JOB LESSON 27
We will begin this lesson in Job 28:1 "Surely there is a vein for
the silver, and a place for gold [where] they fine [it]."
This is actually a continuation of the statements that Job began
to make in the last lesson. Job, in this lesson, comes to the
conclusion that God was beyond finding out by the human mind. Some
things about God we will never know, until we are with Him in heaven.
We accept Him on faith. Job was speaking of nature, above, when he
spoke of silver being in a vein. Fining the gold had to do with
heating it to the melting point, and skimming all of the impurities
off the top. Gold and silver were discovered very early on in the
history of man.
Job 28:2 "Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass [is] molten
[out of] the stone."
Again, iron and brass are products of nature. These were things
that Job had noticed, that God had provided for the use of man. Both
iron and brass were plentiful in the areas around the Mediterranean
Sea. Iron does come from the earth, and brass has to be melted out of
stone.
Job 28:3 "He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all
perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death."
The discovery of these metals was a tremendous breakthrough for
mankind. In a sense, this does away with darkness, and brings the use
of these metals to light. This was very much like death that awaited
man until the Light of the world came, and gave the possibility of
life to all who would accept Him.
Job 28:4 "The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; [even the
waters] forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away
from men."
Where gold is found, if the people know of it, there is a flood
of people coming to get some of the gold. Generally, gold is found in
a very remote area, where there are not many people walking. It is
generally found in, or near, a stream of water.
Job 28:5 "[As for] the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under
it is turned up as it were fire."
Job was speaking of the treasures of the earth in all of these
verses. In this particular verse, he spoke of the very food we eat
coming from the earth. There is a heat in the center of the earth.
About our only chance to see that, is when a volcano erupts. Someday,
I am told, the heat for people's homes could come by tapping into that
heat in the center of the earth.
Job 28:6 "The stones of it [are] the place of sapphires: and it
hath dust of gold."
Gold and diamonds, many times, are found in remote areas where
there had been volcanic actions. They are thought to come out of the
earth in something called a pipe. When the volcano erupted, it threw
diamonds and gold all over the area. They settle in beds of rivers, or
streams nearby.
Job 28:7 "[There is] a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the
vulture's eye hath not seen:"
This could be, possibly, speaking of the areas of the underground
mining.
Job 28:8 "The lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce
lion passed by it."
This, again, could be speaking of the underground shafts that
were built to mine the gold, and silver, and precious stones. Lions
are in wild country, but they would not go down under the earth,
because they would be afraid of getting trapped.
Job 28:9 "He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth
the mountains by the roots."
This could be speaking of the great trouble that man goes to, to
get to the gold, and silver, or precious metals. They will actually
take the top off a mountain, or drill through it, or whatever it
takes, to get to the precious metals or stones.
Job 28:10 "He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye
seeth every precious thing."
In South America, the rivers are dredged for gold nuggets and
diamonds. All of the last few verses were saying, that man would go to
any extent to get the wealth of the precious stones and metals. He
would not overlook anything in the search for wealth. It is such a
shame that man will not spend this kind of effort to find the greatest
riches of all, the LORD.
Job 28:11 "He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and [the thing
that is] hid bringeth he forth to light."
This could be speaking of man and all of the dams and such that
he makes to control the rivers. I believe these statements that Job
had made here were to show the limits that man would go to for earthly
wealth and fame. He was comparing it to the very little effort man
makes to find God.
Job 28:12 "But where shall wisdom be found? and where [is] the
place of understanding?"
Wisdom is a gift from God, and understanding has to be given by
the Holy Spirit of God. Solomon made the statement that wisdom was
better than gold. It is the best thing a man can possess. When God
granted Solomon one wish, Solomon's wish was for wisdom to lead his
people. The Holy Spirit of God is our Teacher and our Guide. He opens
our understanding to the things of God.
Job 28:13 "Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found
in the land of the living."
Wisdom and understanding are not purchased. They are not
something that a person can seek and find, as he does gold and silver.
Wisdom and understanding are not physical things that can be found in
the land of the living {earth}. These are spiritual things that come
from God.
