“Where Then Does Wisdom Come?” • 4.28.21 • Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service
Intro.
- We are coming to the end of the third round of dialogue between Job and his friends. Chapter 25 is both the shortest chapter in the book as well as the record of Bildad's final words.
- In roughly 20 chapters, these friends who came to comfort Job ended up chastising him. They came to console but chose to confront instead. They came in friendship, but dealt in fire!
- Along with these failures, their lasting testimony will be that while they each talked ABOUT God, none of them ever even offered a prayer TO God for their friend!
- With that as our backdrop, chapter 25 will provide a fitting end to their futility! Verse 1.
Text
• Job 25:1-6 : "Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: 'Dominion and fear belong to Him; He makes peace in His high places. Is there any number to His armies? Upon whom does His light not rise? How then can man be righteous before God? Or how can he be pure who is born of a woman? If even the moon does not shine, and the stars are not pure in His sight, how much less man, who is a maggot, and a son of man, who is a worm?" : Bildad is answering questions that nobody is asking! Everything that he says here is agreed upon by each of these friends!
- God rules over everything and manages His realm peacefully! His angelic armies are countless, as they number "ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands!"[i]
- His light shines throughout all of His realm. There is no darkness or element of confusion with God! Since that is the case, how could any man claim to be righteous and pure before Him?
- This line of questioning betrays a deep misunderstanding between Job and his friends.
- Job has never claimed to be sinless, but neither has he confessed to any deep abiding secret sin. Bildad thinks that Job is in denial or is deluded about his true sinful state.
- At the very least, he has to admit that God cannot be impressed by man's attempts at righteousness, when the heavens are fallen, impure in His sight.
- The moon and the stars are aligned with the heavens. Man is aligned with the dirt. In fact, men were made from it! In comparison to the celestial bodies, we're just maggots and worms!
- These things are true, but they betray an ignorance of the nature of God, whose crowning achievement in creation is not the moon or the stars, but the humanity made in His image!
- The Psalmist will capture this in Psalm 8. He considers the moon and the stars, but wonders at the though that God is mindful of men! (Psalm 8:3,4)
- To which of the stars did God call His own beloved child? We maggots are priceless! Ch. 26.
• Job 26:1-4 : "But Job answered and said: 'How have you helped him who is without power? How have you saved the arm that has no strength? How have you counseled one who has no wisdom? And how have you declared sound advice to many? To whom have you uttered words? And whose spirit came from you?" : Bildad is concerned about righteousness, but when he had the opportunity to act justly toward Job, he didn't! Bildad especially was guilty of repeated verbal assault. He was relentless!
- Job had just said in chapter 23 that his hands were listless against his circumstance. He could barely lift them to defend himself. Did Bildad lift a finger to help him? Not even once!
- Job's friends count him as being without wisdom? "Bildad, what was your counsel to me? Oh yeah, you haven't offered any counsel or sound advice!"
- Job wants to know who Bildad thinks he's talking to because it was not him! Like Eliphaz and Zophar, Bildad was talking around Job, but not addressing Job's concerns in the least!
- Eliphaz had admitted to receiving some kind of spiritual experience before speaking to Job. Job wants to know which spirit spoke to Bildad! He knows it wasn't the Holy Spirit!
- Bildad wants to speak about God's power and dominion. Job intends to educate and silence him for good! Verse 5.
• Job 26:5-8 : "The dead tremble, those under the waters and those inhabiting them. Sheol is naked before Him, and Destruction has no covering. He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth on nothing. He binds up the water in His thick clouds, yet the clouds are not broken under it." : Verse 5 is an interesting verse. It literally reads, "The Rephaim are formed under the waters with those inhabiting."
- In other places in the scripture, the Rephaim are essentially a race of giants. Their name is synonymous with the word "Nephilim." These beings bring fear to men, but tremble before God.
- Sheol most often refers to the grave and "Destruction" comes from the word "Abaddon." Death and the place of ruin are open before the eyes of the Lord. There is no mystery to Him.
- God's rule extends over the spiritual plane, as well as the amazing wonders of the physical plane. The northern sky and the planet hang on nothing! The Earth is a floating marble in space!
- How could Job have known this aside from the revelation of God Himself? What did he know about gravitational fields and fixed orbital distances? Newton won't "discover" that for centuries!
- Job moves from the celestial plane to atmospheric conditions. He describes rain clouds as water that is bundled up, yet, the weight of the water doesn't dissipate the clouds!
