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Job 29:7-12 Pondering the way of wisdom

Good afternoon brothers and sisters,

Job is summarizing his case before his three friends.  This picture of Job at the gates of his town is out of this world in many ways.  Pray that you will ponder wisdom with me.

Blessings,

Jeff

What an interesting political process!  Wisdom was recognized in Job before his calamity by townsfolk and even the elders sitting at the gate.  And in a pre-Mosaic law culture.  No opposing political parties, no campaigning and no elections.  I spent much of the day thinking about this.  Wouldn't it be nice if our world operated this way?  So why doesn't it?  

Instruction - what does this passage teach about what God expects from me?  Seems that only a culture that values wisdom can operate with "elders at the gate".  The world says that the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes and pride of life are what matter.  1 John 2:16   The world is all about practical matters done with out regard for objective standards of right and wrong.  Think "might makes right"  Wisdom is excluded.  But the church is different or at least should be different.  God put wisdom literature in His Word.  God's plan for Israel was "that the world may know".  Isn't that his plan for the Church?

Thanksgiving - the only wise God.  Everything You do is according to the counsel of Your will.  There are no short cuts.  The absolutely right things done in the absolutely right way for the absolutely right purposes.

Confession - Wisdom is generally not in my thoughts.  I read the Job, Proverbs, Psalms as "how to" advice.  Ways to have a better life.  But You are after real wisdom as an end in itself.  Submission to You is the only wise thing to do.

Petition - The local gathering of Your saints at Salem would value Your wisdom above "worldly wise man".    We would be holy in that sense - other than the world.  


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