The words of the LORDare pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
The Lord's words are wholly pure and trustworthy and reliable, like silver melted in an earthen furnace until all dross is gone. He keeps those pure words for His people in every generation, and those who truly believe heed them as a sure guide, even to watch and pray against temptation. Studying them with care plants right principles in all of life and leaves no room for falsehood in word or deed, and their purity calls for reverence that obeys what God has spoken instead of treating it lightly or in jest. That same refining pictures what God does with His people, holding and leading the faithful through trial until every carnal thing is separated and character stands cleansed and fit for heaven. Affliction exposes hidden faults and burns away roughness and dross, and those who hold fast and hide in Christ are sustained and not overcome, coming forth bearing His likeness and more precious than the finest gold.
Purity of God's Words
The words of the Lord are wholly pure, trustworthy and reliable, like silver tried in a furnace of earth and purified seven times. Their purity is complete, without mixture or defect, as silver refined in an earthen furnace until it has been purified seven times over. The same refining is described as silver refined repeatedly until fully pure. He preserves these pure words through every generation. Those who receive and believe in Christ heed them as trustworthy guidance, including the command to watch and pray so that they do not enter into temptation.
Carefully studying God's Word and understanding its requirements brings right principles into every transaction. Such study leaves no room for departing from truth in speech or action. The purity of these words calls for reverence. Scripture is therefore not to be handled carelessly, quoted in jest, or turned into a witty saying. True reverence for what He has spoken is shown by obeying it.
Refining of Believers Through Trial
The image of metal purified seven times applies to a person whom God holds and leads: if he remains faithful through trial, God can bring him out refined like gold. God purifies His people by removing and separating everything carnal from them, until each stands cleansed like gold purified seven times and fit for translation. Character defects must be remedied and thoroughly refined in the same way, like gold purified seven times.
Trials and affliction expose hidden faults and remove impurities and roughness from character, refining God's servants until they bear the divine impress. Though the furnace may be very hot, those who endure affliction can come forth like gold purified seven times, reflecting the image of Jesus. Those who hold fast their faith come from the furnace of trial with the dross removed, like fully purified gold, and are counted more precious than the gold of Ophir.
Christ sustains His people through temptation and watches over them in severe trials so they are not overcome or lost, and hiding in Christ brings fallen people to this purity. The same refining imagery connects purification with testing that proves a person, as in the case of Edson, who through his testing would be proved and come forth as gold seven times purified. As Brother and Sister Merrill cherish the light and humble themselves before the Lord in His refining process, they may be purified and strengthened.
The Lord's words are wholly pure and trustworthy and reliable, like silver melted in an earthen furnace until all dross is gone. He keeps those pure words for His people in every generation, and those who truly believe heed them as a sure guide, even to watch and pray against temptation. Studying them with care plants right principles in all of life and leaves no room for falsehood in word or deed, and their purity calls for reverence that obeys what God has spoken instead of treating it lightly or in jest. That same refining pictures what God does with His people, holding and leading the faithful through trial until every carnal thing is separated and character stands cleansed and fit for heaven. Affliction exposes hidden faults and burns away roughness and dross, and those who hold fast and hide in Christ are sustained and not overcome, coming forth bearing His likeness and more precious than the finest gold.
Purity of God's Words
The words of the Lord are wholly pure, trustworthy and reliable, like silver tried in a furnace of earth and purified seven times. Their purity is complete, without mixture or defect, as silver refined in an earthen furnace until it has been purified seven times over. The same refining is described as silver refined repeatedly until fully pure. He preserves these pure words through every generation. Those who receive and believe in Christ heed them as trustworthy guidance, including the command to watch and pray so that they do not enter into temptation.
Carefully studying God's Word and understanding its requirements brings right principles into every transaction. Such study leaves no room for departing from truth in speech or action. The purity of these words calls for reverence. Scripture is therefore not to be handled carelessly, quoted in jest, or turned into a witty saying. True reverence for what He has spoken is shown by obeying it.
Refining of Believers Through Trial
The image of metal purified seven times applies to a person whom God holds and leads: if he remains faithful through trial, God can bring him out refined like gold. God purifies His people by removing and separating everything carnal from them, until each stands cleansed like gold purified seven times and fit for translation. Character defects must be remedied and thoroughly refined in the same way, like gold purified seven times.
Trials and affliction expose hidden faults and remove impurities and roughness from character, refining God's servants until they bear the divine impress. Though the furnace may be very hot, those who endure affliction can come forth like gold purified seven times, reflecting the image of Jesus. Those who hold fast their faith come from the furnace of trial with the dross removed, like fully purified gold, and are counted more precious than the gold of Ophir.
Christ sustains His people through temptation and watches over them in severe trials so they are not overcome or lost, and hiding in Christ brings fallen people to this purity. The same refining imagery connects purification with testing that proves a person, as in the case of Edson, who through his testing would be proved and come forth as gold seven times purified. As Brother and Sister Merrill cherish the light and humble themselves before the Lord in His refining process, they may be purified and strengthened.