Silver Jewelry and Missing Noses - Part 2

Take away the dross from the silver, and there comes out a vessel for the smith. Take away the wicked before the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness [Proverbs 25:4-5].

We paused in our last lesson by noting that verse 4 and verse 5 of Proverbs 25 were written in the form of synonymous parallelism. Let’s continue in that vein now.

The two verses of Proverbs with which we have to do in this study present comparable things, so they are in the form of synonymous parallelism. Let’s diagram the two verses for clarity’s sake.

A. take away the dross from the silver

B. and there comes out a vessel for the smith

A. take away the wicked before the king

B. and his throne will be established in righteousness

Notice the letters “A” and “B” which precede each line. The first “A” and “B” diagram verse 4, while the second “A” and “B” do the same for verse 5. The phrases which are preceded by “A” are parallel, and that by way of comparability (i.e., synonymously). The phrases preceded by “B” are also comparable. Let’s vet this issue now.

The “dross” of verse 4 is comparable to the “wicked” of verse 5, while the “silver” of verse 4 is comparable to the “king” of verse 5. In the same way that silver is purified and made fit to serve its purpose (i.e., for jewelry products, etc.), in that same way is a king made fit to serve his purpose of ruling his subjects righteously.

Silver is purified by removing the dross, and a king’s rule is purified (i.e., made righteous) by removing the wicked (i.e., the unrighteous) from his presence. When the wicked are dispatched out of the king’s presence, they cannot influence him to rule in an unrighteous manner.

This teaching is a reaffirmation of the Biblical Doctrine of Separation. You’ve heard the expression, “What we eat is what we are.” It is equally true that those with whom we choose to associate identify who we are. Bad company corrupts good morals (cf., 1 Corinthians 15:33).

In order not to be duped into living for self and the world and the devil, the Word of God calls for us to come out from their presence and live apart from them (i.e., separation). I direct you to read 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 for a straightforward presentation of this spiritual truth.

This leaves us standing at a crossroads, dear friends. Now that we’ve been confronted with the Word of God about separation from the world and its ways, what response will we make to what He just taught us? Will we say “Amen, Lord!” and make necessary changes in our lifestyle? Or will we leave God’s Word in the church building or the prayer closet and continue on as before?

What say ye? Shall it be living for self, or shall we live for the Lord in accordance with the Bible? Only one way is right, as Proverbs 25:4-5 taught us today. I trust you will make the right choice.

To further research this issue, I direct you to my books in the Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes Bible study series. To purchase my books please click on the "Shop" tab at the top of this page, where you will find a complete list of my books. Each book is available in both paperback (Createspace) and eBook (Kindle).

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