Fancy Dress
FANCY DRESS
Good Morning,
For those who are not aware, these Morning Moments began as simple thoughts from my devotions that were sent to my staff. Though my deacons started getting them, then my church members, and now to readers on-line, these Morning Moments are still just thoughts from my daily Bible reading — nothing scholarly, just thoughts as I read my Bible. May these thoughts be a blessing to you.
My Bible reading chart places me in Isaiah for a while. I see so many similarities between Israel in Isaiah's time and our nation today. Notice the emphasis on the body and clothing:
Isaiah 3:18 “In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon,”
vs. 19 “The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,”
vs. 20 “The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings,”
vs. 21 “The rings, and nose jewels,”
vs. 22 “The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins,”
vs. 23 “The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails.”
vs. 24 “And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty.”
All of these strange terms apply to fancy styles in dress, jewelry, and hair styles.
God was a little tired of their fancy, worldly clothing; He was telling them of a day when they will have no rich and worldly ornaments with which to adorn themselves.
Remember, Peter spoke of this as well:
1 Peter 3:3 “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;”
The unknown prophet, Zephaniah, likewise speaks of this:
Zephaniah 1:8 “And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD'S sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.”
The Lord finds something important about the way we look. It might be our pride over rich apparel, or it could be the reliance on the outward man rather than leaning on the real man inside us. For many, to fit in with the world, to draw the eye of the worldly people, and to gain the fleshly esteem of carnal men is the desire. Regardless of the reason, God takes notice of how much emphasis we place on our dress, especially when it is ornamented with jewelry and fancy, rich, worldly styles. God tells ladies to dress modestly: modest in style and modest in economics.
1 Timothy 2:9 “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;”
How this fashion-focused, Christian world today hates to hear about topics like this, but this issue is in the Scriptures far too often not to admit that it matters to God. Proverbs 7 talks about the woman and forbids the crossing over of dress styles. There is a man’s clothing and woman’s clothing, and the two should never trade places Deuteronomy 22 speaks of apparel being that of a man or that of a woman; God truly does notice and care about styles.
In our overall behavior and dress, Peter and Paul write about fashioning ourselves according to our former lusts and presenting our bodies a living sacrifice, not conforming to this world.
(1 Peter 1:14, Romans 12:1-2)
No, we should not allow our girls to gaze at fashion magazines; and malls should not set our fashion trends. Neither should commercials, movie stars, or famous singers be influencing our appearance. Not long ago, boys started allowing the gang fashion of flat billed ball caps worn down to the eyes to become trendy. No, a hat is not sinful, but allowing a gang member or rapper to guide ones fashion might be. When boys start wearing skinny tight clothing for who knows what reason, it brings about questions as to who is guiding their thoughts and actions.
Back to Isaiah:
Isaiah 3:18 “In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon,”
vs. 19 “The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,”
vs. 20 “The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings,”
Put a ring on your toe or in your nose? Really? Who got you thinking that will make you beautiful? Instead let it be the hidden man of the heart who places value on a person.
1 Peter 3:4 “But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”
Pastor