor listened to the father all that he had done to get the baby to stop
crying, the doctor began to examine the baby’s ears, chest and then down to the
diaper area. When he undid the diaper, he found that the diaper was indeed
full. “Here’s the problem,” the doctor said. “He needs a change.” The father
was very perplexed, “But the diaper package says it is good for up to 10
pounds!”
The Dad had knowledge, but not much wisdom.
:15-19 The price of wisdom
:19 neither shall it be valued with pure gold.
Nothing can compare with the value of real wisdom.
Both David and Solomon seem to have been familiar with the book of Job
because they both seem to constantly quote from it:
(Prov 3:11-26 KJV) My
son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his
correction: {12} For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the
son in whom he delighteth.
Solomon is quoting Eliphaz here:
(Job 5:17
KJV) Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou
the chastening of the Almighty:
Note that there’s this connection between going through trials, correction,
difficult times … and wisdom.
Then Solomon goes on to quote Job:
{13} Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth
understanding. {14} For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of
silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. {15} She is more precious than
rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
{16} Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
{17} Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. {18} She
is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that
retaineth her. {19} The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding
hath he established the heavens. {20} By his knowledge the depths are broken
up, and the clouds drop down the dew. {21} My son, let not them depart from
thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: {22} So shall they be life unto
thy soul, and grace to thy neck. {23} Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely,
and thy foot shall not stumble. {24} When thou liest down, thou shalt not be
afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. {25} Be not
afraid of sudden fear, neither of
the desolation of the wicked, when
it cometh. {26} For the LORD shall be thy confidence,
and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
It’s not just “being smart” that will give a person confidence in the time
of “desolation”. But it’s God’s wisdom that will give a person stability during
their tough times.
Lesson
Wisdom Survives
We might think that a person who is wise will never go through difficult
times. That is not true.
Wisdom might help you avoid troubles caused by foolish decisions, but
wisdom doesn’t keep you from going through all trials.
Wisdom takes you through your
trials. Wisdom teaches you how to act while you’re in your trial.
:20-28 Wisdom comes from God
:20 Whence then cometh wisdom?
Can you dig it out of the ground like gold?
:21 kept close from the fowls of the air.
(Job 28:21 NLT) Even the sharp-eyed birds in the sky cannot
discover it.
:23 he knoweth the place thereof.
God knows where to find wisdom.
Lesson
Go to the source
(James 1:2-8 KJV) My
brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; {3} Knowing
this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. {4} But let patience have
her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. {5} If
any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally,
and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. {6} But let him ask in faith,
nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with
the wind and tossed. {7} For let not that man think that he shall receive any
thing of the Lord. {8} A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
The context is “trials”. Do you lack wisdom in going through trials?
Ask God. Ask in faith.
Our wisdom is found in Jesus Christ. He is the source of all wisdom.
(Col 2:3 KJV) In whom are
hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Illustration
There an old story about a wealthy land owner in ancient Roman times. The
father dies and the family gathers to hear the will being read. To everyone’s
surprise the father doesn’t leave everything to his only son, but instead
leaves everything to his favorite slave Marcellus. You see, the son and the
father had a falling out several weeks earlier, and the father in anger rewrote
his will, leaving everything to the slave. To the son, Antony,
the father left one instruction. The father said that the son could pick one
thing out in the estate and he would get to keep just that one thing. The son
heard about this and thought a minute. Then he made his choice. The one thing
he chose was … Marcellus, the slave. He ended up having the whole estate because
he chose to take Marcellus.
If you want God’s wisdom, it starts with taking the Son.
(1 Cor 1:30 KJV) But of him are ye in Christ Jesus,
who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and
redemption:
:27 Then did he see it, and declare it …
After God had made decrees about how the wind was to blow and the rains
were to fall, God prepared wisdom.
:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and
to depart from evil is understanding.
Job said it first, but it’s interesting to see that David quoted it (Psa.
111:10), and the wisest man, Solomon, quoted this three times (Prov. 1:7; 9:10; 15:33).
Lesson
Learn the fear of the Lord
This is what forms the root of wisdom. It starts by understanding who God
is.
It is a loving, reverential awe of who God is, what God says, and what God
does. It doesn’t paralyze you, it motivates you. It causes you to want to obey
the Lord. When you have the right kind of fear of the Lord, you aren’t afraid
of what people think, you are concerned about what God thinks.
