“The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and a man is tested by his praise.” Proverbs 27:21
Devotional Thought For The Day
The translations of this enigmatic proverb are fairly similar – the text is not overly difficult. However, the directions the commentators take are somewhat varied – all explanations that have parallels in other portions of Holy Scripture. The difficulty we have is that “crucible, furnace, and man” are first in each group of comparisons. So we are literally stuck with trying to envision how a man is supposed to be a crucible or refining furnace for the praise that comes to him. Obviously, in biblical context, we should refuse and burn up any flattery, any false praise, and probably any praise at all – “So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'” [Luke 17:10] There is no question that we are to “try, test, and purify” any and all praise that comes our way. In this way the proverb encourages humility and wisdom in dealing with personal praise.
However, with this considered, it then becomes fairly obvious that the personal “praise” we receive from others is actually the crucible by which “a man is tested.” If this is the intent of the author of this proverb, and he had been completely consistent with the order of his words of comparison, we would have expected the last phrase to read something like “and his praise is for testing [the crucible for] a man.” So you can see that the richer and deeper understanding of the proverb, which presses more deeply upon us, requires thinking that the word order was not critical in the mind of the writer – which of course is certainly possible, perhaps likely. Again, that praise should “test” and even “purify” a man is a common biblical theme. As one commentator notes: “Praise tests character – according to his praise, as he bears it. Thus vain men seek it, weak men are inflated by it, wise men disregard it.” In the case of the first two, vanity is then punished and purged by humiliation and suffering [James 4:6], and weakness is revealed in both the vain and those who are weak in that they are “all show and no go,” more concerned with image and perception than reality.
While it may be difficult to determine with certainty exactly what the author was thinking, his words provide us with excellent wisdom – both in regard to testing the praise others offer us and being realistic about it, shunning it, and also in regard to the purifying nature of praise – which we all too often seek, and usually allow to inflate us, and which we have difficulty disregarding altogether. So the wisdom of the proverb continues to drive us to godly repentance and humility, lest we boast in ourselves and not in God alone, and His loving discipline be required to correct us and re-balance our thinking, so that our faith, trust, and confidence is in God alone, His Word, His promises, His love, and His guidance. While this is good for us – and we should rejoice in it, it is also painful and troublesome, and we are better corrected by His Word than by some two by four across the back of our head, better corrected as sentient beings, human beings, than by the means at times required in training animals [operant conditioning]. Thankfully, His gracious forgiveness and mercy in Christ Jesus continues to cleanse us from all sin, and this great love of God continues to move, train, and shape our inner being for greater love.
As we live in this repentance, humility, and joyous faith and trust in God, we can perhaps grasp and benefit from the wisdom of this proverb. As one commentator remarked: “If, on the contrary, a man is made by his praise more thankful to God, more respectful to his friends, more watchful against everything that may blemish his reputation, more diligent to improve himself, and do good to others, that he may answer the expectations of his friends from him, by this it will appear that he is a wise and good man. He has a good temper of mind who knows how to pass by evil report and good report, and is still the same [2Cor. 6:8].” The latter part of this – remaining the same person regardless of praise or slander – is one of the most difficult things to do, to live out of “God-esteem” [what God reveals to you in Scripture as to how much He esteems you] rather than “self-esteem” that is dependent upon the valuation others put on you [whether high or low]. Yet this is also one of the most freeing and empowering [and humbling] ways of being. In fact, it has been God’s will for human beings since the fall to thus know Him and His love, and to live genuinely and realistically as His children. May He grant this to us all in ever greater measure!
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, how clearly You know that pride is at the heart of our rebellion, our sin, and our lack of faith and trust in You. You know how our twisted sinful flesh tends to pervert and corrupt all praise, and the harm this produces. Increase our faith and trust in You, that repentant and humble, we still joyfully and confidently commit ourselves to Your will, to the tasks and responsibilities that You have determined for us, certain that You will bless our efforts and bring forth the fruits You will to produce. In all our crucibles, purge out our impurities and bring forth the gold that only You can put within us. Amen.