Job 28:14 "The depth saith, It [is] not in me: and the sea saith,
[It is] not with me."
You could travel the world over, and go to the deepest part of
the sea, and never find wisdom and understanding.
Job 28:15 "It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be
weighed [for] the price thereof." Job 28:16 "It cannot be valued with
the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire." Job 28:17
"The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it
[shall not be for] jewels of fine gold."
We find that not all of the money accumulated in the world, not
all of the silver and gold, not even all of the precious stones of the
earth can purchase wisdom and understanding. There is nothing in this
life that can compare with these two precious things. God alone can
give you the gift of wisdom, and only the Holy Spirit of God can
quicken your understanding of spiritual things. A person who
possessed these things would be rich indeed. These are not things that
the world can take away. They are of God.
Job 28:18 "No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for
the price of wisdom [is] above rubies." Job 28:19 "The topaz of
Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure
gold."
Job continued to mention things that on this earth are valued
very highly. None of this compares to the value of wisdom and
understanding.
Job 28:20 "Whence then cometh wisdom? and where [is] the place of
understanding?"
Job had convinced them with his words that wisdom and
understanding were the most valuable things they could have. Now, he
posed the question, Where do you get wisdom and understanding? I will
repeat that wisdom is a gift from God, and understanding is by the
Holy Spirit of God.
Job 28:21 "Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept
close from the fowls of the air."
Physical eyes cannot see the things of God. The things of the
Spirit are not discerned in the physical.
Job 28:22 "Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame
thereof with our ears."
This was speaking of death of those who were never saved. They
heard a glimmer of it, but it was too late.
Job 28:23 "God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the
place thereof."
It is not for physical man to know the wisdom of God. Only God
knows perfect wisdom. He is Wisdom to the utmost. Only God can give
a portion of wisdom to man.
Job 28:24 "For he looketh to the ends of the earth, [and] seeth
under the whole heaven;" Job 28:25 "To make the weight for the winds;
and he weigheth the waters by measure."
Now we are aware of some of the manifestations of the wisdom of
God. Proverbs 3:19 "The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by
understanding hath he established the heavens."
Job 28:26 "When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the
lightning of the thunder:"
This was speaking of the laws of nature that God established. He
set limits on everything in and on the earth. The lightning, thunder,
and the rain are all activated by the command of God.
Job 28:27 "Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it,
yea, and searched it out."
God foreknew all things, even before the foundation of the world.
God is all knowledge. He did not need another to advise Him. He spoke
and all became. The universe is God's creation. He has the right to
search it, because it belongs to Him. We belong to Him, as well. He
has the right to search us out, as well.
Job 28:28 "And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord,
that [is] wisdom; and to depart from evil [is] understanding."
This is the beautiful answer to the question that Job had asked.
Fear, in this sense, has to do with reverence. The wisest thing any of
us can do is fear God. We have understanding, when we follow in the
footsteps of Jesus, and turn away from all evil. Even this
understanding comes by the Holy Spirit wooing us to God.
Job 27 Questions
1. What conclusion did Job come to in this lesson?
2. We accept God on ________.
3. What is meant by fining the gold?
4. Iron and brass are products of __________.
5. In all of these verses, beginning with verse 1 through verse 5,
Job was speaking of the ___________ of the earth.
6. What is verse 9 speaking of?
7. Where are concentrations of gold and diamonds found in South
America?
8. Wisdom is a gift from ________.
9. Where does understanding come from?
10. _________ said that wisdom was better than gold.
11. What was the one thing he asked God for?
12. Wisdom and understanding are not ____________.
13. What question did Job ask in verse 20?
14. Physical eyes cannot see the things of ______.
15. What was destruction and death speaking of in verse 22?
16. Verses 24 and 25 manifests what?
17. Quote Proverbs chapter 3 verse 19.
18. The lightning, thunder, and even the rain, are all activated by
what?
19. The decree, in verse 26, was speaking of what?
20. The universe is ________ creation.
21. Quote Job chapter 28 verse 28.
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