Job 28:1–6

Now in the next chapter (Job 28) we have a very remarkable addition — one of the most striking in the book of Job. It seems very abrupt. He now turns away from man altogether in his bad ways, and from defending those who really looked to God. He looks at the general state of mankind. Not any particularly evil class or righteous class.

Job speaks on. He now contrasts the doom of the ungodly rich, described in the chapter before, with the true riches, which can never be lost... The opening part of the chapter describes the toil and care with which men search for the "delved gold"... This chapter would prove that Job could not be the hypocrite his friends would make him out to be.

"Surely there is a vein for the silver and a place for gold where they find it." Men do not find gold in veins as they find silver. Gold comes in quite a different way — often as dust, and sometimes as nuggets. But silver runs in large and rich veins. "Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone." That is exactly where men find copper. Where we read "brass" it is very often "copper" — chiefly so in the Bible.

He speaks first of the treasures of the earth, the riches which man seeks after, but which do not last, and are so often man's undoing. Job shows that he had a good knowledge of mining operations. He knows of veins of silver and how gold is refined... Then he describes how the miner with his mining lamp makes an end to the darkness when he digs into the mountains and then he sinks a shaft... All this man does, risking life and comfort, to get gold and the treasures of the earth.

It is wealth, gold, jewels, glory, that man seeks after, and for which he is ready to barter his very life and soul... Of course, this does not mean that these precious things are sinful in themselves. Nor does it deny that we need their proper use. But the restless craving for them shows the poverty of man's heart, seeking what can never satisfy.

There is a mine for silver, the "current money with the merchant." How much labour goes into that shining white metal! In the East people use it widely as money. Sadly, of what it pictures — the redemption-price for the soul of man (Ex. 30:11-16; Ex. 38:25-28) — men know little and care less... Men also refine gold in the fire and make it into beautiful ornaments and the king's crown. They will travel to the ends of the earth for it. Most treat the true gold — the righteousness of God in Christ — as worthless.

"He binds the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is hidden he brings forth to light. But where shall wisdom be found?" No, there is no wisdom in all that. There is self in all that. There is what will make a man rich. There is what will bring money and perhaps standing. But where shall wisdom be found?

Men may discover much. Since Job's day they have discovered vastly more. But wisdom still escapes them. Suppose Job could have seen what men do and discover in our atomic age. He would say the same, only a hundred times more strongly.

"Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone." That is just exactly where copper is found. Where we read "brass" it is very often "copper" — and that is mostly the case in the Bible. He now gives us a remarkable sketch of mining in very early times.

He speaks first of the treasures of the earth — the riches man goes after. They do not last, and they are so often man's undoing. Job shows that he had a good knowledge of mining operations. He knows of veins of silver and how gold is refined. Iron is taken out of the earth and copper molten out of stone. Then he describes the miner with his lamp. He puts an end to the darkness as he digs into the mountains and sinks a shaft. He also mentions the dangers of mining — "they hang (suspended by ropes) far from men, they swing to and fro." All this man does, risking life and comfort, to get gold and the treasures of the earth.

God has seen fit to put these metals in places where men can find them without difficulty, and men certainly make much use of them. Yet they know little of the spiritual truths these metals stand for. Gold speaks of the glory of God. Silver speaks of the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Iron speaks of the strength of the kingdom of God. Copper speaks of the holiness of God.

Iron, needed in every kind of work, takes hard labour to draw out of the dust of the earth. Man labours for these earthly necessities, but forgets Him in whom alone is strength. Brass, or copper, with its unyielding strength, was and still is melted out of the stone that holds it. But men place little value on the unchanging judgments of God.

This is a very remarkable chapter. It follows man's skill as he does all sorts of things — metalwork, engineering, holding back the floods, and bringing hidden things out of the earth. His skill is unlimited, in a way, over what is under his control — but this is not wisdom... God arranged all these things. So far as creation goes — that is, where man lives — He had wisdom about the things that occupy man. But He put man in relationship with Himself, that is more. Truly recognising this, and the exercise of conscience that follows — that is wisdom for man.

Men may discover much, and since Job's day they have discovered far more, but wisdom still eludes them. If Job could see what men do and discover in our atomic age, he would say the same, only a hundred times more strongly.

Man's daring resources, with covetousness behind, conquer all difficulties. The hard flint gives way to his hand. He overturns mountains by the root if they stand in his way, and cuts rivers through the rocks, to reach the precious things his eye sees.

