The Perahu Pustaka, or Book Boat, is a unique mobile library in Indonesia. A journalist decided to combine his love of boats and books by building a baqgo, a small sailboat, that takes 4,000 children’s books per trip to villages where literacy is low and pleasure of reading is unknown. When the boat arrives, kids swarm to see what books he’s brought this time! The most valuable book in the world is God’s Word. While the word “treasure” doesn’t appear in today’s reading, it does say that the “decrees of the Lord . . . are more precious than gold, than much pure gold” (vv. 9–10). Other verses in the Psalms echo this refrain: “The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold” (119:72). Since wisdom is a treasure, and since it begins with the fear of the Lord, and God’s Word teaches us wisdom, it’s no surprise to find that Scripture and treasure are described in similar terms. What qualities or characteristics of God’s Word make it so valuable? It refreshes and reinvigorates us with new life and strength (19:7). It’s absolutely trustworthy and reliable. It gives wisdom, helping us grow to maturity. It’s right, just, and fair, a fact which brings joyful satisfaction (v. 8). It’s radiant, that is, it illuminates or gives insight. It’s pure (v. 9). It’s eternal, enduring forever (Isa. 40:8). It’s always true. It’s “sweeter than honey,” meaning delightful and desirable (Ps. 19:10; cf. Prov. 2:10; 24:14). It warns us against sin and keeps us on the right path (Ps. 19:11). By obeying it we can gain “great reward.” In short, God’s Word is “perfect” (v. 7). It reflects God’s character and reveals His will. It speaks to our mind about truth, beauty, and obedience. What a treasure!

Many of us are “treasure hunters” in daily life. The treasure is not typically a chest of gold and jewels, but an irresistible deal in the clearance section of a department store or website, or a unique find at a yard sale or flea market. And we might spend a great deal of time searching for the very best deal or the lowest price. Are we willing to make the same effort in pursuit of the treasure of wisdom? Though wisdom cannot be found by human ingenuity, it can be found because the Lord has made it possible (vv. 1–8). How? We must “search [literally, dig] for it as for hidden treasure,” that is, diligently and passionately. This reflects the high value we put on wisdom—rightly so, because God Himself has put a high value on it too. We must be teachable, ready to listen and learn in the “fear of the Lord” (v. 5). It’s significant that this chapter is written as if by a father to a son (cf. Prov. 7:1–4). Finally, we must also understand that wisdom is a matter not only of the head but also of the heart and the will, that is, it requires uprightness and obedience. Why is wisdom so valuable? What are its benefits? Godly wisdom provides an understanding of righteousness and justice (vv. 9–10). It gives discretion, which in turn protects us from foolish mistakes and wrong choices (v. 11). Specifically, it can “save you from the ways of wicked men” (vv. 12–15) and “from the adulterous woman,” that is, sexual immorality (vv. 16–19). Wisdom will instead help us “walk in the ways of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous” (vv. 20–22). This knowledge is “pleasant to your soul” (v. 10).

The deepest gold mine in the world is Mponeng in South Africa. Its depth-two-and-a-half miles-equals ten Empire State Buildings! It has 236 miles of tunnels, traversed daily by 4,000 workers, as well as the world's tallest elevator system. This mine is located in an area that has produced about half of the gold ever mined on earth. The engineering and technology involved in creating the mine and extracting the gold is impressive. Yet today, as in Job's day, wisdom cannot be found in all these riches of gold and technology. Job 28 is most likely an interlude, written by the book's unknown author, between the speeches by Job, his friends, and God that comprise most of the book. The chapter begins by describing ancient mining techniques (vv. 1-11). Miners cut shafts, used ropes and baskets, and tunneled through rock in order to extract and refine precious metals and jewels. The description highlights human knowledge and ability. Miners are the quintessential treasure hunters! But even given all that, people are unable to answer the question, "Where can wisdom be found?” (vv. 12-22). Wisdom is the real treasure. It's not a physical part of the natural world that science can master. We can't find it, we can't buy it, we can't even comprehend it. It is the natural, moral, and spiritual order and purpose underlying all of creation. Its value is far beyond the best and most valuable things we know. Having whetted our curiosity, the writer at last reveals that the treasure of wisdom is found only in God (vv. 23-28). He is the sovereign Creator who made all, sees all, and knows all. We can only gain wisdom through "fear of the Lord, that is, by giving Him the reverence, worship, and obedience He is due.

