In the book of Proverbs Solomon said, “A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causes shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren”, and in chapter seventeen and verse three of Proverbs Solomon said, “the LORD tries the heart” where we read,
The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD tries the hearts.
The verse begins, “The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold:” Solomon began with the words, “the fining pot” or “the crucible” “is for silver” which means “exists on behalf of the precious metal silver”, “and the furnace” or “and the forge or smelting pot” “for gold” which means “on behalf of the precious metal gold”. Solomon shared how the crucible is used for melting precious silver metal, and the smelting pot is used for melting precious gold metal.
The verse continues, “but the LORD tries the hearts.” Solomon added the words, “but the LORD” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “tries the hearts” which means “examines, scrutinizes, proves and investigates the soul, mind, will, desires, living being, conscience and seat of emotions and passions”. Solomon said Jehovah God examines and proves the souls, minds and wills of people.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Solomon how Jehovah God examines and scrutinizes what is in a person's soul even as refineries smelt and melt precious silver and gold metals. The idea is purging, and even as precious metals are brought to a boiling temperature that brings sediment and impurities to the top of the cauldron to be scraped away, God will use circumstances and situations to reveal impurities within us. God loves us, and He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for all our impurities and sins. When we surrender our lives to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and purify us over and over again to make us more like Him.
Next time Solomon says, “a wicked doer gives heed to false lips”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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