Job asks, “Where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?” (Job 28:12). Not in commerce, represented by mining and smelting metals (28:1-4) or seeking expensive jewels (28:16-19). It is not in nature, represented by birds and beasts of prey (28:7-8), nor in the depths of the sea (28:14) nor in life and death (28:13, 22).

Humans can industriously dig canals and explore rivers (28:9-11), but they do not know the way to understanding and wisdom (28:12-13). God alone really knows wisdom (28:23). And therefore it is only in relationship to God that humans can hope to find wisdom (28:28).

Job affirms that wisdom is with God; yet he also knows that God “has taken away my right, and … has made my soul bitter” (27:2). Job does not know how to reconcile the terrible contrast between these two ideas; but even though he doesn’t know the answer, he will not give in to his friends’ insistence that all his suffering has come because God is punishing him for his secret sins. “Far be it from me to say that you are right; until I die I will not put away my integrity from me. I hold fast my righteousness” (27:5-6).

Job has not yet understood what has happened to him; indeed he has not yet fully expressed the concept that is foundational to his lack of understanding (we will see him do that tomorrow). Even so, as he holds fast to his convictions even though he can’t explain what has happened, he is closer to the answer than any of his friends, who have chosen the simple-but-wrong reductive answer that if anything goes wrong in your life, it’s because God is paying you back for your hidden wickedness.

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Teach us, then, to tremble before you, O Lord: and to turn away from evil, that we may understand your goodness and your call. We are slow and frail and hesitant: grant us your mercy, and change our hearts, that we may live as your people.

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