The prophet Isaiah was clearly familiar with Ancient Near Eastern practices related to idol-making. As described in the Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, a handcrafted idol could become regarded as divine through a special ritual known as "mouth washing," which "required the priest to whisper into the ear of the statue and to open its eyes to see and its mouth to breathe . . . Then the priest swore an oath that he did not make the statue." The pagan priest knew the idol had been made by human hands, but the lie was an essential part of the ceremony. It was this willful self-deception that Isaiah mocked in today's reading. To treasure and worship any type of idol is futile and delusional. How can an object made by human hands be worthy of worship (vv. 9-20)? The idea makes no sense. Humans are mortal. We get hungry. We make mistakes. How can something we make be both ordinary and divine? Some of the wood is used for the cooking fire, the rest goes toward making the idol. Worshiping such a thing is blind and foolish. "Such a person feeds on ashes"(v. 20). Israel was warned against this practice (vv. 21-23; Deut. 27:15). Idolatry dishonors the Lord and is not fitting for those whom God has loved, chosen, forgiven, and redeemed. We're to display God's glory, not human folly. We live in a world where spiritual beliefs are considered private and not to be questioned. Many people think that we can take any path to God we choose, and that we all treasure different-equally important-things. Isaiah spoke out against such thinking: "All who make idols are nothing and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame" (Isa. 44:9).

We often hear people talk about the American Dream. What they mean is that America is a land of opportunity and that anyone can succeed or better their life through hard work and determination. This dream may be achieved when we own a home, do well in our professional career, achieve a respectable job, or enjoy early retirement. When the American Dream is focused primarily on materialism and financial security, it can never really satisfy, any more than achieving the "Israelite Dream" satisfied Solomon in Ecclesiastes. In search of purpose and value in life, he pursued laughter, wine, and entertainment. He designed and built houses, vineyards, orchards, parks, and gardens. He amassed every kind of wealth or "treasure" available in that day (v. 8), including the sexual pleasure and political power, symbolized by his large harem of wives and concubines. How wealthy was Solomon? Every year, he gained about 25 tons of gold from gifts, tributes, and trade. He was "greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth" (1 Kings 10:23). But even with all of this treasure, Solomon found life unfulfilling. His activities were a kind of philosophical experiment. He acquired, achieved, and indulged in every way possible. He denied himself nothing and gained all "the delights of a man's heart"(vv. 8, 10). And he used his wisdom to observe the results (v. 9). Could any of these possessions or activities reveal life's ultimate purpose and value? The outcome, said Solomon, was negative. None of these things would endure. When he "surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun" (v. 11).

In J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings novels, a silver metal called mithril is highly prized for its strength and beauty. The dwarfs mined and worked it, always desiring more. But as one character explained: "Even as mithril was the foundation of their wealth, so also it was their destruction." When we covet material wealth, this sinful behavior leads to spiritual failure. That's why the prophet Jeremiah in today's reading condemned the Ammonites (descendants of Lot) for trusting in material treasures. As we've already seen in this study, Israel had made a practice of treasuring the wrong things, and they were suffering the consequences of their sin. After God's judgment, the Ammonites took advantage of the situation, occupied some of the land, and were more than willing to get rich quick off whatever the Assyrians had left behind (v. 1). But another day was coming (vv. 2-3). The prideful and idolatrous Ammonites, including the ones living in their capital city of Rabbah, would also be conquered and sent into exile. They were wrong to trust in riches for safety and security (v. 4), a mistake also made by the Moabites (Jer. 48:7). Why? In those days, it was culturally normal as part of war to offer money for alliances or to pay tribute in order to buy off an invading army. In other words, they thought they were safe from harm behind a wall of money. But they were wrong! God's judgment is unstoppable (Jer. 49:5). To disrespect God's people was to disrespect God. The Ammonite god Molek would not have the victory! Ezekiel prophesied the same fate for them (25:1-7). These prophecies were fulfilled in 582 b.c, when Ammon was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. Note that God planned to have mercy afterward even on these longtime foes of Israel (Jer. 49:6).

A lament is a structured poetic expression of deep personal or communal grief, such as an elegy or funeral oration. By writing a lament, the poet intends, according to the Literary Study Bible, "to give full expression to the suffering of his people and the sorrows of his own soul." The lament shares memories of past glories and speaks of future hope. A lament recognizes sin, grieves over its consequences, and still praises the Lord. In Lamentations, a book filled with lament, the author mourned the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem in 586 b.c. Because Judah did not treasure what the Lord had given them, God allowed their defeat and plunder of their treasures. In this poem, Jerusalem is personified as a woman. She used to be a great queen, but now she's a deserted widow (v. 1). Her people have gone into exile and she feels lonely and betrayed (vv. 2-3). No one comes to worship because the temple is destroyed (v. 4). She is naked and ashamed (v. 8). "All the splendor has departed" (v. 6). Why did this happen? "Because of her many sins" (vv. 5, 8). As a result, the "treasures that were hers in days of old" (v. 7)-symbolizing the covenant relationship with God-have been taken away (v. 10). Enemies were allowed to triumph over her. In anguish, the poet wondered, Have we lost God's favor? Is the covenant relationship finished? But the prayers in verses 9 and 11 show that he still hoped in God and had not lost faith: "Look, Lord, on my affliction . . . Look, Lord, and consider." The invitation in verse 12 for others to take heed of God's justice and wrath is sorrowful but hopeful in that it demonstrates an unswerving trust in His character.

