Tag Archives: bronze

WHAT TYPE OF METAL ARE YOU? Part 6

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Using these concepts let us look at Achan  (Joshua 7).  His sin was one of rebellion and greed but the symbolism behind what he stole is important; he took a Babylonian garment, a wedge of gold, and some silver.  He wrapped the gold in the garment and buried it on top of the silver in floor of his tent.  The warning is not to wrap what is God’s in the false religion of the world and cover up the true religion that is acceptable to God.

Now that we have studied these metals let us, look at Jeremiah’s ministry again and see the people he observed.  In Jeremiah 28, we find Hananiah, a false prophet from Gideon (see Joshua 9). He is the perfect example of lead, he was dragging the Israelites down and hindering them from following God by saying, that the Babylonian’s power was broken and that the items from the Temple would be returned.

Baal worship and worshipers are “tin” in Jeremiah 7.  These harden the people of God by giving them a “form of God” and caused the real worship of God to be changed into pagan practices.

Zedekiah was both “copper” and “iron”.  In chapter 38:14-28 he showed concern for Jeremiah and had a desire to know God’s will, this shows us his “copper” side.   Jeremiah knew he still had an “iron” heart when he told Zedekiah that even when he heard God’s plan that he would not follow it.

In chapter 35 the Rechabites were “ pure silver” when they followed the orders of not drinking wine set down by their ancestors, even in the face of pressure from a “man of God” to do so.

Eded-Melech is “pure gold” in chapter 38 and 39, his concern for Jeremiah and helping him is impressive considering that some officials wanted to kill Jeremiah and anyone who would show concern for him.  God was so pleased with Eded-Melech that He promised him deliverance from the Babylonians because he had trusted in God.

So, what kind of metal or metals are you?

Can we change our habits?

Is there anything more important than gold?

In Isaiah 60:17 God said He would do some exchanging of metals, gold for copper and silver for iron, in an effort to show His greatness toward us.

All the sharpening, heating, beating, and blast of wind come into clear view when you read 1 Peter 1:6+7 where we find that our faith is greater than even gold.

And in Psalm 19:7-10 where the law, testimony, statues, commandment, fear, and judgment OF THE LORD are to desired more than fine gold.

The start of this series can be seen at What Type of Metal Are You? Part 1

https://ificouldteachthebible.wordpress.com/2011/11/27/what-type-of-m…are-you-part-1/ 

WHAT TYPE OF METAL ARE YOU? Part 4

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Now that we are getting things “ironed out” we can go on to the “valuable” metals.

Copper, like iron, is native to Israel and is an interesting and useful metal.  It is in the same chemical family as silver and gold.  Copper was used in making every day items and it was used in the making of the Tabernacle.  Pots, forks, utensils, fire grates, and bases for the tent and curtain poles were some of the items that were made of copper in the Tabernacle.  In the Bible, the same word is used for copper and bronze/brass.  Bronze is copper with tin or lead added.  So we know alloys and metallurgy appeared very early in Israel’s history.

The “copper” in our lives maybe natural character traits and habits, but these personal qualities may be what God wants to use in developing our ministry.  Our “copper” may have fears and other peoples expectations added to it just as bronze is combined with tin or lead.  I have found that these additions may be either good or bad.  In Genesis 37 we read of the dreams God gave Joseph.  Joseph had natural qualities that God wanted to use, but the way the story plays out it would seem that he had to add patience and humility and his pride and arrogance had to be removed before his “copper” was ready for use before God and man.

See “iron” in part three.

https://ificouldteachthebible.wordpress.com/2011/12/22/what-type-of-m…are-you-part-3

WHAT TYPE OF METAL ARE YOU? Part 2

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Now that we have the “lead out” lets move on to the next metal.

Tin was imported, possibly from Spain or from Western Europe, and was a valuable metal in Israel.  It was worked into various articles like cooking utensils and artwork.  Tin was added to copper to make bronze.  Today, as in ancient times, tin is a major impurity in silver.

A modern day use of tin is to cover other metals so they don’t rust or oxidize.  Iron our next metal is treated this way; it hides or protects it from contact with other things.  Even though we call cans from the grocery store “tin cans” they are really made of iron.  In our modern slang attaching the word “tin” to something carries an inferior or cheap label. Examples are a “tin ear”, a “tinny sound”, a “tin man.”  Even in the movie The Wizard of Oz the “tin man” was rusted and had to be oiled; if he was pure tin that would not have been necessary, he was only tin-plated.

In people,  “tin”, like lead, comes from the outside of us. The “ tin things” in our lives will harden us and even change the way we look, just as copper changes color and becomes harder when tin is added to it to make bronze.  In 2 Samuel 12 Bathsheba was a “tin” to David.  Even though Solomon was born, this incident changed David’s life he had a lot of unrest and blood shed in his family from then on.  Fear of things will act as “tin” and can have great influence in our lives by limiting or covering us and changing our prospective and even our habit patterns.