지혜의 고통 2
The book of Job is one of the wisdom literature books.
Wisdom in Bible means faith, life, and Christ Himself. The book of Proverbs introduces the meaning of wisdom. Ecclesiastes shows us what would happen to the seekers of wisdom. And Job is an example of the seekers.
So many believers, so many theologians. But there are few real wisdom seekers.
How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver! (Prov. 16:16)
But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? (Job 28:12)
Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding? (Job 28:20)
Job was a real wisdom seeker. Believers who don't seek wisdom can't understand why Job should experience so hard trials. Even millions of Israelites passed over Red Sea, only two families and wilderness generations got into the promised land.
The wisdom seeking is also found in the New Testaments.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matt. 6:33)
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. (Matt. 7:7)
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls. (Matt. 13:45)
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (James 1:5)
The meaning of salvation by faith is used in two ways in Bible.
This conception must be needed to use very cautiously. Sometimes heresies use the meaning of salvation to lead the people to their own theory. They usually say they are saying salvation in very special way which people normally can't find out. If someone or his saying replace himself with Bible, he is being used by Satan.
Salvation in Christianity is the saving of the soul from sin and its consequences by believing in Jesus Christ and the word of God. It may also be called "deliverance" or "redemption" from sin and its effects. People who believe the promise in Bible can go to heaven and have the eternal life. That is the salvation usually told in Christian belief.
But Bible says another salvation. The salvation is not showed as the second. Not the second! That is the salvation in the salvation. That's a kind of the veiled truths. Notice and remember that Bible is filled with lots of riddles, symbols, and parables to veil the truth even to believers. Very few find the truth and the salvation.
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matt. 7:13-14)
Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: (Matt. 13:13-14)
Strange? Certainly, it is. Believers who never met serious trials can't understand this.
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: (1 Pet. 4:12)
The book of Job is not a book about usual believers' trials but about wisdom seekers'. Job was seeking wisdom before his trials(Job ch. 28). He was perfect and upright(Job 1:1). Even he thought he was right in his eyes(Job 32:1). The righteous one means a man who seeks wisdom. Because he was seeking wisdom, he had trials and pains.
Why do you believe in Jesus now? To be happy? To be successful? If you do so, check and read Bible carefully. If some pastors say we believe in Jesus to be happy, they are false prophets.
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. (Matt. 24:11)
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. (Matt. 24:24)
God's selected people who seek wisdom must happen to have trials.
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (James 1:2-5)
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. (1 Pet. 4:12-19)