In Christ Jesus we are complete. It is the Word because of which we have an everlasting covenant. In the fellowship of God and Man what is our legal standing? We are adopted in him by God. We have as heirs, obligations: We shall consider our life as trees of righteousness. The symbolism of tree of life holds Alpha and Omega aspect of Christ. So let us consider the relationship of vine and the branches. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.” Whether we consider the Garden of Eden or the holy city of God we are planted where we truly belong. What did Jesus say? “Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up(Matt.15:13).”
Are we tumbleweeds chasing world and mammon and at times God as well? Be not deceived. We abide in him as branches to the vine. ” If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing(John 15:5).”
Having said by way of preface let us go back to Job.
The first two verses tell us truth: ‘Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it./ Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone”. But without him we may grab all the riches we have dug but it is in vain. In the previous chapter we found why. “Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay/….he shall not be gathered: he openeth his eyes, and he is not( 27:16-23)”.
The wicked are foolish. “The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth(Pr.10:20)”. Wisdom is not made of qualities one can secrete by one’s own searching. It is a total package as in mass consumerism we often gets to hear. Wisdom which is more precious than choicest silver, is free. “I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.”(Pr.1:23) In the Book of Proverbs we have the sudden calamities that overtake the brightest and the best whom the world makes much of and prove how despicable they were since they despised the wisdom from above.(Pr.1:20-33). Here below we have the portion of a rich fool, “Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him away in the night./ The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth: and as a storm hurleth him out of his place.(27:20-21)”
vv.3-12
3 He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.
4 The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; even the waters forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men.
5 As for the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire.
6 The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold.
7 There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture’s eye hath not seen:
8 The lion’s whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it.
9 He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots.
10 He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing.
11 He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light.
12 But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?”
We have a passage from St Paul as to how we should conduct ourselves. “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,/Redeeming the time, because the days are evil(Ep. 5:15-16)”.
GuidetohisWord 