Read: Job 28:1-30:31; 2 Corinthians 2:12-17; Psalm 42:1-11; Proverbs 22:7
Job begins by explaining how precious metals come from deep dark places that are deep within the earth and have to be found and searched out. He compares these to finding God’s wisdom; but wisdom is far more precious than anything we can find on this earth. Only God understands the way to wisdom and knows where it dwells. God says that the fear of the Lord is wisdom and to turn from evil is understanding.
Job remembers the day when he had intimate friendship with God and His blessing was on his house. He was prosperous in every way, but he thinks that God took all that from him. He says that God unstrung his bow and afflicted him. Job feels the affect of loss of reputation and dignity which are harder than the loss of material things. He has lost who he was as a person. I can’t help but wonder what his wife is going through.
Paul was a mentor and a pastor so when he didn’t find Titus in Troas where he thought he would be he was deeply concerned for his life. He left and went to Macedonia hoping to find him there. Paul was either loved or hated everywhere he went because he carried the aroma of Christ. To those who were drawn to the light and hungry, he was the aroma of life. To those who opposed Jesus, Paul was the aroma of death. We carry that same potential. The aroma of Christ flows from a vessel that has been crushed and broken. When we are empty of ourselves, the aroma of Christ flows the freest. We are also the most vulnerable in our emotions so we have to remind ourselves that the rejection we get from other people isn’t personal, it is a spiritual reaction to what we carry. People that are drawn to us are drawn to us because they are hungry for the light we have.
Our Psalm is such an encouragement to a downcast soul. Our hope is in You, Lord. We will praise you all day!
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