Please explain Job 28:12.
To answer your good question, let’s read Job 28:12-20, “But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living. The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me. It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof. It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire. The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold. No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies. The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold. Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?”
Here, Job longs for a fuller understanding of the Lord. In his quest for wisdom, he rightly concludes that it cannot be found among men, in the deepest ocean. Its value cannot be matched by the precious metals and jewels. In verse 20, he repeats his question.
Now, let’s read Job 28:23-28, “God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof. For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven; To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure. When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder: Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out. And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” Job now realizes that only the Lord understands the way of wisdom. It can only be taught by a revelation from Himself. He tells us that “the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” (Verse 28). This ‘fear’ is not one of terror or trembling for the believer. The Hebrew word is ‘YIRAH’ and it means ‘to reverence’ or to have great respect for the Lord and who He is. To ‘depart from evil’ by obeying the Lord is evidence of the understanding that comes from being wise. We read in Psalms 111:10, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.”
So…where is wisdom? It is found in reverence to the Lord, who is “the only wise God.” (1 Timothy 1:17). How do we get wisdom? We ask the Lord to give it to us. James 1:5 tells us, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” Knowledge is gained through study of God’s Word in dependence upon the Lord to teach us. Wisdom for the believer is gained by simply asking the Lord to give it to help in any given circumstance. Also, we must speak of the wisdom that comes from the Word of God which is “able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:15). Have you received that wisdom which is from above? Have you listened to God’s Word? Have you become wise unto salvation? (347.6)