Proverbs 25: 4-5 Dross in Silver

⁴ Remove the dross from the silver,
    and a silversmith can produce a vessel;
⁵ remove wicked officials from the king’s presence,
    and his throne will be established through righteousness. 

This two-verse passage is almost a synopsis of a couple of other concepts that we have previously studied . . .

We have looked before at the work of a silversmith --- he doesn't take his eyes off the silver as he refines it, as he heats it up to remove the dross, or impurities. He regulates the heat, for a small variance in temperature can mar the finished product.

He knows that his work is done when he can see his own reflection in the silver.

So it is when our Father is performing the work of "sanctification" in our lives. That's just a big term for an ongoing process: growing in grace, and becoming more like Christ. It's a process that starts when we accept the gift of salvation, and should not end until we are "absent from the body" and "present with the Lord."  

He doesn't take His eyes off of us; he regulates the "heat" and doesn't give us more than we can bear (I Corinthians 10:13).  And we hope that He will see His own reflection in us.

So the second verse is important, since it has to do with removing the "dross" or negative influences that would keep us from becoming more like Him. Young or old, we would do well to heed Solomon's words in Proverbs 1:10-16:

¹⁰ My son, if sinful men entice you,
    do not give in to them.....

my son, do not go along with them,
    do not set foot on their paths;
¹⁶ for their feet rush into evil,
    they are swift to shed blood.

And Paul's words (I Corinthians 15:33) are good advice, too:

³³ Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 

Recently I have seen an instance where a young person mistakenly believed that he was strong enough to run with a crowd that was not going to be a good influence on him. He thought that he could be a testimony to them; he didn't realize the strength and commitment that it would take to handle a dangerous situation like that. His life has been changed now, in ways he never would have imagined.  God will forgive and heal, but it will take much time.
Perhaps we need to think on this: Who and what is influencing us these days?

He shall purify . . .

I read this story on a book review blog recently. One of our Bible study blog followers is Donna, who blogs at My Life One Story at a Time. She was reviewing a book that I will tell you about later, and this was an excerpt that she posted. I found it very touching, and the author, Londa Hayden, graciously said that I could share this with you:

           A group of women who had gathered for a Bible study were reading the third chapter of Malachi. They came upon a remarkable expression: “And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.”  Speculations as to the meaning of the scripture echoed throughout the room.  One lady knew of a silversmith in town and offered to visit him.

            She went to inquire about the process of refining silver, which he fully described to her. “But Sir,” she said, “do you sit while the work of refining is going on?" 
           “Oh, yes,” the silversmith replied, “I must sit with my eye steadily fixed on the furnace. If I go the slightest degree hotter than necessary, the silver will be injured.”

            The lady at once saw the beauty and comfort in the expression, “He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” At times, Christ must put His children into the furnace of affliction; His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for them. Such trials do not come at random; “the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”   

           As the lady left the shop, the silversmith called her back, and told her that he forgot to mention that the only way he knows the process of purifying is complete is when he sees his own image reflected in the silver.

I don't think I have ever heard a more beautiful metaphor for the work Christ does in our lives, and for the result He wishes to achieve in us. Have you? Do you feel you are in the refiner's fire right now? Remember, He is with you, and watching you with His wise and loving eyes.


(I hope that you will check out Donna's review of Londa Hayden's book, Date. Pray. Wait., an excellent book that speaks to women everywhere about the best way for Christians to search for and find their soul mates.  Londa writes openly and honestly about her search for a lasting relationship, and brings scripture into her writing for a truly Biblical perspective. It is currently available on Amazon, and I want to thank Londa for allowing me to utilize this story.)

Prov. 17 : 3 Out of the Frying Pan . . .

Pro 17:3  The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.

Ever heard the old saying, "Out of the frying pan, into the fire"?  Usually we take it to mean that we got out of one mess and then got into a bigger one. Does it ever seem like that is what is happening in your life? In your spiritual life?  Are you meeting with obstacles, with troubles, that try your patience and make you wonder why all of this is happening to you?
God has a lot to say in the Bible about how He can use that . . .

The refiner's fire has two uses when it comes to gold and silver: one is to prove it --- to certify that it is pure silver or gold. The other is to improve it --- stray particles of debris and impurities will be separated out by the fire melting the metal; what's left behind is improved and purified.

In Psalm 66:10, David says, "For thou, O God, hast proved us, thou hast tried us, as silver is tried."  The prophet Isaiah told us that God said, "Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction."  Paul tells us in I Corinthians chapter 3, "Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is."  Not only our hearts, but our lives will be tried. That is a pretty awe-inspiring thought . . .

I think we need some help, here, don't you? I feel a little bit inadequate in the face of that responsibility. Let's look at what another prophet had to tell us. Zechariah is quoting God here (Zech. 13:9), and he says:

"And I will . . .  refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God."

He is here with us. He will always be here with us. Till we are there with Him. Thank You, Lord.

Lord, thank You for the promise that You not only know my heart, but that You will hold it, and You will hear me when I call.