Job 28:22

The opening part of the chapter describes the hard work and care with which men dig for gold, which so often brings only the strife and curse that fall on it. He then moves on to the true riches — wisdom. Where can it be found? Searching earth or sea for it is useless, and all the wealth of the world cannot match it. Even the dark shadows of death can only witness that it exists. They do not tell how or where to get it.

Men may discover much, and since Job's day they have discovered far more, but wisdom escapes them. Suppose Job could see all that people do and discover in our atomic age. He would say the same thing, only a hundred times more strongly.

Revelation 9:11 shows this name to be the same as Apollyon, "the destroyer," whom it calls "the angel of the bottomless pit." It is perhaps not so much one of the names of Satan, as his character in person. It occurs six times in the Old Testament. Three times it goes with hell (sheol): Job 26:6; Proverbs 15:11; Proverbs 27:20. Once it goes with death: "Destruction and Death say," Job 28:22. Once it goes with the grave, Psalm 88:11. In all these passages, and in Job 31:12, it is translated "destruction."

"Destruction and death say, We have heard a report about it with our ears" (v.22), but only a report, for God alone makes wisdom itself known, by direct revelation.

Death and destruction cannot give positive wisdom. What they can show, from the other side, is that only what does not belong to mortal man has any value. A man sets up his family and keeps his name alive, but he himself is gone. Nothing stops the hand of death.

Nature does speak of wisdom, but it does not pass wisdom on... And yet, if the poet had had ears to hear, those graves would at least whisper back a hint. The present life was not all, and wisdom lies beyond time. "Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame of it with our ears." How true it is that those who think about the end of their life are near to wisdom, ready to receive the revelation which God gives.

True wisdom and true understanding are not found in the earth at all! It comes down from heaven. It is found only in Christ; and Christ had not yet come... "Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame of it with our ears." Yes, it was just that very thing. There was a report of that One who is Himself wisdom, and who is the Giver of wisdom to the meek. It was by death that it came to us, but they did not know it.

This is how death and destruction heard the fame of His wisdom: only God knows it (Job 28:22-23).

God alone can declare its true nature and value, "and to man He said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding."... So until God has His rightful place in a man's mind and heart, he cannot look at anything wisely. His thoughts are out of centre. His beginning is all wrong.