Proverbs 17:3

The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,

But the Lord tests hearts.

A simple contrast is being set up in this proverb. Furnaces and refining pots are the tools used to determining the purity of precious metals. But God only can examine the purity of men's hearts. The word for test is bachan which is usually translated as "prove". It considers the process of determining something's value or worth. The value of a piece of jewelry can be disguised by tarnish, wear, or erosion. However, a man could know for certain the purity of his precious metal if he melted it down- any impurity would rise to the top. Refining metals is an ancient process testing metal is relatively easy if one has the right tools. "But", only the Lord has the ability to test the purity of a man's heart.

It is important to note that the process of testing is not what is in view in the proverb, but rather the ability to test. Although we are called to judge trees by their fruit (Matt. 7:20), we are not called to assess men's hearts: such presumptuous pride is strictly condemned.

"Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?" (James 4:11-12)

One of the greatest misunderstandings in history was the one that led to the fall of the Roman Republic. Since the reign of the Tarquin II, the Romans loathed the idea of a king. However, this very hatred of monarchy is what led to the destruction of the Republic and the longest lasting absolute monarchy in history.

In the midst of a public debate Tiberius Gracchus, the very popular tribune of the people, sensed that his life was in danger. To warn his followers of the threat he motioned, pointing to his head. His enemies misunderstood this as a request for the people to make him king. They rushed to the senate and declared that Tiberius was requesting the crown. Furious, the senators rushed to the forum. Since the law forbade weapons in the city of Rome, the senators broke up benches and chairs in order use the scraps as clubs. Tiberius tried to flee, but the mob of senators caught him and beat him to death in the midst of the forum. This was the first act of violence against a public official, and gave precedence to waves of bloodshed to follow. This misunderstanding is what gave rise the marriage of violence and politics in Rome. From this point on, whoever had the most might was right.

Proverbs 17:2

"A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully, and will share in the inheritance among brothers."

This is a contradiction to the German proverb, Blut ist dicker als Wasser. Wisdom apparently, is even thicker than blood. Only a foolish Father would bequeath his hard earned estate to a foolish son. A servant who invests wisely by making decisions not based upon his own interests, but rather on the interests of his master will prove his worth in time. This proverb comes down to us from a time when the father's business was the family's business. All business decisions would directly affect the family's welfare. Likewise, each family member's decisions would directly affect the estate of the family business.

We would naturally assume that a son would have concern for the interests of his family and their livelihood, but this would not be the natural assumption of a servant. A servant's decisions would simply be made in the interests of his own temporal welfare, much like the modern day employee of a company. His investment is not with long-term interest in the company's welfare, but in merely providing for his and his own. But, the owner of a corporation does make decisions with his own interests in mind. Every business decision affects him personally. Therefore a modern equivalent of this proverb is- "The employee who makes wise decisions will become the boss of the business partner who acts shamefully, and will become a business partner himself."

King John's the "phony king of England" had been traditionally characterized as one of the most disastrous in English history. He secured his second wife, when she was 24 years his junior. She was engaged to another man so he simply kidnapped her. Few kings were more lecherous. The story is told of one of his courtiers substituted a prostitute in his own wife's place when John came calling. John also tried to steal the crown from his brother, Richard Lionheart, when he was away fighting the Crusades. He was also believed to have murdered his nephew, Arthur of Britanny, to secure his own succession. Moreover, John imposed massive taxes to fund a series of military aggressions that all ended in defeats. Then, after being forced to sign the 1215 Magna Carta to protect the rights of his people, he tried to go back on it and triggered a civil war. Of course this is what he is most known for, an event which paved the way for democracy the West. Winston Churchill summarized the legacy of John's reign: "When the long tally is added, it will be seen that the British nation and the English-speaking world owe far more to the vices of John than to the labors of virtuous sovereigns". The shame of this one king opened up the door for a government that would be ruled for the people and by the people, not simply by a King.

Proverbs 17:1

Every day before diving into history, each of my classes examines a proverb. The point is to give biblical instruction from a book that was designed to aid those in their age group. We examine the proverb and then look for historical examples that prove its truth. I decided to post the proverbs from now on.

"Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it

Than a house full of feasting with strife."

Here is a proverb for those who cannot have their cake and eat it too. The reality is that we all want our cake (house of feasting) and we want peace (quietness). However, what would you pick if you were to have one or the other? The proverb addresses the natural tendency of man to assume that happiness will be achieved with wealth and abundance. Since money is the currency that buys all that the world desires (lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life), we tend to make financial success the focus of our lives. Although we see abundant evidence in the world around us that money cannot buy true peace and happiness- we still tend to believe it. Consider the current frustrations and burdens you currently face in your life…have you assumed that more money will solve those issues?

I will be the first to admit that I do this all the time (ridiculously). For instance, Julie and I talk frequently about how we long for her to be able to stay home with Isaiah full time. More money would seem to solve the problem. The truth is that it certainly would solve the practical problem of her being able to stay home- but would that bring the quietness and peace we want? The answer is ultimately "no". Neither peace nor joy is dependent upon circumstances, but on our confidence and trust in God (Isaiah 26:3-4).

In 195 BC, Antiochus III (the father of the notorious Antiochus Epiphanes) had a clever idea to expand his kingdom and solidify his power. He decided to hook up his daughter (Cleopatra) with the much younger Ptolemy V- the son of his long time rival, and who was also only ten years old at the time. He imagined that she would persuade him through her charms and that Ptolemy would eventually submit to him. Moreover, Antiochus assumed that if an heir would be produced he would have sway over both kingdoms. Although the marriage did provide an increase in power and wealth, strife in the family distanced Cleopatra from her father. She became sympathetic to her husband, Ptolemy V, and began to support the Ptolemaic cause. She eventually had her son appointed Ptolemy VI which effectually destroyed the plans of his grandfather Antiochus III.

On a side note- all these events were prophesied hundreds of years before they happened in Daniel 11:14-19.