Our Great Refiner

Scripture:  Psalm 66:10-12 “For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined.

You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs. You have caused men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.

There was a group of women doing a Bible study on the book of Malachi. As they were studying chapter three, they came across verse three which says “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” This verse puzzled the women and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out about the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next study. That week this woman called up a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him work. She didn’t mention anything about the reason for her interest in silver beyond sharing her curiosity about the process of refining silver.

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver in the middle of the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest in order to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot. Then she thought again about the verse, “He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.” She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man said yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver in place, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver were left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, How do you know when the silver is fully refined? He smiled at her and answered, Oh, that’s easy – when I see my image in it. Our pain becomes His praise and purpose! Our tests confirm our testimony and our suffering produces service!

Prayer:  Thank You Lord for the pain of my heart and the darkness of my soul that truly brings me out to “rich fulfillment.” I can now read Psalm 66:10-12 as follows: “For You, O God, have tested ME; You have refined ME as silver is refined. You brought ME into the net; You laid affliction on MY back. You have caused men to ride over MY head; I went through fire and through water; but You brought ME out to rich fulfillment.”

(Cheryl Torain)