Sermon Tone Analysis

Storms can make you or they can break you.

They can make you stronger or they can stunt your spiritual growth.

Now, one of the things we’ve been learning throughout this study in the book of Job is that the purpose of storms is not to destroy our view of God, but to deepen our trust in God.

So, what makes the difference?

What causes one person to come through a storm with a deeper, more robust trust in God while someone else endures tragic suffering and they become angry, bitter, untrusting, and even resentful of God?

Here is the answer—both experience unspeakable pain, but only one is shocked because of the storm.

In other words, the person who grows through the storm has a biblically balanced, healthy understanding of how life in a fallen world works—while the person who is overthrown by the storm never thought such a tragedy could happen to them.

Let me put it this way, one has wisdom while the other has a view of life that is unwise.

So, if you want to grow through a storm, you’re going to need wisdom.

Why?

Because wisdom tells you not only that suffering comes, but how it comes.

Wisdom will not stop the pain of suffering, but it will keep you from being shocked by it.

To prove my point, listen to what Job said to his wife after she told him to “curse God and die.”

Job said, why should we expect only good and not expect suffering?

Wisdom will not stop the pain of suffering, but it will keep you from being shocked and overthrown by it.

So, let’s look at Job, chapter 28 and learn the value of wisdom, where wisdom comes from, and how to get this wisdom that will sustain us and even enable us to grow in our faith through the storm.

If you want to grow through a storm, you’re going to need wisdom.

But our text this morning is driven by this question, “where shall wisdom be found?

And where is the place of understanding?”

Where shall wisdom be found?

It’s a great question isn’t it?

But the question alone tells us that wisdom is something that needs to be found.

The question tells us that wisdom is something worth looking for.

In other words, wisdom is valuable.

If wisdom is something that needs to be found and is worth looking for, then we have to conclude that wisdom is absolutely necessary to function in life.

And, in the context of Job’s life, wisdom is especially necessary to handle and even grow through suffering.

Why?

Because wisdom is not just having a knowledge of the facts, wisdom is knowing what to do with the facts when once you get them.

Let me give you a really simple definition for wisdom.

Wisdom is knowledge applied.

Let me give you an example, you might have knowledge that sticking a screwdriver into a live electrical socket will shock you.

But wisdom stops you from sticking a screwdriver into a live electrical socket because you don’t want to feel 120v going through your body.

Wisdom is knowledge applied.

You might have knowledge that texting while driving is extremely dangerous to you and everyone else around you—but knowledge stops you from picking up your phone when you get a text notification as you’re driving down the road.

Wisdom is knowledge applied.

Spurgeon once said:

“To know is not to be wise.

Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it.

There is no fool so great a fool as the knowing fool.

But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.”

But not only is wisdom knowledge applied, but wisdom actually goes beyond simply following the moral imperatives of Scripture—the things God’s Word tells us exactly what to do or what not to do.

For example, if you’re trying to decide whether or not you should commit adultery.

That’s a simple one, right?

The answer is NO!

Listen, you don’t even have to think about that one!

Why?

You don’t have to think about it because God’s moral law says, “you shall not commit adultery.”

That decision has already been made for you—there is nothing to contemplate.

There is nothing to consider.

There are no options to think through.

You have the facts and you only need to follow the rule.

But what about the things that aren’t so clear?

Do you break up with this person or do you marry that person?

Do you take this job or that job?

Do you buy that house or that other house?

Do you speak up, or do you stay quiet?

Should you push back, or should you simply accept it?

Here is the problem with every one of those scenarios—so long as there is not a violation of Scripture, none of those options are immoral.

This means the rules don’t tell you what decision to make.

Here is something else—there are some things that are best for you and there are some things that aren’t going to be great for you.

Can you make a bad decision?

Absolutely!

Can you make a decision that blows up your life—a decision that could have disastrous, life-long consequences?

Unfortunately.

Do you see how knowledge is important—but wisdom will actually guide you to apply all of the knowledge you have and all of the counsel you receive so that you can make the best decision possible?

You see, wisdom is so valuable because it will enable you to make decisions that will leave you with the least amount of regret possible.

Wisdom is valuable because wisdom allows us to know what to do in the majority of life situations where the moral rules do not apply.

I like what Tim Keller wrote:

If you’re a fool, according to the Bible, it means you make bad choices.

You constantly hurt yourself.

You hurt other people because you’re making foolish choices all the time.

If you’re wise, you make good choices.

You make good decisions and you move ahead and you do the best thing in these situations.

That is why I said earlier that wisdom is necessary—absolutely necessary—wisdom is of the highest value.

But the writer of Job asked the question, “where can wisdom be found” two times (v.

12, v. 20) in this chapter.

One of the truths established in this chapter is that wisdom—true wisdom—is valuable because it is not of this world.

(vs.

1-12)

The first twelve verses talk about mining—digging deep into the earth—going into the darkness and searching out to the farthest limit—looking for gold, iron, copper, sapphires, and every precious thing.

Mankind will dig into the depths of the earth—they will go into places where birds and beasts never go to try to find great wealth.

But one of the most valuable things of all—true wisdom, cannot be found by human effort because the kind of wisdom we need is not of this world.

Wisdom can’t even be bought.

(vs.

13-22)

Why?

Look at verse 13

According to Job, we don’t even know it’s worth—we can’t conceive the value—let alone have enough to purchase it.

This goes against conventional understanding, doesn’t it?

How many people think wisdom can be obtained by watching daytime TV, or by purchasing and reading a best-selling self-help book, or by investing 30-40 minutes listening to some popular preacher who teaches a man-centered gospel?

How many people accept the advice of their ungodly friends as godly wisdom—and they embrace that wisdom simply because it seems that it will cost nothing?

Listen, the kind of wisdom we need is far more valuable than any wisdom we already possess and any wisdom we find from any other source.

So, let me summarize what Job is saying—if you are trying to obtain wisdom through human effort, you’re only wasting your time because you will not find it and you will not get it.

Why?

Because wisdom comes from God.

God alone understands the way to wisdom, and He knows where wisdom resides.

Do you know what this means?

It means that God has what you need.

It means that God has what you’re looking for.

It means that God is the only one who can give you true, life-changing wisdom.

Why?

Because God is all knowing—He sees everything.