Gold is the first and most frequent mentioned metal in the Scripture and from the beginning it has been a noble and highly valued metal. Its weight, rarity, durability, beauty, ductility and malleability are some of the characteristics that made gold a distinctive metal. The color and luster of gold and its resistance to oxidation, or tarnishing, made it especially valuable for jewelry and ornamentations of all kinds.
Gold's rarity gave it a monetary value that made it useful as a commercial medium of exchange and as a measure of wealth and prominence. When found in its native purity in gravel deposits and riverbeds, gold can easily be separated and recovered, because of its great weight.
The Book of Job mentions mining and refining operations in this way: "There are mines where silver is dug; there are places where gold is refined. We dig iron out of the ground and melt copper out of stones. Miners explore the deepest darkness. They search the depths of the earth and dig for rocks in the darkness. Far from where anyone lives or human feet ever travel, they dig the shafts of mines. There they work in loneliness, clinging to ropes in the pits. Food grows out of the earth, but underneath the same earth all is torn up and crushed. The stones of the earth contain sapphires, and its dust contain gold." Job 28:1-6
Man is more than that gold's dust. Physically, he was taken out of the ground, our bodies are made up of about 15 or 16 chemical elements that exists in the ground. GOD breathed into him "the breath of life" and man became a living soul.
GOD gave man life in his physical, mental and spiritual states. In his spiritual state man was brought into a marvelous relationship with his Creator because he had in his being a golden capacity for GOD. This is what separates man from all other creatures that are found in GOD's universe.
GOD has put silver, gold, iron, and precious stones in the earth for a reason. It is possible that there are precious stones which have never yet been discovered, which might be more valuable that the diamond or sapphires.
GOD's plan for man is to discover in his heart the spiritual mines of Wisdom and Understanding that are beyond the value of any earthly precious stone not even yet discovered. Job teaches us about this matter by saying: "No hawk sees the roads of the mines, and no vulture ever flies over them. No lion or other fierce beast ever travels those lonely roads." Job 28: 7-8 Gold's malleability permits it to be hammered into countless shapes. It is in a way the image of the wisdom of the World.
In the Tabernacle built by Moses, gold was used in the enclosing compartments: the Holy Place, where the priest entered and performed duties, and the Most Holy Place, entered only by the High Priest.
Gold was beaten into plates for overlay work and into thin sheets cut into thread that was woven into certain garments of the High Priest.
Since the Most Holy place (where the golden Ark of the Covenant is), represented Heaven, GOD's dwelling place, only the chosen ones of the royal Priesthood were allowed to perform their spiritual duties there. Spiritual cleansing rituals were performed before entering the Holy Place.
The JESUS' Priesthood is thus symbolically distinguished from the one which represent the people on earth. JESUS is the High Priest in Heaven preparing the place in which all on earth who trust in HIM and believe in HIM will share in HIM his eternal kingdom.
Gold used in the Temple built by Solomon was alloyed with other metal to increase its hardiness and extending its utility. Large amounts of gold were poured into Solomon's treasury. It came from the king of Tyre and the queen of Sheba. However, GOD commanded Israel: "You must not desire the silver and the gold ... nor indeed take it for yourself, for fear you may be snared by it; for it is a thing detestable to the Lord your GOD. And you must not bring a detestable thing into your house and actually become a thing devoted to destruction like it." Deuteronomy 7: 25, 26
Job then teach us about GOD's Wisdom in this way: "Miners dig the hardest rocks, dig mountains away at their base. As they tunnel through the rocks, they discover precious stones. They dig to the sources of Rivers and bring to light what is hidden. But where can Wisdom be found? Where can we learn to Understand? Wisdom is not to be found among Mortals; no one knows its true value. The depths of the Oceans and seas say that Wisdom is not found there. It cannot be bought with silver or gold. The finest gold and jewels cannot equal its value. Wisdom is worth more than gold, more than a gold vase of finest glass. The value of Wisdom is more than coral or crystal or rubies. The finest topaz and the purest gold cannot compare with the Value of Wisdom." Job 28 9-19
Though gold has a great value, it, like other material riches, is not able to give spiritual life to its possessors and no amount of gold can buy the true Wisdom that comes from GOD.
The apostle Peter points also to Faith's unexcelled durability and permanent value than gold, which can withstand Fire yet can wear away and be destroyed by other means if we are lacking spiritual strength and courage. Christians have to endure various trials that are sometimes grievous, but it serves to bring out the quality of their personal Faith. True Faith can stand up under any test. 1 Peter 1: 6, 7
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