Finally, a good word from the book of Job: he tells us where to find wisdom. He begins by talking about mining ore:
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… (Job 28.1, 2, NKJV)
But can we mine wisdom that way?
But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? 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. (Job 28.12 – 15, NKJV)
So where is it?
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.” (Job 28.20 – 28, NKJV, emphasis mine)
It’s a truth taught often in scripture: “The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom and to depart from evil is understanding.”
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever. (Psalm 111.10, NKVJ)
“A good understanding have all those who DO His commandments.” Sounds like, “To depart from evil is understanding.”
There’s more:
Receive my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold; For wisdom is better than rubies, And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her. “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And find out knowledge and discretion. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength.” (Proverbs 1.10 – 14, NKJV)