Gold is not found in veins like silver. It is found in quite a different way — very often in the form of dust, and sometimes of nuggets. But silver lies in large and rich veins... "He sets an end to darkness." He now gives us a remarkable sketch of mining in very early times. "He sets an end to darkness, and searches out all perfection" — searching for these precious metals, gold, silver or the like — "the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death." That is, he goes down to the depths of the earth after them.

In his search after these treasures, man digs into the dark hollows of the earth with his lamp. He makes an end to the darkness as he goes into the farthest extremities (rather than "perfection") of the mines. He is searching for those ore-laden "stones of darkness" — stones hidden in the darkness. The depths of the earth are like the shadow of death, and often bury the tough miner in them, but nothing holds him back. Men will give their lives for gold.

He knows how to make his way despite the darkness, overcoming it with artificial light, no matter what the danger — a danger learnt every now and then at the cost of a life... Man's daring resources, with covetousness behind, conquer all difficulties. The hard flint gives way to his hand, and he overturns mountains by the root if they stand in his way.

They dig down. They divert the underground stream. They make paths where the strongest beasts and the sharpest-eyed birds have never been. But in all this searching they never find wisdom... Men may discover much. Since Job's day they have discovered an immense deal more. But wisdom eludes them.

"He holds back the floods from overflowing, and brings what is hidden out into the light. But where shall wisdom be found?" No, there is no wisdom in all that. There is self in all that. There is what will make a man rich. There is what will bring money and perhaps standing. But where shall wisdom be found?

What a very solemn thing that is! True wisdom and true understanding not found in the earth at all! It comes down from heaven. It is found only in Christ — and Christ had not yet come. This came out even more clearly in Christ's rejection and death.

"To man He said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding" (v.28). The only reason that wisdom eludes people is this: "there is no fear of God before their eyes." So they have no heart to depart from evil. The fear of the Lord is not terror, but a wholesome reverence that gives Him the place of supreme honour.

Job shows that he had a good knowledge of mining operations. He knows of veins of silver and how men refine gold. Men take iron out of the earth and melt copper out of stone. Then he describes the miner with his lamp. The miner makes an end to the darkness as he digs into the mountains, and then he sinks a shaft. They are so far down that the foot passing above knows nothing of where they are. He mentions the dangers of mining too: "they hang (suspended by ropes) far from men, they swing to and fro." Man does all this, risking life and comfort, to get gold and the treasures of the earth.

He sinks a shaft into the earth in places away from civilisation (v.4), let themselves down by ropes, and swing to and fro with the object of finding the metal they desire.

"The flood breaks out from the inhabitant" — water there is very dangerous. So the great point is to get rid of it safely. They drain it or turn it aside so that they may work their mine. "Even the waters forgotten of the foot." That is, waters that people do not walk beside — not rivers and streams, but water deep in the earth. "They are dried up; they are gone away from men." That is the drainage, done to carry the work on.

He knows how to pursue his way despite the darkness, which he overcomes with artificial light. He goes on no matter what the danger — a danger learnt every now and then at the cost of life. We see the shaft formed far away from human dwelling. We see the means used to carry men where none could walk, suspended by ropes, it would seem, and swinging to and fro… Man's daring resources, with covetousness behind, conquer all difficulties.

Men will give their lives for gold. They are not content with the fertile earth that yields food for man's need… What man seeks after is wealth, gold, jewels, glory. For these he is ready to trade his very life and soul… The typical and spiritual teaching here is very clear: "But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content." Of course this does not mean that these precious things are sinful in themselves, or that their proper use is unnecessary. But the restless craving for them shows the poor heart of man, seeking what can never satisfy.

They dig down, they divert the underground stream, they make paths untrodden by the strongest of beasts or the most keen-sighted of birds. But in all this searching they never find wisdom… Men may discover much. Since Job's day they have discovered a great deal more. But wisdom eludes them.

Again we ask: why will men not work like this for the "hidden wisdom"? Why will they not sift it out as it lies so close by, or, if need be, remove in faith the very mountains of difficulty… "The one who seeks finds" is still true. But the seeking and the finding are different from what the toil for gold would suggest. The wisdom is hidden, the way to it is not known, because God is not known, and men will not listen to Him.

Man knows nothing of wisdom; but it is not here… It is not in this world. It is not in man as he is. Eagerness after present objects only shuts it out… The answer comes at last from God Himself: "The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding."

"As for the earth, out of it comes bread, but underneath it" — that is deep down in it — "is turned up as by fire. The stones of it are the place of sapphires" — precious stones as well as these metals — "and it has dust of gold." The birds do not enter into these depths. They go up into the heights, and they cross the whole surface of the earth. But they do not venture into the mines where man goes down. Not even the vulture.

