the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Refine
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary
or Metal-workers were common in the ancient world, and used their skills in a variety of ways (Genesis 4:22; Exodus 31:4; Judges 17:4; Isaiah 41:7; Isaiah 44:12; Isaiah 54:16). If they wanted to obtain pure metals from the raw materials they worked with, they first of all had to refine the metals. This was particularly so in the case of precious metals such as silver and gold (1 Chronicles 28:18; Malachi 3:2-3).
The metal was placed in a fire of intense heat so that, as the metal melted, impurities could be removed. The refining process tested and purified the metal. It was a vivid picture of the way God tests and purifies his people through the sufferings and hardships they experience (Psalms 66:10; Proverbs 17:3; Isaiah 1:25; Isaiah 48:10; 1 Peter 1:7; see TESTING).
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Fleming, Don. Entry for 'Refine'. Bridgeway Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/bbd/r/refine.html. 2004.
