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Ezekiel 22:17 - Does anybody know where I can get some impure silver? - Day 262

Good morning saints,

We are the "called out ones".  I hope that today's devotional will increase our understanding of how important purity if to God.

Blessings,

Jeff

Let us meditate on the refining of silver.  

Wikipedia article 

One ancient process for extracting the silver from lead was cupellation. Lead was melted in a bone ash 'test' or 'cupel' and air blown across the surface. This oxidized the lead to litharge, and also oxidized other base metals present, the silver (and gold if present) remaining unoxidized.[1]

Naturally occurring lead ore always had some amount of silver.  They had to get rid of a lot of lead to get the pure silver.  Even the ancients recognized need to eliminate this dross.

However, Ezekiel is given to understand that Israel has intentionally contaminated pure silver.  This is not refining lead ore that has some silver in it,  it is removing  impurities which were intentionally added. 

So why would they do this?

I think there are several answers.

1) they were trying to pass themselves off as pure silver.  They thought no one would notice

2) they did not understand God's holiness and hatred for impurity.

3)  they didn't understand that spiritual impurity was a greater danger than impure precious metals.

While God pours out his wrath, this is a gracious act.  He refuses to let his people become impure.  He does not destroy the silver, He purifies it.  As God's people, we must be after purity in all things.  Cutting corners doesn't work.


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