What is the Worth of Wisdom?

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? Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air. Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears. 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 28:12-28)

I have been reading the book of Job, which has a lot to say about wisdom (it is mentioned more than 20 times):

• Sinners die without wisdom (Job 4:21)
• God has the secrets of wisdom (Job 11:6)
• With the ancient is wisdom, strength, counsel, and understanding (Job 12:12-13)
• The price of wisdom is above rubies (Job 28:18)
• The fear of the Lord is wisdom (Job 28:28)
• God is mighty in strength and wisdom (Job 36:5)

When the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to see the types in Scripture that foreshadow the coming Kingdom, God blesses us with wisdom that is not only worth more than rubies, but all earthly treasures.  It allows us to see that Job is yet another Old Testament ensample (type) of Christ Jesus. 

Both Job and Jesus:

• Were sinless and falsely accused of being sinners
• Were tempted by Satan and remained faithful to God
• Suffered tremendously despite being blameless
• Forgave the words and actions of their adversaries
• Lost everything and are later blessed abundantly

His Kingdom come!

Quoteworthy: He Will Return As King!

“It is clear from the Scriptures that God has been trying to set up a "visible" Kingdom on this earth ever since the creation of man, to whom He gave dominion (Gen. 1: 26-28). But that dominion was lost by the "Fall," and Satan set himself up as the "Prince of this World" (Matt. 4:8-10, John 14:30).

In the "Call of Abraham" God took the first step toward the setting up of a visible Kingdom on this earth, which assumed an outward form in the "Jewish Commonwealth" under Moses, but the plan was blocked by the Jews losing their "National Existence" at the time of the Babylonian Captivity B. C. 606, and the beginning of the "Times of the Gentiles."

But when 600 years of the "Times of the Gentiles" had run their course, God again made a move to set up the Kingdom, and the angel Gabriel announced to Mary the Birth of the King (Luke 1:26-33). Thirty years later the King's forerunner, John the Baptist, announced that the Kingdom was "at hand" (Matt. 3:1-2), and when the King manifested Himself to Israel He Himself made the same announcement (Matt. 4:17-23), and later He sent out the "Twelve" (Matt. 10:7), and the "Seventy" (Luke 10:1-9), to proclaim the same thing. But the King was rejected and crucified, and the setting up of the Kingdom postponed, and the Kingdom took on its "Mystery Form" under the name of the "Kingdom of Heaven."

There are some who object to what they call the "Postponement Theory," and claim that the Kingdom which was "At Hand" was not an outward visible Kingdom, but a spiritual Kingdom, and that it was not withdrawn but is seen today in "New Born" believers. They base their claim on the fact that the earthly visible Kingdom of Christ could not be set up until after He had suffered and died on the Cross as the Saviour of men and had risen from the dead, and ascended to the Father and received the Kingdom, and that therefore the offer of an outward visible and earthly Kingdom at that time was not a "bona fide" offer, and that John the Baptist and Jesus must have meant by the "Kingdom of Heaven" something else than an outward visible and earthly Kingdom.

What are the facts? First, that the Old Testament scriptures teach that there is to be an earthly and visible Kingdom over which the Son of Man is to rule (Dan. 7: 13-14, 2:34-35, 44-45; Jer. 23:5; Zech. 14:9), and we know that at the time of Jesus' birth there was a widespread expectation of the coming of the Messiah, and that Simeon and Anna waited in the Temple for the "Consolation of Israel" (Luke 2: 25-38). We are also told that "Wise Men" came from the East to Jerusalem inquiring "Where is He that is born KING OF THE JEWS?" and when they had found Jesus they worshipped Him as KING (Matt. 2:1-11).

There can be no question but that Jesus was born to be a KING.”

From Rightly Dividing the Word by Clarence Larkin.

We Will Make A Name For Ourselves

I received an email about a new book that is already a bestseller, which claims to reveal a divine secret in Scripture.  I was intrigued, hoping it was about the millennial kingdom.

I was able to read the first chapter online, but it did not reveal this special secret.  I looked at some reviews and one reader stated that the author “postulates that there is a family of Gods, and all humans who obey will ultimately become Gods themselves.” In all fairness, I have not read the entire book, but after reading that review, I don’t think I want to.   

I was reminded of the tower of Babel, which was built during the days of Noah (hold that thought).  Babel was part of the kingdom of Nimrod, who was the son of Cush and the great-grandson of Noah.  The name Nimrod stands for rebellion or the valiant and he is described as a “mighty one in the earth” and a “mighty hunter before the Lord” (Genesis 10:8-9).  He established his empire in the area of Babylon and Assyria. 

Genesis 6:4 tells us that that there were giants (Nephilim) before and after the flood.  Some believe that Nimrod was an after-the-flood Nephillim because he is designated as “mighty” and because of the technology and strength that was needed to build the tower of Babel.

And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.  (Genesis 11:4)

The Hebrew word for name is shem.  Strong provides several definitions, including reputation, fame, glory, and The Name, which is a designation of God.

Satan has always wanted to be worshipped as God and establish a throne in heaven.  Nimrod wanted to reach into heaven.  God thwarted Nimrod, just as He will ultimately overcome Satan.

Genesis 1:26 says: “Let us make humankind in our image, after our likeness, so they may rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move on the earth.” (emphasis mine). 

It does not say let us make Man a God.

In Matthew 25:27, Jesus spoke about His second coming, telling us that “as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”

If man believes that he can be a God, surely those days are here.