You must be in fellowship prior to your Bible study, so that the spiritual information you receive can become a source, of blessing to your soul and produce spiritual growth.
Job 28:15-19
15 It cannot be gotten [nathan] for gold [cagowr], neither
shall silver [keceph] be weighed [shaqal] for the price [machiyr]
thereof.
16 It cannot be valued [calah] with the gold [kethem] of
Ophir ['Owphiyr], with the precious [yaqar] onyx [shoham], or the
sapphire [cappiyr].
17 The gold [zahab] and the
crystal [zakuwkiyth] cannot equal [`arak] it: and the exchange [tamuwrah] of it shall not be for jewels [kaliy] of fine gold [paz].
18 No mention [zakar] shall be made
of coral [ra'mah], or of pearls [gabiysh]: for the price [meshek] of
wisdom [chokmah] is above rubies [paniyn].
19 The topaz [pitdah] of Ethiopia
[Kuwsh] shall not equal [`arak] it, neither shall it be valued [calah] with pure [tahowr] gold [kethem]. KJV-Interlinear
15 'Pure gold cannot be given in
exchange for it, Nor can silver be weighed as its price. 16 'It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, In
precious onyx, or sapphire. 17 'Gold or
glass cannot equal it, Nor can it be exchanged for articles of fine gold. 18 'Coral and crystal are not to be mentioned; And the acquisition of wisdom is above that
of pearls. 19 'The topaz of Ethiopia
cannot equal it, Nor can it be valued in pure gold. NASB
Nothing can compare to wisdom. No amount of money, no amount of wealth,
nothing that you care about in this life, certainly nothing that you have made
important to you.
Job uses various resources, or things made out of
them, to describe things of value, and then to compare them to wisdom. Nothing imaginable in this world can be
compared to the value of wisdom.
From the topaz of Ethiopia to the coral off the
southern tip of India, in order to designate a broad region from which man has
gone and discovered things of value.
From the mines of Africa, to the under sea discoveries of coral, to
mountain emeralds, there is no region, no place too far nor too difficult to
get to, in which man has obtained the riches that this world has to offer.
Gold is mentioned in this passage, using four
different words.
The first, designates something of value which is
hidden, or better stated, something of extreme value to you, which you have,
and because of its value or importance to you, you hide it away so that no one
else can take it from your possession.
It could be something from a family member, a keepsake of some kind, a
memory or an heirloom. But regardless of
what it is, it is important to you and you take great care in guarding it.
The second, is the gold of Ophir, which suggests that
this gold was refined with very little impurities. Back in those ancient days, refining
techniques would have been substandard in most places, but out of Ophir, the
quantities of gold, as well as the quality of the gold was apparently
unmatched. Many centuries later, Solomon
will receive barges of gold shipments annually, from Ophir. Ophir was probably in the southeast region of
Arabia.
But anyway, out of Ophir came vast quantities of gold,
and for many centuries. So quantity and
qualty is in view here.
The third and fourth words for gold, mentioned with
crystal and jewels, refer to articles made out of gold. The third word refers to the color, and the
fourth word refers to the actual raw gold itself.
So beautiful things can be made out of gold, and when
combined with jewels or other ornaments, many things of beauty and value can be
made. People look on these things with
awe. Their eyes pop at the shimmer of
color and beauty. The idea here is the
visual lust, of looking at something and wanting it soooo bad, that its
possession become extremely important to you.
You want, you yearn, you wish, you hope, you just dream of having it.
Silver was a common medium of exchange, or money. Onyx or diamonds, crystals or clear or
transparent minerals, sapphires, emeralds or rubies, or anything made with, or
out of, these things, and therefore had value that has been desired throughout
history.
Not like something like a clay pot, or an item which
deteriorates over time, but these items possess intrinsic value. Their value continues throughout the passage
of time. They are something which
everyone throughout history, would desire, regardless of when or where they
live in this world, regardless of the circumstances of their upbringing.
Such is the nature of Bible doctrine and the ultimate
goal of wisdom, which comes only from the scriptures.
Do not limit your thinking to the specific words
contained within the Bible, but view the Bible as the window though which you
can view and see everything in life and beyond.
Bible doctrine is also that doorway through which you
can pass, and live that life of truth.
Something which you cannot gain from any other aspect of human life.
More valuable than any gold mine, diamond mine, jewel
mine, any natural resource, or any manufacturing process. Wisdom transcends everything imaginable and
beyond imagination.
Your spiritual life is the single most valuable
possession that you can possibly have.
Everything in this world is not yours for the taking. When you die, it all vanishes from your
possession. But Bible doctrine in your
soul, is Gods gift to you for a permanent owned possession, forever.
Bible doctrine translates into understanding, and then
into wisdom, and builds up a fortification within your soul, which cannot be
breached or removed.
Bible doctrine is the building block of wisdom, the
target of Gods blessing. Gods blessing
is infinite, therefore wisdom's value is infinite. Nothing in this world can approach that kind
of value.
God gave you two assets with which to make investments
- time and volition. What should your
investment strategies be?
Now is the time to post a prayer.
End Of Lesson
Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth.
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