Job 28:12 “Where shall wisdom be found, and where is the place of understanding?”
In The Book of Secrets found in the Dead Sea Scrolls are found Wisdom Instructions:. The idea that a basic order lay hidden behind the randomness and injustice of daily life was fundamental to the religion of the ancients and this divine order was in Israel known as’ hokhmah’ which means – Wisdom. But the deeper understanding comes by knowing God’s way in the word, which is with God’s law. Which much is found in the remaining fragments of the scroll of secrets.
The eschatology of the book does not come with observation as here it is…one scholar put it this way: “It is a steady increase of light, [through which] darkness is made to disappear or in which iniquity dissolves and just as the smoke rising into the air eventually dissipates” (Piper 1958:97)
I found this intriguing as it triggered the words of Jesus when he said the Kingdom of God does not come by observation, neither shall they say lo here it is or lo there, for behold the kingdom of God is within you. Luke 17:20-21
As we grow closer in understanding of these days we are living that are leading us into the Kingdom of God that is within us, the wisdom of the ancients ring out as a bell calling us to understand that little by little there is an inevitable force that needs to be yielded to by those who choose to accept it and are capable of understanding it for we are to increase the light of God in order to decrease and overcome the darkness of the ruler (Satan) of this world.
These secrets point to a change in focus from the ways of the world back to the ways of the Lord, and therefore the commandments of the Father God which are to love God with all of our heart, mind and soul and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Will we see the wisdom in this?
The Book of Secrets warn of the hypocrisy of nations, the false knowledge of magicians, and the wrath of God upon sinners. They especially warn against the fate of those who do not recognize the divine mysteries.
The secrets are written in parables. Our Lord also spoke in parables. The Lord said he did this so that those who had ears to hear and understand would hear and understand. And that those who did not have ears to hear and understand…would not hear and understand. To this day, many marvel at the meaning of this and are easily swayed into false interpretations because of leaving others to interpret the parables of our Lord for them.
Where scholars generally speaking of the scrolls don’t include Jesus in the mix…I can see no other way to understand it but to place Jesus our Lord right at the head of it. Why is this? Because these same scrolls found at the Dead Sea contain the teachings that our Lord taught to both the Jews and the Gentiles who had ears to hear and eyes to see. That being said, here is the Book of Secrets found in the Dead Sea Scrolls….
Fragments of the Book of Secrets
1Q27, 4Q299-301
4Q301 F1
The instructor announces his intention to reveal his learning to all who are interested, even the benighted Gentiles.
(…) I shall speak out freely, and I shall express my various sayings among you (…) (.. those who would understand parables and riddles, and those who would penetrate the origins of knowledge, along with those who hold fast to the wonderful mysteries …) (…) those who walk in simplicity as well as those who are devious in every activity of the deeds of humanity …) those with a stiff neck, a hard pate, and all the mass of the Gentiles, with (…)
4Q301 F2
The instructor asks the motivation for learning. It must not be for worldly power and privilege.
(…) Now what good is the riddle to you, you who search for the origins of knowledge? Why is the heart honored, for it is the dominion (…) a parable? Why is it splendid to you, for it is (…) Why is a prince (…) ruler? (…) without strength, and he dominates him with a whip that cost nothing. Who could say (…) who among you seeks the presence of Light and Illumination (…) the plan of memory without (…) (…) by the angels of (…) (…) those who praise (…)
4Q300 F3
In times past people ignored this teaching and disaster came upon them. (Perhaps speaking of the days of Noah and the flood.)
So that they would know the difference between good and evil and between lies and truth and they understood secrets of sin…)
1Q27 col 1
Secrets of sin (…) but they did not know the secret of the way things are nor did they understand the things of old and they did not know what would come upon them, so they did not rescue themselves without the secret of the way things are.
This shall be the sign that this shall come to pass : when the sources of evil are shut up and wickedness is banished in the presence of righteousness, as darkness in the presence of light, or as smoke vanishes and is no more, in the same way wickedness will vanish forever and righteousness will be manifest like the sun. The world will be made firm and all the adherents of the secrets of sin shall be no more. True knowledge shall fill the world and there will never be any more folly. This is all ready to happen, it is a true oracle, and by this it shall be known to you that it cannot be averted.
