Psalm 12: God - The Speaker of Pure Words

   

 The words of the LORD are pure words,
        like silver refined in a furnace on the ground,
        purified seven times.
(Psalm 12:6 ESV)

 In Biblical times, the refining of silver was an art. It was a very presice and extremely dificult process. The refiner had to carefully heat the silver to the perfect teaperature where the pure silver would melt off, and the dross, or the bad stuff, would be left behind. If he left it in the furnace too long however, the silver could be destroyed. The refiner had to constantly watch the silver and take it out of the heat at the exact right moment in order to preserve the pure silver. Often this process was done several times to insure that all of the dross was separated from the pure silver.

In Psalm 12 David describes the words of God as silver that has been refined seven times. David uses this analogy to say that God's words have no "dross" of lies, flattery, or insincerity. God means what He says; His words are completely pure. We can trust that when God says something, that it is true and we can put our trust in it. The promises that He has made us stand true. His word is pure.