January 16, 2022 -- Job 28:28 -- Constantly recommitting ourselves to the Captain of our Salvation

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And he said to man,
‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,
and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
Job 28:28 ESV

And He, that is the Lord, is making this declaration, through His prophet Job. Suffering Job can still declare the word of the King of Heaven. Here he is declaring the teaching of God while he, a man God had declared righteous, suffers. Through the tears and the pain, he spoke the words of the Lord.

The fear of the Lord, let’s pull that phrase a part in order to examine it. Lord—in this particular instance “Lord” carries the meaning the One Who is in Charge of All. Walking in the fear of the Lord gives to anyone who does this a right understanding of life and connects one to the Source of joy. When Job lost his children and cattle and flocks and herds and possessions, what did he do? He arose, tore his clothing as a sign of lamentation, and he worshiped God (Job 1:20). His greatest possession was not taken from him, that is his knowledge of the Lord.

Wisdom is looking for the glory of God in every event of one’s life. Sometimes wisdom only makes itself known to us when we look back over our lives. In such times of contemplative hindsight we will catch a glimpse of the glory of God, how He guided our steps in wisdom because we chose to follow Him and we did not take the easy path or succumb to the pressures of peers who were advising a different way. Sometimes the path of wisdom shows up for us, even while we are suffering greatly, and we know now is not the time to stop, nor to step to the right or to the left. In circumstances that threaten to overwhelm us we cry out “Whom have I in heaven but You, and on earth there is none other that I desire” (Psalm 73:25). That is wisdom.

Turning away from evil is understanding. The moment you realize a course of action is evil, turn from it. When you are tempted to do something and you ask the simple question: “Then what?” And the answer is something that will lead to embarrassment before the Lord or require the shame of repentance, you know the temptation is evil. It is understanding, because choosing the right path is hard work. Deciding each morning to give to God your hands and your heart, your thoughts and your talents means you will be out of step with the world around you. So be it. You are worthy, Triune God!

Spirit of the Living God, in the Prophecy of Isaiah You are called "The Spirit of the Fear of the LORD". You live in Your people--so in the intimate place of our hearts, teach us the fear the LORD and increase in us true wisdom. Spirit of Counsel, there are so many temptations, too many pressures pushing down on us directing our feet into disastrously dumb pathways--the promise is "^greater is He Who is in us than he who is against us" prove that in our lives. Spirit of the LORD, keep our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ and drawn to Him, as the radiant light Who is inviting us to walk into eternity, guard and keep us until we lay down our lives at last and are received into the bliss of our Father's Presence. Amen.
(^I John 4:4)

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