Chapter Summary

Job's answer continued. The value of divine wisdom.

Discussion Questions for Job, Chapter 28

1. What kind of work is pictured in verses 1-2? What kind of mindset and attitude does this create for you, as the reader?
2. How does this ongoing imagery contrast the darkness of what lies in darkness? Consider, how does the unexpected nature of finding gemstones in darkness helpfully set up how some people have a hard time finding God?
3. As the work of mining is more directly described in verses 9-11, imagine the vast nature of this work. What are some possible comparisons to how God’s people should “mine” to find him? What can be done, even if strenuous, to better know him and understand some of his ways?
4. What aspect of God is Job considering invaluable? What makes it so priceless, especially as seen in verses 13-19? It may be helpful to first consider, what makes gemstones, essentially shiny rocks, so valuable?
5. In verses 20-22, in what sense are “the living” (ESV) kept from seeing wisdom? What does it mean for those claiming conventional wisdom, where does Job claim they must find any and all wisdom?
6. Oppositely in verse 22, how are the keepers and causers of death also limited in how they perceive wisdom? Where this creates categories of the dead and the living, why would it be necessary that no one who is dead knows where to find wisdom?
7. As God seeks wisdom in verses 23-27, where is God finding wisdom? How is this made more specific in each aspect and detail of nature? What does this tell you about what, truly, is wisdom?
8. As Job concludes this chapter of discourse, what is his simplified definition or summary of wisdom? What images come mind with this specific kind of fear? How should Christians practice this specific understanding of wisdom? What does it look like?
9. If “understanding” (ESV) is the overflow of wisdom, as in verse 28, how does Job believe Christians should find understanding? Why is it that understanding is a natural overflow of wisdom in your life?
10. Lastly, Job summarizes all of his discourse with the command to “behold” (ESV, NKJV) his summary of wisdom and understanding. How might this, ultimately, be seen as, first, a call to worship God? What ways does this passage call you to be in awe of God or to give him praise for who he is and what he still does?

Key Words/Phrase

Wisdom, v. 12.

Characters

God, Job, friends.

Strong Verse(s)

28