In this chapter, Job takes a break from his arguments to give a profound poem about wisdom. He starts by describing how skilled people are at digging out silver, gold, and precious stones from the earth, even though they are hidden in dark places far below the ground. Working hard, people can dig deep into the rock and extract all kinds of valuable materials (1-11).

Wisdom can similarly be seen as a hidden treasure, and our spiritual search for wisdom is like digging or mining. But wisdom is much more valuable than any earthly treasure (15-19), and also more difficult to find (20-22). Because sinful people do not understand its value and only seek material wealth, wisdom is rarely seen in this world (13).

True wisdom comes from God. The created world shows us the vastness of God's wisdom (23-27). We cannot attain to the level of God's wisdom. But God said that for us human beings, real wisdom is to fear him and to shun evil (28). If we think we are wise, we have missed the wisdom God intended for us. But if we humbly acknowledge that we are not God and live before him in reverent fear, then our lives are on the right track. The wisest people are the most humble.


Application: Father, thank you for displaying your awesome and unfathomable wisdom. Help me have the right kind of wisdom by fearing you.
One Word: The fear of the Lord is wisdom.