Contemplative Bible Reading

Job 28:28 (New Living Translation)

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

Job is talking. Job is relaying what he learned from a conversation with God.

Real understanding means to forsake evil. “Forsake” is one of those Bible words that we don’t use much anymore. Internet dictionaries define it as, “to turn away from entirely.”

Notice what Job does not say about evil. He does not say “eliminate” or “wipe out” evil. He says to, “Just say NO. Turn the other direction and walk away.”

Evil is here. That is the way it is; that is the way it has been. Live with it. Rather, live away from it. See it? Turn the other way and walk.

Note: See other people in evil? Don’t walk away from them. Love them. Show them a different path. Show them a life away from evil. Pray with them.