Job 28.
28. In this very remarkable chapter[1] we have
set before us a very important truth in its last verse. Two questions are asked
in verses 12 & 20. Where shall wisdom be found and where is the place of
understanding whence cometh wisdom, and where is the place of understanding.
These questions arise from the study of a few facts of science in nature and we
find Job absorbed in these wonders of nature contained in the first 11 verses
and Job is conscious of one thing that man is not wise enough to understand all
these things. I am quite willing to admit that present-day scientists[2] have
made very many rapid strides, and are in position to pass on many wonderful
things concerning nature but each new discovery brings fresh problems that they
did not know existed before. So that instead of becoming masters of the
situation and gaining all knowledge of the various things they desire to know,
they only become conscious of the things they do not understand. Now God
partially answers their quest for knowledge in verses 23 & 28. God understandeth
the way thereof and he speaks and what does He say: Unto man He saith Behold
the fear of the Lord that is wisdom and to depart from evil that is
understanding. I have been startled recently by the use of the word fear in
Psalm 103. We read in this Psalm and rejoice in its blessings bestowed so
lavishly upon God’s creatures, and how often in times when we have sinned
grievously against God, our hearts have been quieted and comforted by the
promises of this Psalm. What joy has filled our soul as we have meditated upon
vs 11-18 and we have realized the wondrous provision God has made for us
sinners, but how often have we commonly considered the conditions upon which
these promises are made [?]. You’ll notice that in verses 11, 13 & 17
reference is made to the fear of God and how rare it is that mention is made of
the fear of God, and we were asked to define it. What would our definition be
[?]. If you turn to 2 Samuel 1 I think you have something [that] may help to
explain it. We have there the account of the death of King Saul. An Amalekite
young man came to David from the camp of Israel at the time of battle and David
inquires of him How went the battle? And he rehearses how he went near and was
called by Saul and seeing his hopelessness Saul asked him to slay him and he
told David how he acceded to the request. Stood upon him and slew him: because
he could see that he would not live, and he took his crown and bracelet and
brought them to David, and David said to him “How wast thou not afraid to
stretch forth thine hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed? And in David’s
lamentation in the end of the chapter he speaks of the abuse of Saul as though
he had not been anointed with oil[3]. Here is
a conscious fear because Saul was God’s anointed.. And I wanted to ask myself
and you. Do I fear in the presence of God’s anointed who has promised to be
where two or three are gathered together in His Name[4].
Speaking to a lady a few weeks ago who makes no profession of salvation. She
said she always felt a sense of awe when she entered the church. I would to God
we saw more of that in these days in which we live, which seem to be very aptly
described by those words in Rom 3: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes
And the
blessings of Psa 103 are for those who fear Him. Now what are those blessings
of which the Psalmist speaks. There are two words used, mercy and pity in our
Psalm. And the same Hebrew word is used for mercy as for pity in verse 13. And
so we can say with assurance that there is mercy for them that fear Him. Let us
not make any mistake then in thinking that we can obtain the mercy of God
without the fear of God. Let me remind you of those two men who went up to the
temple to pray[5].
The one a publican the other a Pharisee. I think by what is written of them we
can see plainly there was a real fear of God in the heart of the publican. Look
at him standing afar off with eyes on the ground smiting his breast and saying
God be merciful to me a sinner. The other shows no evidence of the fear of God,
and I think we can say, he goes away unblest. No fear, no mercy, and
consequently we understand. The fear of the Lord that is wisdom. I think one of
the most remarkable mentions of the fear of God we have in God’s word is that
recorded of the conversation of the two dying thieves upon the crosses[6]. We see
them hanging there. One of them is railing on our beloved Lord and saying unto
Him. If thou be Christ save thyself & us. The attitude of the man that
mattered was all summed up in the word “If”. He did not believe he was the
Christ of God.. The other listening heard that word of unbelief and rebuked him
saying. Dost thou not fear God? Seeing thou art in the same condemnation and
indeed justly, but this man hath done nothing amiss, and he said unto Jesus.
Lord remember me. Not if thou be Lord or Christ. Here is know if, but an
acknowledgment of the fact. He feared God and realized it was his only hope. He
knew that all three were about to die, and I would ask you all who like myself
are hastening on to that time when “life’s last spark is fled”[7]. Dost
thou fear God. What was the difference in the case of these two men. All the
difference there is between heaven and hell. The one received the mercy of
God.. and the other passed out of this life into the great beyond without mercy
and without hope. Cannot you see clearly that “The fear of the Lord that is
wisdom.
[1] According to his Scofield reference Bible this is part of Job's eighth answer to his accusers, although in some ways it is a freestanding poetic meditation on wisdom
[2] At this time his youngest son Raymond would have been undertaking his PhD studies in veterinary anatomy at Bristol University, he drifted away from faith while at Bristol but came back to it around this time influenced by CS Lewis. David his third son studied chemistry at Cambridge and became a teacher, he lost his faith at Cambridge and never returned to it.
[3] v 21
[4] Matthew 18:20
[5] Luke 18:10
[6] Luke 22:67
[7] It seems to me that Lloyd's apparent period of ill health earlier in the year has caused him to particularly meditate on his own death although he would live for another 10 years. For this reference cf. Oh, for a faith that will not shrink v5 by Rev. William Bathurst written in 1831, it is by far his most popular work. 20 years later Bathurst resigned his living because he could no longer agree with The Book of Common Prayer, perhaps indicating sympathies with the Brethren who in the early years had a number of aristocratic sympathizers.
1. Oh, for a faith that will not shrink
Tho' pressed by many a foe;
That will not tremble on the brink
Of poverty or woe;
2. That will not murmur nor complain
Beneath the chast'ning rod,
But in the hour of grief or pain
Can lean upon its God;
3. A faith that shines more bright and clear
When tempests rage without;
That, when in danger, knows no fear,
In darkness feels no doubt;
4. That bears unmoved the world's dread frown
Nor heeds its scornful smile;
That sin's wild ocean cannot drown
Nor Satan's arts beguile;
5. A faith that keeps the narrow way
Till life's last spark is fled
And with a pure and heavenly ray
Lights up the dying bed.
6. Lord give us such a faith as this;
And then, whate'er may come,
We'll taste e'en now the hallowed bliss
Of an eternal home.