- I listened to one commentator explain the hydrologic cycle this week. For one inch of rain to fall on a square mile, you would need 1.6 billion pounds of water to drop on that area!
- If you dropped that water all at once, it would destroy everything! God designed it so the water would be dispersed into droplets, large enough to fall, but not small enough to dissipate!
- Job's point in all of this is that God is sovereign over all of the Universe and all of His creation, from spiritual entities to physical realities! Verse 9.
• Job 26:9-14 : "He covers the face of His throne, and spreads His cloud over it. He drew a circular horizon on the face of the waters, at the boundary of light and darkness. The pillars of heaven tremble, and are astonished at His rebuke. He stirs up the sea with His power, and by His understanding He breaks up the storm. By His Spirit He adorned the heavens; His hand pierced the fleeing serpent. Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways, and how small a whisper we hear of Him! But the thunder of His power who can understand?'" : The works of God are beyond our comprehension and nobody can observe the dwelling place of God Almighty.
- His throne is covered and a cloud covers that! Nobody can see Him, much less presume to get a glimpse of Him! Think of how much distance there is between humanity and God!
- We stare at the horizon and wonder what is beyond it. We never get close to crossing it! Heaven trembles and is left in wide eyed wonder at His rebuke!
- The forces of nature are controlled by His power and subdued at His will. No wonder Jesus could sleep in the back of the boat! Who is this that even the wind and waves obey Him? (Luke 8:25)
- The heavens are decorated by Him and His adversaries are nothing before Him. Commentators are divided on what the "fleeing serpent" is. Some say it's an ancient constellation.
- Others believe that this is a commentary on Hebrew myths seeking to explain God's victory over Satan at the creation of the Earth. Either way, these are just the fringe elements of his ways!
- We are on the outside desperately wishing we could see more! What we hear in this life is akin to a whisper from God! That whisper is too much for us. How much greater is His thunder!?
- I'm convinced that our human minds and bodies would be undone in the process! Eternity will barely be long enough to cover the basics! As you can see, Job is quite aware of God's power.
- That isn't his problem. Job hasn't doubted God's power once. What he wonders about is why God hasn't used His power vindicate him? He takes that thought into chapter 27.
• Job 27:1-7 : "Moreover Job continued his discourse, and said: 'As God lives, who has taken away my justice, and the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter, as long as my breath is in me, and the breath of God in my nostrils, my lips will not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit. Far be it from me that I should say you are right; Till I die I will not put away my integrity from me. My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go; My heart shall not reproach me as long as I live. May my enemy be like the wicked, and he who rises up against me like the unrighteous." : Job isn't going to budge a single inch! In what is equivalent to our oath, Job swears by God that he will continue to promote his own innocence.
- Job believes that God has taken his justice away and made his soul bitter. When you consider this concept, you understand what Job is saying from his human perspective.
- Job believed that God had taken away His rights by allowing devastation to occur and that It was the Almighty, El Shaddai, who had embittered his soul.
- In reality, Job's assumption of rights doesn't necessitate that he actually has them! "Justice," for all of us rebel sinners, would be eternal judgment without representation!
- Only one has had justice taken from Him and that was the Lord Jesus Christ! (Acts 8:33) He deserved to be worshipped and adored because, unlike Job, He was not just innocent, but sinless!
- The fact that Job had tasted bitterness speaks more of his decision to allow that to take place. Remember that at the beginning of his trial, he did not accuse God of wrong doing.
- He said, "The Lord gave and has taken away. Blessed be the Name of the Lord!" What has caused him to change his tune between chapter 1:21 and chapter 27?
- First, it seems obvious that his suffering has lasted longer than he expected. Most of us will do pretty well in the short run, but prolonged suffering tends to yield bitter fruit.
- But that fruit was further cultivated by these friends of his, who have poisoned his thinking into believing that everything that had happened to him was related to whether or not he deserved it!
- Job's friends look at this very simply and truly mistakenly. Bad things happen to bad people. Bad things have happened to Job, therefore, Job is bad.
- Job is taking a different approach to this in response to their theology, lowering his in the process: Bad things happen to good people, therefore, God is to blame!
- God has apparently been unjust toward Job and Job will not let go of that claim until he dies! His heart doesn't sting him for making that claim.
- But to the one that counters his claim and insists on fighting against him, may the Lord treat that person like he does the wicked! Job is calling upon God to defend his honor!
- "Treat them with the punishment that they falsely accuse me of deserving!" Verse 8.
