Walking With Christ

Malachi 3:3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.(ESV)

Most metals do not exist in pure concentrations. They are usually mixed with other elements and minerals that make the ore look like rocks. The process of purification of any metal is complicated and requires several steps. In some cases, like silver, it’s entirely possible to ruin the metal during the refinement process.

Here is the outline for refining silver:
1. Mining and crushing the ore to separate the actual ore from waste rock.
2. Milling to crush the ore into a fine powder.
3. Floating the silver in a water and other chemicals bath then using bubbles to float the actual silver to the top.
4. The first heat to remove sulfur and some other similar impurities.
5. Extraction to help remove more impurities.
6. Refining by passing electricity through the mix. Silver will attach itself to the cathode.
7. Casting. The process is complete.

Each of these steps may be done more than once to further refine the ore. Each step requires more care and higher temperatures. If the metal is overheated then it will become brittle and ultimately useless. If can get re-contaminated at any point in the process. It can also fail to completely separate all of the impurities.

So how does the refiner of old know when the silver is done? When they can see their own reflection clearly in the work.

Going through the fires of life are not meant to destroy us. God is refining us for His kingdom. He is the ultimate refiner and knows exactly what is needed at each stage of our purification process so that He can begin to mold us into that pure form that He saw before He put His hands in the clay.