Words Like Silver

“The words of the Lord are pure words,

like silver refined in a furnace on the ground,

purified seven times.”

- Psalm 12:8

When I say, “hold on a minute,” the younger kids have gotten in a habit of counting out loud. They figure I should be there by the time they count to sixty. And I can’t really blame them. When we first had kids, I made up my mind never to break a promise, and now I find myself having to explain that not meaning what you say is just sometimes how it goes. I think about how often we say things we don’t entirely mean, like “oh, I’m sorry,” “I’ll pray for you,” “we should get together sometime.” How easy it is to exaggerate or minimize the truth in various contexts; how mixed the motives behind our words can be. How easy it is to speak without accountability.

In this Psalm, David feels endangered, not from physical weapons or war, but from the tongues of people around him—tongues that lie, that speak from a double heart, that are flattering, that make great boasts. This is a prayer about language, about feeling attacked, hurt, lonely, used by the words of others. Framed in contrast is verse eight, David’s single description of the words of the Lord.

Apparently native silver is a rare element; silver is usually found combined with lead. In ancient times, silver was extracted by heating the lead ore to a high enough temperature to melt it. Because lead melts at anywhere from 327-888 degrees Celsius, but silver at 960 degrees, typically furnaces would have to reach 960-1000 degrees. Pure silver does not react chemically, but lead does; once melted, the lead reacts with organic matter in these ground furnaces to oxidize into lead monoxide, a compound knows as “litharge,” leaving pure silver behind. 

David says God’s words are like silver that has been refined like that, not once, but seven times, the number of perfection and completion. This tells me several things: God’s words are indeed perfect and complete. “Not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished,” Jesus says (Matthew 5:18). There is nothing missing; I can ask in faith for God to speak what he needs to me each day through my daily reading. God’s word is pure, without hidden motives or impurities, undiluted, completely trustworthy. He says what he means, every time, and means what he says. God’s word is precious, of great value. By Roman times, shekels of silver were used as currency, probably due to silver being harder and more durable than gold. Silver refined seven times would have been very valuable.

These are your words, David says, and I have them. I have your promise to save, to guard me in safety, and I know you will keep your word. They are to me like silver that has gone through the furnace seven times. This is good encouragement to us, to keep reading every day. When we are wearied or hurt by the maliciousness or meaninglessness of the words around us, to remember God’s words and promises to us. To ponder their value and how they have saved us in dangerous times.