Jeremiah 6:21-30: a reflection

21Therefore the LORD says, “Behold, I will lay stumbling blocks before this people. The fathers and the sons together will stumble against them. The neighbor and his friend will perish.” 22The LORD says, “Behold, a people comes from the north country. A great nation will be stirred up from the uttermost parts of the earth. 23They take hold of bow and spear. They are cruel, and have no mercy. Their voice roars like the sea, and they ride on horses, everyone set in array, as a man to the battle, against you, daughter of Zion.” 24We have heard its report. Our hands become feeble. Anguish has taken hold of us, and pains as of a woman in labor. 25Don’t go out into the field or walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and terror are on every side. 26Daughter of my people, clothe yourself with sackcloth, and wallow in ashes! Mourn, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation, for the destroyer will suddenly come on us. 27“I have made you a tester of metals and a fortress among my people, that you may know and try their way. 28They are all grievous rebels, going around to slander. They are bronze and iron. All of them deal corruptly. 29The bellows blow fiercely. The lead is consumed in the fire. In vain they go on refining, for the wicked are not plucked away. 30Men will call them rejected silver, because the LORD has rejected them.”

God, through Jeremiah, uses the image of a refiner trying to purify metal, but failing because the ore will not be purified. The bellows blow fiercely, the fire burns, but the refining is in vain, for the impurity remains; the people are called rejected silver, because they would not be refined. God had sought to purify his people, to burn away their sin as a refiner burns away dross; but they resisted the refining, and so it was in vain, the impurity staying, the silver rejected.

Notice why the refining was in vain: the people would not be refined. God applied the fire, sought to purify them, to burn away their sin; but they resisted, hardened themselves, would not let the refining do its work. And so, for all the fierce heat, the impurity remained; the refining failed, not for lack of fire, but because the ore resisted purification. The refining that would have purified them was in vain because they would not submit to it. God's purifying work was frustrated by their resistance.

That is worth taking to heart, for God seeks to refine and purify us, and we can resist the refining. God applies the fire to us, through trials, through his word, through conviction, seeking to burn away our sin and purify us; but we can resist the refining, hardening ourselves against it, so that it does not do its work. And then the refining is in vain, the impurity remaining. Do not resist God's refining work, hardening yourself against the fire he applies to purify you; submit to it, letting it do its work of burning away your sin. When God brings the fire of trial, conviction, or discipline to purify you, do not resist it, lest the refining be in vain; submit to God's refining, letting it purify you, rather than hardening yourself so that the fire leaves the impurity remaining, as Israel resisted the refining and became rejected silver, the purifying in vain.

Lord, through Jeremiah you use the image of a refiner trying to purify metal, but failing because the ore will not be purified. The bellows blow fiercely, the fire burns, but the refining is in vain, for the impurity remains; the people are called rejected silver, because they would not be refined. You had sought to purify your people, to burn away their sin; but they resisted the refining, and so it was in vain. Show me why the refining was in vain: the people would not be refined. You applied the fire, sought to purify them; but they resisted, hardened themselves, would not let the refining do its work. And so, for all the fierce heat, the impurity remained; the refining failed, not for lack of fire, but because the ore resisted. Your purifying work was frustrated by their resistance. Take that to my heart, for you seek to refine and purify me, and I can resist the refining. You apply the fire to me, through trials, through your word, through conviction, seeking to burn away my sin; but I can resist it, hardening myself, so that it does not do its work. And then the refining is in vain. Keep me from resisting your refining work, hardening myself against the fire you apply to purify me; help me submit to it, letting it do its work of burning away my sin. When you bring the fire of trial, conviction, or discipline to purify me, keep me from resisting it, Lord, lest the refining be in vain; help me submit to your refining, letting it purify me.