Where Shall Wisdom be Found?

Job asks his three friends—or perhaps asks rhetorically—in Job 28.12: "But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?" (KJV). He does not leave us hanging. He answers the question. In 28.23,24, he points out that God knows where wisdom is found. In 28.28, he answers the question that he poses in 28.12 and again in 28.20. Where is wisdom to be found? "Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom," answers Job, "and to depart from evil is understanding."

Job sets two prerequisites for finding wisdom. First, wisdom is found in the fear of the Lord. In other words, if you do not fear the Lord, if you do not stand before him with awe and reverence, then you will not, indeed cannot find wisdom. This is why a simple follower of Christ can have more wisdom than a man with great education and training. Second, finding wisdom is integrally related to departing from evil. One cannot live an immoral life, with a general acceptance of evil, and be wise. This is impossible. There is something about evil that blocks us from finding wisdom.

In this fact we differ from the rest of society who looks at a leader in society who has, for instance, cheated on his wife, and says, "that is his private life. What difference does that make to us?" According to Job, it makes a great deal of difference, because a man who lives comfortably with evil is a man who cannot find true wisdom. A nation that is led by such a man is bound to experience difficulty.