Divine Wisdom

In Search of Wisdom
In Job’s discourse about wisdom, he compared the effort men use to obtain gold and silver and iron ore from the earth to the way we can search for wisdom. The effort is repaid according to the value of that which has been worked for.
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.
Mortals put an end to the darkness; they search out the farthest recesses for ore in the blackest darkness. Far from human dwellings they cut a shaft, in places untouched by human feet; far from other people they dangle and sway. The earth, from which food comes, is transformed below as by fire; lapis lazuli comes from its rocks, and its dust contains nuggets of gold. (Job 28:1–6)
I was born and grew up in a city where gold is mined and refined. I had uncles and brothers who worked in those mines. The search in the farthest recesses of the earth for precious stones is one of the most difficult things a man can do. Men go deep into the earth, constructing shafts, trenches, tunnels, galleries, and stations to search for treasures, no matter the cost.
I was told many times how people lost their lives when stones or rocks fellon them. Some workers fell in deep holes when there was breakage of a shaft belt. People were trapped underground due to electrical failures. The intensity of the heat of the fire used to smelt ore was another danger.
Despite all this, men are not deterred from bringing hidden things out to the light. Though it cost them their lives, they are determined to srch with all the natural ability with which they are endowed.

The Power of Man’s Vision
No bird of prey knows that hidden path, no falcon’s eye has seen it. Proud beasts do not set foot on it, and no lion prowls there. People assault the flinty rock with their hands and lay bare the roots of the mountains. They tunnel through the rock; their eyes see all its treasures. They search the sources of the rivers and bring hidden things to light.
—Job 28:7–11
What a passion that drives a man to set an end to darkness to get what he wants! It is said that persistence and determination are powerful tools in all human pursuits. As a matter of fact, they are the keys to transform ideas, dreams, and visions into reality. Job unfolded how even natural men can use the intelligence instilled in them to achieve what seems impossible and beyond their reach. The supremacy of man to the other creation is the ability to search diligently to know and to see the unseen.
The Creator, however, has placed all these treasures of gold and precious stones out of our sight, to teach us not to set our eyes on them. They are under our feet, to teach us not to lay them in our bosoms nor to set our hearts on them, but to trample on them with a holy contempt. What pains men take to get this wealth! They have their lives in their hands. As if that were not enough, the more that is gotten, the less valuable it is, as compared with divine wisdom.

Man Does Not Know the True Value of Wisdom
“But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell? No mortal comprehends its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living. The deep says, “It is not in me”; the sea says, “It is not with me.” It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed out in silver. It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or lapis lazuli. Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold. Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies. The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it; it cannot be bought with pure gold.”
—Job 28:12–19
Man does not know the true value of wisdom. Because he does not know, he uses all his natural ability to search for physical treasures that are less valuable, that are perishable, and that have material value. To men, precious stones are of great beauty and value. They are highly prized in world markets. But if a man would not trade in all these precious elements, and rather would give all his being and all that he is worth in this world for wisdom, he would utterly be in satisfaction.
The price of wisdom exceeds that of rubies, which are the greatest among all the precious stones. Wisdom and understanding cannot be bought with gold, silver, or precious stones; they are more valuable than jewels and worth much more than any other material thing. These deep truths may give a man some advantage and insight in seeking divine wisdom. Wisdom is a gift of the Holy Spirit, which cannot be bought with money. It is worth searching for, but many are those who have not discovered her dwelling place. It is exceedingly deep; who can find it out? If one will set his heart to know, to search, and to seek her out, she will become for him an inheritance.
Solomon, in search of divine wisdom, added one thing to another to find out the reason of things. He discovered that one man among thousand was wise, but a woman among these, he did not find. This is disappointing! And do not take it for granted. The NIV Bible translates Solomon’s discovery this way: “I found one upright man among a thousand, but not one upright woman among them all” (Eccles. 7:28). Few men and women take the pains to seek divine wisdom; the reason is the lack of knowing its value. King Solomon added, “This only have I found: God made mankind upright, but men have gone in search of many schemes” (Eccles. 7:29).