• Job 27:8-12 : "For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he may gain much, if God takes away his life? Will God hear his cry when trouble comes upon him? Will he delight himself in the Almighty? Will he always call on God? I will teach you about the hand of God; What is with the Almighty I will not conceal. Surely all of you have seen it; Why then do you behave with complete nonsense?'"
- I mentioned in a previous study that the English word "hypocrite" is used differently in the Hebrew language. In the Old Testament, this word speaks of one who is impious or profane.
- What is the hope for such a person when the reality of God's intervention is assumed? Even if he gains much. Even if he is successful, what does that mean if God takes away his life?
- It's interesting that the NKJV translators chose to use the word "life" here. The predominant word choice in the older versions of the Bible is "soul."
- Immediately, when translated that way, several verses come to mind from the New Testament. I refer you to the words of the Lord to His disciples in Matthew 16:24ff.
• Matthew 16:24-27 : "Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works." : The connection to one's own eternal soul is tied to what one does with Jesus! Will you follow Him? Will you lose your life for His sake?
- The alternate reality is the possibility of gaining everything in the world. What profit is there in that if you die? At that point, you've gained everything only to lose everything!
- Please turn in your Bibles to Luke 12. In that chapter, the Lord Jesus warns against the sin of covetousness when a man yelled out of a crowd to ask Him to arbitrate a settlement on his behalf.
- Jesus looks at that man and figures that it's a good time for an illustration. Luke 12:16.
• Luke 12:16-21 : "Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: 'The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.'" : "What hope is there for the hypocrite, though he may gain much, if God takes away His soul?" Look at this impious, hypocritical person. He thinks within himself. He believes he's in control.
- These are his extra crops, not to be charitable with, but to horde for himself. They are all his and nobody elses! What is the end of his thinking? "I'm set for may years."
- Because he doesn't live with any regard to God, God calls him a "fool!" His "many years" are gone in the span of a single night!
- Will God listen to a man like this, who has said in his heart and lived out his life believing that there is no God!? He doesn't delight in nor does he call upon God!
- Job wants to tell his friends about the realities of God. If they want to hear about the hand of God, they had simply to look at what has happened to him!
- It's not as if they haven't been watching! Job marvels that they can act so foolishly! Verse 13.
• Job 27:13-19 : "This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, received from the Almighty: If his children are multiplied, it is for the sword; and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread. Those who survive him shall be buried in death, and their widows shall not weep, though he heaps up silver like dust, and piles up clothing like clay—He may pile it up, but the just will wear it, and the innocent will divide the silver. He builds his house like a moth, like a booth which a watchman makes. The rich man will lie down, but not be gathered up; He opens his eyes, and he is no more." : The picture of what the wicked will receive from God isn't a pretty one. You might wonder if Job is contradicting himself.
- Earlier, he had painted a picture of the wicked's death in a pretty nice light. Crowds gathered at their graves. They died in peace.
- Consider that portion the superficial and public view. Consider this the comprehensive and private view. Their children will inherit violence and perpetual hunger.
- The wicked that survive those judgments will be buried with no one to mourn their lives. Their widows will be relieved at their death!
- Like the rich man in the Lord's parable, they will have storehouses of treasure and goods, but the righteous will make use of it!
- Job looks at a wicked man and realizes that he doesn't build his house to endure. He builds it like a moth would build a cocoon or the way a watchman constructs a booth. They are temporary.
- He's not thinking about the generations that come after him or their welfare. It's only him!
- The wicked has no thought of an enduring place for himself or for his children. He only thinks of this moment in front of him! Eventually, he'll die and not see another day. Verse 20.
• Job 27:20-23 : "Terrors overtake him like a flood; A tempest steals him away in the night. The east wind carries him away, and he is gone; It sweeps him out of his place. It hurls against him and does not spare; He flees desperately from its power. Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place." : Job completes his portrait of the end of a wicked man's days. It's an interesting study to consider the contrast to the godly. If someone will live foolishly in wickedness, pay close attention.
- The wicked are overwhelmed by terror. The godly are surrounded by peace.
- The wicked are picked up and violently removed from their place, while the godly are established and laid quietly to rest.
- The wicked man will run in desperation from the power of death, knowing that it's not death that scares him, but the grim reality of recompense that awaits him before a Holy God!
- The godly face death as a means of entering into the welcoming presence of God and the warm words of their Savior: "Well done, good and faithful servant!!"
- When the wicked die, the world claps their hands in satisfaction and hiss at him. When the godly die, there is dignity, as men mourn for their respected colleagues, friends and family members.