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson is one of the most famous American adventure stories. The hero is a boy named Jim. The book includes many exciting pursuits, a ship full of pirates (including the mutinous Long John Silver), an island treasure map on which X marks the spot, and a strange man named Ben who lives in a cave and finds the treasure before anyone else. Searching for pirate treasure makes for a thrilling tale, but no doubt the chests full of gold coins were dishonestly gained. In today's reading, we see that treasures obtained in such ways anger the Lord. Biblical treasures often are given moral and spiritual value, but in this passage, importance is given to how they were obtained. God's view of treasure contrasts with the views of our materialistic society, in which money and success are the primary goals and an ends-justify-the-means approach often prevails. God was angry with Israel because of its "ill-gotten treasures" a phrase which literally means "treasures of sin"; (vv. 9-12). The images of "the short ephah," "dishonest scales," and "a bag of false weights" indicate that cheating and injustice were rampant in the business world of that time. The rich were "violent" and exploitative. Everyone was lying and deceiving. These practices are "wicked" and "accursed" (see Lev. 19:35-36). Let the buyer beware indeed! As a result, God would judge them for their sins, just as He punished Omri and Ahab, two of Israel's most wicked kings (Mic. 6:13-16). They would eat without satisfaction, plant without harvest, and make grapes without enjoying the wine. In other words, they would work without reward because their labor would be cursed. Evil people often think they can get away with sin, but Micah teaches that God's justice is both patient and certain.

The tables turned on Egypt when God freed the Israelites from bondage. When God sent Moses to confront Pharaoh, not even a world superpower could prevent Israel's liberation. From the burning bush, the Lord told Moses that Egypt would be so humbled that the former slaves would take as plunder the treasures of their former masters (Ex. 3:21-22). And that is exactly what happened (Ex. 12:31-36)! In today's reading, we see a different picture. This time it was Israel who opposed the Lord, and Israel's treasures were to be plundered. The passage reminds the nation of how God liberated them from Egypt and cared for them in the wilderness (Hos. 13:4-5). Shockingly, they then "forgot" Him, and ceased to worship and obey Him (v. 6). This is heartbreaking irony. The "treasured possession" rebelled against the very One who treasured them and began clamoring for an earthly king like the other nations had (vv. 10-11). The bottom line was this: Israel was unfaithful to their covenant identity. As a result, the nation of Israel would come under God's judgment, compared here to violent animal attacks (vv. 7-9). It is indeed "a dreadful [fearful, terrifying] thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Heb. 10:31). Though God relented in the past, this time He would not (Hos. 13:12-15). God had power over death (see 1 Cor. 15:55, in which Paul quotes v. 14); He could save as He had done in the past. But this time, He would not. The image of a storehouse plundered of its treasures by the "east wind" (Assyria) is powerful (Hos. 13:15). After all, who can stop the wind? And the northern kingdom of Israel would in fact be conquered by the Assyrians in 722 b.c.

First Lady Dolley Madison is credited with saving some of our nation's historical treasures. In 1814, when British troops landed in Maryland and headed toward the capital, Dolley kept calm and began loading important items into her carriage. Among them was a full-size portrait of George Washington. With no room to carry the huge portrait and no time to carefully remove it from the frame, she ordered it cut out with a knife. "f not possible, destroy it," she said. "Under no circumstance allow it to fall into the hands of the British" To be loved by God means we can completely trust in His power to protect and rescue us. Part of what it means to be God's treasured possession" (v. 4) is that He acts to save us. Psalm 135 uses the phrase as a shorthand way of referring to God's covenant relationship with Israel. The psalm begins with a call to praise (vv. 1-2), followed by at least four reasons for praise. First, God is worthy to be praised because of His goodness (v. 3). Second, because He has selected Israel for a special relationship (v. 4). The nation was a "treasured possession" not because it deserved to be, but solely because of God's choice. Third, we have to praise God because of His greatness (vv. 5-7). He is the powerful and sovereign Creator of the universe! Fourth and finally, God is worthy to be praised because of His saving actions in Israel's history, namely, liberating Israel from slavery in Egypt and bringing them to the promised land (vv. 8-12). Because God chose Israel, He acted to save them. Because He is all-powerful, His salvation is certain; and because He is perfectly good, we can entirely rely on His love. What an encouragement, and what a great reason for our praise and worship!