Test Time

(Proverbs 30:5 KJV)  Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

Notice it is God’s “word” (565a) that is being “pure" (tested NASB) (6884) here, not man.  This verse would refer to two things at least.  First, it would mean the written word of God.  At that point they had the Pentateuch at least.  There was a body of information that was considered different and had a higher authority. Second, in those days, when the prophets still spoke, this would also have included what they had to say. Today I would limit this to the Bible as used by most Protestants.  If Catholics want to throw in the Apocrypha, then test away.

The word is to be “tested” (6884) . The definition is “to smelt, refine, test.”  The idea behind “tested” (6884) is that of the refiner’s fire.  That is a process in which the dross is removed and purity is approached.  How does this apply to us?  The word itself is not being changed in a refining process.  If you take pure gold and put it through a refining process, you get pure gold.  We are taking God’s word, putting it through the fire of our lives and finding that it is everything God claims it to be.

We test it by relying on it.  We test it by planning our lives around it.  In a sense we test it by risking out lives on its truth.

So?  Do you know the word of God well enough to apply it?  If not, maybe it is time to get back to reading what it says.  There are some things that no one can do for you.