January 10th : read Job 24-28

Job 24-28 covers Job speaking, Bildad speaking, and Job speaking again.

Job 28

“But do people know where to find wisdom. Where can they find understanding?
 No one knows where to find it, for it is not found among the living.
‘It is not here,’ says the ocean. ‘Nor is it here,’ says the sea.

 It cannot be bought with gold. It cannot be purchased with silver.
It’s worth more than all the gold of Ophir, greater than precious onyx or lapis lazuli.
Wisdom is more valuable than gold and crystal.

It cannot be purchased with jewels mounted in fine gold.

Coral and jasper are worthless in trying to get it. The price of wisdom is far above rubies.
 Precious peridot from Ethiopia cannot be exchanged for it.
    It’s worth more than the purest gold.    

 

“God alone understands the way to wisdom; he knows where it can be found,

 

 ‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.’

 

 

Psalm 111:10

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom. Praise him forever!

 

 

Proverbs 8:11

For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it.

 

 

Proverbs 9:10

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.

 

 

James 3:17

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.

 

The Bible has a lot to say about wisdom, it's value and foundation, what it is and what it isn't. One of the common themes is the fear of the Lord.

 

Leviticus 25:17

Show your fear of God by not taking advantage of each other. I am the Lord your God.

Deuteronomy 10:12

 “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul.

Deuteronomy 14:23

Bring this tithe to the designated place of worship—the place the Lord your God chooses for his name to be honored—and eat it there in his presence. This applies to your tithes of grain, new wine, olive oil, and the firstborn males of your flocks and herds. Doing this will teach you always to fear the Lord your God.

 

The fear of God includes worshipping Him, giving back to God what is His, and respecting others and treating them justly. These things, therefore, are things of wisdom.

 

God show me your wisdom to better praise you.  Show me your wisdom to better serve you. Show me your wisdom to better know right from wrong. Please give me the strength to follow your wisdom. Give me a healthy fear of you Lord.

 

 

January 9th : Read Job 21-23

Job  21-23 covers Job and Eliphaz speaking.

Job 23:8-12

⁸ I go east, but he is not there.
    I go west, but I cannot find him.
⁹ I do not see him in the north, for he is hidden.
    I look to the south, but he is concealed.

¹⁰ “But he knows where I am going.
    And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.
¹¹ For I have stayed on God’s paths;
    I have followed his ways and not turned aside.
¹² I have not departed from his commands,
    but have treasured his words more than daily food.

 

     What Job misses most is his communion with God. Job knows that God is there, but he can't find God. He treasures God's word in his heart. 

     Lord, I want to be refined, but I don't want to go through the fire. I thank you for your word in the Bible, may it always be a treasure in my heart. 

January 8th : Read Job 17-20

Job 17-20 covers Job, Bildad, and Zophar speaking.

    Who are these friends of Job? What is their reason for being there? What kind of friend am I? Jo I sometimes judge people according to their circumstances? I would hope that I would be comforting and not condemning. I know there have been times where, in my desire to make things better, I have said things that I wished I hadn't. I was so sure at the time that I was speaking wisdom, but it was really all foolishness.

     Lord forgive me for thinking I am so wise and not stopping to ask for your wisdom. Please help me in the future to seek your counsel before I speak, and if your counsel is to not speak, then help me to be silent.

January 7th : Read Job 14-16

Job 14-16 covers Job speaking, then Eliphaz speaks, then Job replies.

     As I was reading today I was growing tired of Job's friends speeches and was thinking how good it will be when God finally speaks. It dawned on me then that Job must also be looking forward to when God would speak to him. Job didn't have the advantage of having read the book before and knowing what was coming. It occurred to me that Job didn't just loose his children, crops, and livestock, he also lost his connection with God. All this time he has been praying and God has not answered him. It's no wonder he thinks God might be angry with him, but he is confused because he doesn't know what he would have done to deserve this kind of punishment. He said earlier in the book that he would know if he did something deserving of this torment, but he is blameless. I don't know how long Job waited for God to answer with no comfort from his wife and friends. It is not over for Job yet.

Lord let me not take for granted your wise counsel. Though you may rebuke me, it is infinitely better than your silence.