The earth itself produces bread, that is, grain, though deeper down the earth is turned up as by fire (v.5). "Its stones are the source of sapphires" (v.6). Stones by intense heat produce precious stones, and gold dust is found where heat has been. Job suggests that man knows these things and takes advantage of them.

Men will give their lives for gold. They are not content with the fertile earth yielding food for man's need; they tear it and search its depths as a fire burning and destroying. Such seems to be the clear meaning of verse 5. It is wealth, gold, jewels, glory, that man seeks after, and for which he is ready to barter his very life and soul. Look at the history of the mining camps of modern times, and it confirms all that Job says. What greed, lust and violence rule in these places… What a contrast to the peaceful work of gathering the rich harvests God has provided on the very surface of the earth. The lesson pictured here is very clear: "Having food and clothing, with these we will be content." Of course this does not mean that these precious things are sinful in themselves, or that their proper use is unnecessary. But the restless craving for them is a sign of the poor heart of man, looking for what can never satisfy.

The chapter may be divided into seven portions. (1) The treasures of earth (vv. 1-6). (2) The hidden treasure (vv. 7-11). (3) Not revealed by nature (vv. 12-14). (4) Its priceless value tested (vv. 15-19). (5) Its report (vv. 20-22). (6) The Revealer (vv. 23-27). (7) The Revelation (v. 28).

The Lord then called on the disciples to gather their resources. He said to them, "How many loaves do you have?" He was about to show before their eyes His own saying, "To the one who has, more will be given." They answer, Seven. And these loaves the Lord took as the beginning of the food-supply for the people. He did not as of old call down bread out of heaven, but He made use of what came out of the earth (Job 28:5). To this fruit of human toil, already multiplied from the bare grain, He gave a further increase.

They dig down, they divert the underground stream, they make paths untrodden by the strongest of beasts or the most keen-sighted of birds. But in all this searching they never find wisdom. He raised this question in verse 12, and he was right that these human activities could not find it. Men may discover much, and since Job's day they have discovered a great deal more, but wisdom eludes them.

Men do not find gold in veins like silver. They find it in quite a different way — very often in the form of dust, and sometimes of nuggets. But silver they find in large and rich veins.

"Its stones are the place of sapphires" — precious stones as well as these metals — "and it has dust of gold." … "But where shall wisdom be found?" No, there is no wisdom in all that. There is self in all that. Here is what will make a man rich. Here is what will bring money and perhaps distinction. But where shall wisdom be found?

This might look like an extreme case. But in truth it is the all too common experience of the human race. Men chase an empty show. They are eager for every other object under the sun — yes, deep inside the earth and in the depths of the sea. And they overlook the wisdom that consists in the fear of the Lord and can never be separated from it, and the understanding that turns away from evil.

Job next contrasts the doom of the ungodly rich, as described in the previous chapter, with the true riches, which can never be lost. … The opening part of the chapter describes the toil and care with which men search for the "delved gold," which so often brings but the "strife and curse which fall over it." He then passes on to the true riches — wisdom; where shall it be found?

Men will give their lives for gold. The fertile earth yields food for man's need, but that does not content them. They tear it open and search its depths like a fire burning and destroying. … Man seeks after wealth, gold, jewels and glory, and he is ready to barter his very life and soul for them. … The lesson pictured here is very clear: "If we have food and clothing, with these we will be content." Of course this does not mean that these precious things are sinful in themselves, or that their proper use is unnecessary. But the restless craving for them points to the poor heart of man, seeking what can never satisfy. If only he had used the same earnestness in seeking the true riches, how different the result would be.

They dig down. They divert the underground stream. They cut paths that the strongest beasts and the sharpest-eyed birds have never walked. But in all this searching they never find wisdom. This is the question he raised in verse 12, and he was quite right that no one finds it in these human activities. Men may discover much. Since Job's day they have discovered far more. But wisdom still eludes them. If Job could see man's activities and discoveries in our atomic age, he would say the same, only a hundred times more strongly.

They gain a keen sense of what is worth something — though by no means are they always right. Sometimes the miners in our country have thrown away as rubbish what was just as valuable as all that their mind was set upon. But as a general rule they learn what is valuable.

Men will travel to the ends of the earth for gold — gold refined in the fire and made into beautiful ornaments and the king's crown. But most people treat the true gold, the righteousness of God in Christ, as worthless.