3-11-06 Job 28:28

Job 28:28 (KJ21)
And unto man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord: that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.’

Job 28:28 (NAS)
And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.’

Job 28:28 (NIVUS)
And he said to man, ‘The fear of the Lord— that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.’

Job 28:28 (NLT)
And this is what he says to all humanity: ‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.’

Often men think that Adonai is not interested in the affairs of mankind. They think that He looks on from a distance, but does not interfere. If unbelievers think of God at all, they tend to humanize Him, giving Him faults and failings. Both of these views are wrong and distorted.

Adonai, Almighty God, has gone to great effort to show how interested He is in your life. He chose some men to write down His words, so that you would know His requirements. He also wanted you to know how much He loves you and desires your best. He speaks to you individually and He speaks to multitudes of men, but the message is the same.

The first thing that He tells you is to fear Him, for He is the Almighty and the Most High. You should respect and revere Him, for He has power over your life. Without His favor, love, and restraint, you would no longer exist. He could easily send you back to the dust from which you came.

He is Jehovah the Lord and Master of the universe. He is the One who keeps things firm and strong. He is the King of the whole earth, who should be worshiped, reverenced, and honored. When you recognize His superiority, you are exercising wisdom, shrewdness, and prudence. In this you are not deceived and are able to teach others to fear God.

One of the first things that wisdom teaches you is to depart and turn aside from evil. You should avoid anything that gives pain, unhappiness, or misery. An unkind and vicious disposition is displeasing to the Lord. Therefore, reject and remove yourself from everything that distresses or injures another. In this you show understanding and discernment. Being considerate and attentive to the needs of others shows the character and nature of your Lord and God.