When we look at the book of Job, chapters 29, 30, and 31. Job 28 and 29 tell us what wisdom is, and Job 30 shows us what wisdom looks like.
I begin with what Jesus said in Luke 12:2: “Nothing is hidden that will not be revealed.” Job 28:11 says that the thing that is hid is brought forth to light. And who is he that is bringing forth something to light? The personification of who Jesus is. As 1 Corinthians 1:30 reveals, Christ became wisdom for us.
Job 28:12 asks, “Where is wisdom found?” When you are looking for wisdom, the text states in verses 13 through 19 that wisdom is not found in the land of the living. It’s not found in the depth of the sea. It cannot be weighed as gold. It does not have a price. Priceless things do not equate to it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels. It cannot be compared to the topaz of Ethiopia.
As Job 28:21–22 explains, it is hid from the eyes of all the living and from the fowls of the air. Destruction and death say that they have heard of the fame of wisdom.
In Job 28:26, it tells us about He that made a decree for the rain—the decree that was made by God. Then, in Job 28:28, it tells us exactly what wisdom is. Notice the word “is”—that means continuous. Wisdom is the fear of Yahweh. To depart from evil is understanding. Notice the word “is” meaning that it is continuous.
So when we think of what wisdom is, it is the fear of the Lord. But if we think of what wisdom has become, that’s Christ.
In Job 29:4, it says that in my youth, the secret of Yahweh was upon my tabernacle. Young men run from wisdom. Here, in Job 29:11, eyes see wisdom and bless it; they witness it. Verse 14 talks about how wisdom puts on righteousness and judgment as a robe and a diadem. Job 29:15 continues that wisdom is an eye to the blind and a foot to them that are lame. As one that comforted mourners (Job 29:25), that’s what wisdom becomes. That’s what Jesus became for us.
So, in Job 30, it begins to tell you about the Calvary and how Jesus died. Job 30:1 says that younger people see wisdom and laugh at wisdom in derision. These are children of fools and children of base men, as Job 30:8 says, because if you see wisdom and you laugh at it, then you are a fool.
But that’s typically what people do. Job 30:9 says, “Now, I am their song, and I am their byword.” Verse 10 notes that they spit in His face—just as Jesus was spat on in Matthew 26:67. Job 30:11 continues, “He has loosed my cord and afflicted me; they have cast off the bridle before me.” The feet of wisdom.
Sometimes when we go through suffering, we gain wisdom. When we are rejected, we feel what it is to be as Christ was. Job 30:20 shows how Jesus embodied our sufferings so that we could have an exchange, so that we will have freedom through Him.
And we learn wisdom through suffering. Job 30:26 says that wisdom looks for good but evil came upon Him. He waited for light, but darkness fell upon Him. Jesus was put in Hades. As verses 29 through 31 beautifully cry out, He was a brother to dragons and a companion to owls. My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat. My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep.
And that’s who became wisdom for us. Jesus.