TEXT: Proverbs 17:3
READING: Psalm 17:1-15
SUBJ: That fact that the Lord does try the hearts of His people so that His grace may be proven and that He might be glorified thereby.
AIM: That we may desire to have the Lord’s knowledge of our hearts exposed to us in such a way as to fit us the more for fellowship with Him.
INTR: The proverbs in this chapter are more disconnected that those we have seen in previous chapters and yet in this proverb much is implied and born out in other places in Scripture.
1. The imagery here is relatively easy to follow but perhaps difficult to realize and often hard to have applied.
2. The immediate thought of many might be that such knowledge is used against us. But in that the Lord is so involved it is for the good of His people. And it is sensed as a good thing by both the writer and those who embrace it.
3. We would look here and at a few other places in the Word as the heart and the divine knowledge of it are brought into view.
THESIS: We should rejoice that the Lord can and does search the hearts of His people and so remedy the defects He finds there and adapt our hearts to be receptive to His will with “Joy unspeakable and full of glory.” But even more so if we ask for it. The word heart or hearts occurs 871 times.
I. The imagery considered.
1. The things mentioned here have been well known in earlier times but not so much now.
1) Men have since developed more mechanized ways of refining precious metals out of the sight of ordinary people
2) It was once carried out in the hands of experienced artisans and craftsmen.
2. The aim of their work was to remove impurities and to attain absolute purity
1) Such processes involved some form of stress to the impure metal.
2) It was by fire, as here, or in the case of some of the fixtures in the Tabernacle, beaten. Here we are reminded of the ordeal of our blessed Lord.
3. In any event, it required skill to heat without destruction and to know when the process was complete. Consider the case in which the refiner judged it ready when he could see his image in the metal.
4. “Wonderful as is the separation of the pure metal from the dross with which it has mingled, there is something yet more wonderful in the divine discipline which purifies the good that lies hid, like a grain of gold, even in rough and common natures, and frees it from all admixture of evil.” Albert Barnes.
II. The application made
1. We would first consider that the Lord alone knows the heart and He views it with the intent that the blood of Christ might be fully applied.
1) Consider then: But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. (Malachi 3:2-3).
2) We further note: 9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. Jeremiah 17:9-10
3) While that passage has judgmental implications, it points us to the necessity that it be known and cleansed and the believer welcomes such an examination when mercy is there.
4) David prayed in his penitence: Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. (Psalms 51:1)
2. We would then note the aim in:
1) 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 1 Peter 1:6-7
2) That to be proven is the confirmation of acceptance: For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried. Psalms 66:10
3) Provoking prayer for the accomplishments of trial: Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. Psalms 26:2
III. And of course, the classic passage: 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalms 139:23-24.
1. It is both fact and experience that teaches us of the inclinations of the hearts of men: Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. (Ecclesiastes 8:11). (But we think of Ezekiel and the new heart given to us that we might react against sin in our lives).
2. It is trial that often exposes unacceptable ways and drives us to the Lord.
1) Spurgeon pointed out that David was no accomplice with traitors and that he wanted no indication of fellowship with them.
2) So, he would be placed in the crucible of divine scrutiny and be subjected to the most intense examination – the omniscient eye of the Lord.
3. “Try me and know my thoughts…” in reaction to whatever lot you have appointed to me. V. 23.
4. Again, from Spurgeon: ““And see if there be any wicked way in me.” See whether there be in my heart, or in my life, any evil habit unknown to myself. If there be such an evil way, take me from it, take it from me. No matter how dear the wrong may have become, nor how deeply prejudiced I may have been in its favour, be pleased to deliver me there from altogether, effectually, and at once, that I may tolerate nothing which is contrary to thy mind.”
5. And so, this prayer: “It is a way which thou hast set up of old, it is based upon everlasting principles, and it is the way in which immortal spirits will gladly run for ever and ever. There will be no end to it world without end. It lasts for ever, and they who are in it last for ever. Conduct me into it, O Lord, and conduct me throughout the whole length of it. By thy providence, by thy word, by thy grace, and by thy Spirit, lead me evermore.”
6. Remember, The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul. (Proverbs 16:17).
