Job 28

Job 28
1 Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it. 2 Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone. 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? 13 Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.

Precious metals and gemstones are hidden away in the depths of the earth surrounded by darkness until they are mined or brought to the surface by a flood or other calamitous event. When found they must then be worked and refined to become useful.

Souls living in darkness are like this. They are hidden in the darkness of the shadow of death until mined by the gospel message or brought forth into the light by some act of God as by flood. The Christian life is nothing but a working and a refining by the hands of God. As the dross of sin is cast off and the beauty beneath is revealed, jewels fitting for a King.