It is true that all the peoples reject evil, yet it advances in all of them. It is true that truth is esteemed in the utterances of all the nations – yet is there any tongue or language that grasp it? What nation wants to be oppressed by another that is stronger? Or who wants his money to be stolen by a wicked man? Yet what nation is there that has not oppressed its neighbor? Where is the people that has not robbed the wealth of another …
Even the so called righteous have fallen short of the ideals of true wisdom.
4Q299 F2 (+ 4Q300 F5) Col 2
What should we call a man who … his) deeds (…) but every deed of the righteous has been judged impure. And what shall we call man who (… call no one on earth) wise or righteous, for it is not a human possession (…) and not (…) (…wisdom is hidden) except for the wisdom of cunning evil, and the schemes of Belial …) a thing that ought never to be done again, except (…) the command of his Maker; and what shall a man do and live? … he who) has violated the command of his Maker shall have his name erased from the mouth of all (…) (…)
God knows all hidden things, indeed, he has determined how everything should come about.
So listen, you who hold fast to the wonderful secrets …) of eternity, and the plots behind every deed, and the purpose of …. He knows) every secret and stands behind every thought. He does every (… the Lord of all) is He, from long ago He established it, and forever (…) (…) the purpose of the origins he opened up to (…) (…) for he tests His son, and gives as an inheritance (…) (…) every secret, and he limits of every deed; and what (…) (…) the Gentiles, for He created them and their deeds (…)
4Q300 F1a Col 1
(,,,de)ed of anger and work of (…)’
Magicians and soothsayers have not been able to penetrate God’s secrets.
4Q300 F1a Col 2
Consider the soothsayers, those teachers of sin. Say the parable, declare the riddle before we speak ; then you will know if you have understood. (…) your foolishness, for the seal of the vision is sealed up from you, and you have not properly understood the eternal mysteries and you have not become wise in understanding (…) (…) for you have not properly understood the origin of Wisdom; but if you should unseal the vision (…) (…) all your wisdom, for to you is the parable… (…) Hear now what is the hidden wisdom …) shall not be (…) vision (…).
The secret of true wisdom is as hidden as God’s design of the natural world. He created the heavenly bodies to regulate human life.
4Q299 F5
(…light)s of the stars for a memorial of His name …)(…hidden) things of the mysteries of Light and the ways of Darkness (…) (…) the times of heat with the periods (of cold….) (… the breaking of day) and the coming of night (…) (…) the origins of things (…).
He created the earth with its rivers and streams perpetually filled by the gift of rain.
Frag. 6 Co.1
(…) waters (…) their (…) (…) their work, they shall be strong (…) lightning he made in perpetuity, showers (…) water and they give to drink by measure (…) its mountains all (…) all that springs forth from it (…) from its’ center stretches out (…) their (…) time after time (…) to teach to all (…) from the dust of their frame. (…) all their pools and the chamber of (…) he gave dominion to strengthen (…) all strength (…) and strengthens all (…) the work of man (…) his work.
Wisdom is available by humble submission to the unchangeable plan of God.
4Q299 F8
(…) And what shall a man understand without knowledge and without hearing? (…) (…)insight, the impulse of our heart with great intelligence, he uncovered our ears that we might hear…) He created insight for all those who pursue true knowledge and (…) (…) all wisdom is from eternity; it may not be changed (…) (…) He locked up behind the waters, so that not (…) (…) the heaven above heaven (…)
True wisdom is also found among his people Israel
4Q301 F3
(…) and He is well known for His patience, and mighty in His great anger, and splendid (…) He in His numerous acts of mercy, and terrible in His wrathful purposes, and honored (…) (…) and over the land He made him ruler, and God is honored among His Holy people, and splendid among His chosen, yes , splendid (…) His holiness, great in the blessing of (…) (…) their splendor and (…) when the Era of Wickedness is at an end, and evil doing (…)
There is a lot to ponder and to understand. The biggest truth that lies within The Book of Secrets, that I have uncovered so far, is the coming of the Kingdom of God on Earth as it is in heaven in a gradual awakening out of the darkness and into the lightness of the Kingdom when all of God’s children see that it is true that the KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHING THEM AND CHOOSE TO STAND AND PRESS FORWARD INTO THE LIGHT OF THE LORD AND LOVE GOD WITH ALL THEIR HEART, MIND AND SOUL AND THEIR NEIGHBOR AS THEIR SELF!
And to see that this is a gradual process and one we are in and moving forward into right now! How then shall we act and be?
DIANNE
