Friday, May 20, 2011

Silver in the Bible - The "Devil's Metal"?



Recently we see lots of mention in American and Canadian media about how silver is the "devil's metal" (so-called because many fortunes have been lost trading it). In reality, the theft from the poor that occurs due to fiat money and inflation is the true evil. Every day they lose a little of their savings to inflation and pay higher prices for food, as Ben Bernake runs the printing presses. It is a vain effort to preserve the status quo of endless debt and deficits. Silver, on the other hand, is an "honest weight and measure" like the Bible/Torah commands and was the metal that was acceptable for giving to God's temple in Jerusalem in the Old Testament. 

When Jesus overturned the money-changers tables, he was not angry at the concept of money or profit, he was angry at them for charging people a high premium for the special silver coin that was needed in order to make temple offerings. Essentially the money-changers were running an extortionist/monopolistic cartel; other Jews were required by their religion to visit the temple and there was no where else to get the coins (of course he was most angry about them defiling a house of God by turning it into a marketplace, but the monopoly made it worse). This is similar to today where the government requires everyone to do business and pay tribute in their monopoly-cartel pieces of paper and these papers are constantly losing value. Anyway, more discussion of this some other post, but here are a few mentions of silver in the King James Bible (I provide some context instead of single verses, but for full context you should go to the chapters):
 
For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD: I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him. The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
-Psalm 12:5-6


Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
-Proverbs 3:13-17

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. The rich and the poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all. A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
-Proverbs 22:1-3

And I will shake the nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.
-Haggai 2:7-8

The Bible repeatedly warns in these and other verses that A) virtue/wisdom is superior to wealth and B) Ultimately, God owns everything. But, there is nothing inherently evil in gold and silver, only in how some people go about getting them. What the Bible truly abhors is cheating the poor, widows, and orphans by moving property stones, extracting usury, requiring harsh taxes, lying, using incorrect weights and measure, and of course outright theft. This is exactly what the Federal Reserve and US Government do every single day.

5 comments:

  1. I enjoyed your article. It is a shame that people now follow the government faithfully, when they should be listening to the lord. The lord always has us at heart, I wish I could say the same for our government.

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  2. May God punish the evils who try to lure the poor, unfortunate, lack of knowledge about The "Devil's Metal" into buying silver... as it has been over and over in the silver history.

    Amen!

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  3. I think the last commenter missed the point. Silver is a much safer asset than paper money that the government can print endlessly.

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  4. yes silver squirrel, he missed the point. silver is a savior, and not demonic in the slightest. i prefer silver to gold due the all the good that silver does, it is a fighter for good health and well being in addition to an investment for increasing ones wealth. God has guided me to silver for a reason, this i know. all i own and have is His and i try to be a good steward. He guides me what good to do in His name. He provides me with His daily will. I do not know what tomorrow may bring, but the quality and benefits of silver upon life grow each and every year. i will give this one warning: if someone wants to trade this market from the shortside their reward is far less than the rewards of being long on paper or physical. Shorts should fear an occurrence in which silver on the comex futures trades at the collar, and subsequent 3 additional collars until no limit is triggered. the probability of this occurring is low under current market sentiment and conditions. But an inner voice is telling me that it will occur. God less all.

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