3.  Smelting  extracting a metal from raw ore by the application of heat and chemicals  Trying or testing  refining process by which metals are purified  Dross  impurities that rise to the top when a metal is refined; skimmed off and melted or discarded

4.  Silver tried seven times (Psalm 12:6)  Dross is removed (Proverbs 25:4)  Seven represents completeness: Completely pure  Pure, flawless, extremely valuable (Ps. 19:7-10)  Proves true (Psalm 18:30; Proverbs 30:5)  Better than gold and silver (Psalm 119:72; Proverbs 8:10-11)

5.  God tests hearts (Proverbs 17:3)  Judah (Isaiah 1:21-28; Isaiah 48:10)  Dross (Ezekiel 22:17-22)  The wicked are discarded (Psalm 119:118-120)  Don’t fall away (I Corinthians 3:12-15)

6.  Testing of our faith by trials (I Peter 4:12; 1:6-7)  The final product of tested faith (James 1:2-4, 12)  From suffering to hope (Romans 5:3)

7. 1. The Purity of God’s Word 2. Judgment 3. The Value of Our Faith “He knows the way that I take; when He has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” (Job 23:10)