- Job seems to be telling his friends that there is more to God's ways than what meets the eye! They can't expect to understand all that He does with their eyes! Where can they find wisdom? C. 28.
• Job 28:1-12 : "Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore. Man puts an end to darkness, and searches every recess for ore in the darkness and the shadow of death. He breaks open a shaft away from people; In places forgotten by feet they hang far away from men; They swing to and fro. As for the earth, from it comes bread, but underneath it is turned up as by fire; Its stones are the source of sapphires, and it contains gold dust. That path no bird knows, nor has the falcon’s eye seen it. The proud lions have not trodden it, nor has the fierce lion passed over it. He puts his hand on the flint; He overturns the mountains at the roots. He cuts out channels in the rocks, and his eye sees every precious thing. He dams up the streams from trickling; What is hidden he brings forth to light. But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?" : Human ingenuity is really something to behold. Think of all the ventures that men have made.
- There isn't a rock on earth that men haven't blasted open or climbed under!
- All over the planet, there are subterranean caverns dug out by ambitious men seeking precious metals. Silver and gold. Recently, I watched a video on the search for black opal.
- Job and I marvel at men's devotion to riches and their innovation in seeking them. Men have taken metals like iron and copper from the Earth and made them into tools that served their purposes.
- With them, they opened the earth, surveying the depths underground in deep darkness, where no light enters. They hang from ropes and swing here and there in the deep darkness.
- The earth is a marvelous place with wonders underneath that are forgotten by men and hidden from all sorts of animals. The falcon cannot see through it and lions just pass on by.
- Yet, the human digs and pores over every inch, rerouting water when it gets in his way. All of this to bring what is hidden to light. Doesn't it follow then that finding wisdom should be as difficult?
- Wisdom and understanding are not often found at the surface. It takes dedication to look into the depths of God, whose ways are far beyond us! Why do men settle for superficiality? Verse 13.
• Job 28:13-19 : "Man does not know its value, nor is it found in the land of the living. The deep says, ‘It is not in me’; And the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’It cannot be purchased for gold, nor can silver be weighed for its price. It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire. Neither gold nor crystal can equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewelry of fine gold. No mention shall be made of coral or quartz, for the price of wisdom is above rubies. The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, nor can it be valued in pure gold." : Man does not know the value of God's wisdom! If he did, he would dig as spiritually deep as he digs physically!
- Sadly, God's wisdom is not found within the realms of man's searching. We can't find it among the living. We can't physically descend into the Earth or sea for it. It's not a physical item!
- Neither is it an item that can be purchased! It's far more precious than gold, siver, crystal, etc. It can't be valued by anything that this world could offer! This begs Job's question in verse 20.
• Job 28:20-28 : "From where then does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding? It is hidden from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the birds of the air. Destruction and Death say, 'We have heard a report about it with our ears.’ God understands its way, and He knows its place. For He looks to the ends of the earth, and sees under the whole heavens, to establish a weight for the wind, and apportion the waters by measure. When He made a law for the rain, and a path for the thunderbolt, then He saw wisdom and declared it; He prepared it, indeed, He searched it out. And to man He said, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.’" : Where can one get this precious wisdom and understanding since it is hidden from the natural man?
- Even death and destruction only know of it in rumor! It is entirely illusive to the natural order, but God understands where it is and where it comes from!
- Much of what follows reminds us of the first few chapters of Proverbs, which will not be written for many years. God has always had wisdom and if we will have it, we must get it from Him!
- Thankfully, God gives wisdom liberally to those that simply and humbly ask Him for it! (James 1:5) Does this mean that we'll have all of the answers to our deep questions? No!
- God doesn't disclose secret things. Those belong to Him. (Deuteronomy 29:29) For you and I to obtain, walk in and receive further wisdom, all we must do is obey one directive.
- "Fear, reverence the Lord! That is wisdom and to run from evil is understanding!" If we have any chance of understanding this life, it will begin with our attitude toward the Lord.
- The wise one proves that he or she has wisdom by first maintaining an attitude of reverential awe of the Almighty. That is where wisdom begins, but where is it shown?
- When a person departs from evil! Many believe that their behavior doesn't matter, so long as they have the right belief. Job is telling us quite the opposite.
- He is telling us that our behavior won't matter until we have the right belief! They go hand in hand. That is what he has come to understand about life. We'd do well to heed his lesson!
Conclusion
- Let's pray!
No comments:
Post a Comment