An Idea Borrowed

Years ago on a radio program someone shared that they read a chapter in Proverbs every day. Since there are 31 chapters and the longest month has 31 days it allows you to read through Proverbs on a regular basis. I use it as the launch pad for my personal worship time and branch out from there. On this blog I will try to share some of the insights I have in the Word. I will try to organize them in the archive by reference.

Saturday, January 25, 2014

And a Ring for Her Nose, Ho, Ho!

(Proverbs 25:12 KJV)  As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

I do not understand jewelry or why it attracts people.  Being raised in a church that had a tendency toward legalism I had early training that jewelry was evil and a sign of worldliness.  Paul would be quoted,
(1 Timothy 2:9 KJV)  In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
The principle is obviously not about gold and pearls but about the attitude we have toward them. 

I especially like the side notes in my NASB.  It says this can also mean “nose rings.”  A better example of this is in the recruiting of Rebekah as a bride for Isaac.
(Genesis 24:47 KJV)  And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.
If we took this seriously we would expect every bride to receive a nose ring.

So?  This is an area where I must work at not judging.  If rings and necklaces rock your world and don’t distract you from serving Jesus, then adorn your body to match your soul.  I imagine you have the same hangup about my golf clubs. 

4 comments:

Gorges Smythe said...

I guess I consider piercings and tattoos to have been dealt with in Leviticus. If God doesn't want us to do such things to show grief, should we really expect him to okay it for "art" or vanity? As for regular jewelry, I don't think a little is bad. It's when it appeals to vanity or covetousness that it's a problem.

Gorges Smythe said...

Incidentally, nose rings were originally a sign that the person was a slave.

buddeshepherd said...

I think gorges would look pretty tough with a bone though his nose and one of those big disk thinks in his lower lip. Like you used to see in National Geographic!

Pumice said...

Georges, since we are supposed to be slaves of righteousness are you suggesting a new jewelry line?

Bud, as long as he doesn't go with the loin clothe I could handle it.

Grace and peace, gentlemen