Illustration
Charles Spurgeon wrote, “in certain places on Alpine summits the way is
peculiarly dangerous on account of the frequent falling of avalanches, and the
traveler walks in dread of instant destruction. Samuel Rogers puts it this way:
Then my guide
lowering his voice addressed me:
“Through this gap
On and say nothing; lest a word, a
breath,
Bring down the winter’s snow, enough
to whelm
An army.”
Thus when alarmed by an awakened conscience people walk in fear from hour
to hour, trembling lest a thought or word of sin should bring down on them the
impending wrath of God. Happy is he who has traversed that awful gap of terror
and now breathes freely because sin is pardoned and therefore every apprehension
is removed.”
The fear of the Lord is wisdom because you realize that there is more to
life than just what your puny little mind can comprehend. You realize that
there is a God before whom you will one day stand. He’s going to ask you, “What
did you do with the life I gave you?”
Jesus told a parable about a ruler who gave money to three of his servants.
They were to take care of the money (called “talents”) while he was on a long
journey. When the ruler came back, he found that two of the servants had taken
the money and had invested it and made more money. The ruler rewarded the first
two servants:
(Mat 25:23-30 KJV) His
lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been
faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou
into the joy of thy lord. {24} Then he which had received the one talent came
and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast
not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strowed: {25} And I was afraid, and went and hid thy
talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. {26} His lord answered
and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap
where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strowed: {27} Thou oughtest therefore
to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have
received mine own with usury. {28} Take therefore the talent from him, and give
it unto him which hath ten talents. {29} For unto every one that hath shall be
given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken
away even that which he hath. {30} And cast ye the unprofitable servant into
outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The one talent guy was afraid, but it was the wrong kind of fear. His fear
paralyzed him instead of motivating him. The true “fear of the Lord” motivates
us to long to hear “well done good and faithful servant”.
Learning the fear of the Lord - How am I going to feel when I stand before
God and he plays back the tape of the decision you’re about to make?
(Prov 14:27 KJV) The fear of the LORD is a fountain
of life, to depart from the snares of death.
Lesson
Depart from evil
This is what happens when we have the “fear of the Lord”. This is a
practical step that happens on the way to becoming wise.
If you are caught in sin, the wisest thing you can do it so get out before
you’re destroyed by your sin.
(Prov 3:7 KJV) Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and
depart from evil.
To our own mind, we may think its okay to keep doing our
sin. But if we had a real fear of the Lord, we would realize we need to get
out.
(Prov 13:19 KJV) The desire accomplished is sweet to
the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.
These two phrases are paired together for a reason. I
think the idea is that for a person who is trying to depart from evil, to break
a bad habit, to turn from sin, and then finally gets there, it’s “sweet”. But a
person who is a fool, they see no need to stop their sin.
Joseph – we’ve talked about the
trials that Joseph went through. His
brothers had sold him as a slave into Egypt,
where he became the servant of a man named Potiphar. When his master’s wife began to make passes
at him, he had a problem on his hands.
(Gen 39:7-9 NKJV) And it came to pass after these things that
his master's wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, "Lie with
me." {8} But he refused and said to his master's wife, "Look, my
master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all
that he has to my hand. {9} "There is no one greater in this house than I,
nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How
then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"
Joseph was aware of God.
He had the “fear of the Lord”.
And he couldn’t imagine doing this thing that would hurt the Lord.
(Gen 39:10-12 NKJV) So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day,
that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her. {11} But it
happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and
none of the men of the house was inside, {12} that she caught him by his
garment, saying, "Lie with me." But he left his garment in her hand,
and fled and ran outside.
Joseph departed from evil.
It wasn’t without consequences.
Potiphar’s wife accused Joseph of rape and he wound up in prison. Was it worth it? God was shaping Joseph, preparing him for his
grand purpose in life, where he would run the nation of Egypt. But part of that preparation involved
developing a man’s character. It
involved developing a man who would depart from evil.
When Joseph ended up interpreting Pharaoh’s dream and
Pharaoh realized he needed someone with wisdom to oversee the nation, he chose
Joseph.
Looking for wisdom? Go to the
source. Learn the fear of the Lord. Depart from evil.
[1]Wiersbe, W.
W. (1996, c1991). Be patient. An Old Testament study. (Job 28:1). Wheaton,
Ill.: Victor Books.
[2]Wiersbe, W.
W. (1996, c1991). Be patient. An Old Testament study. (Job 28:1). Wheaton,
Ill.: Victor Books.