I was in the country of Equatorial Guinea weeks ago when I was reading in 2 Samuel. It was during this time of reading and meditation that this verse of Scripture caught my attention: "And she had a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king’s daughters that were virgins apparelled" (2 Sam. 13:18). As I meditated on these words I was blessed as different thoughts came to mind. Once back home, as my family and I traveled in our city, I shared with them the thoughts provoked by this passage of Scripture. I told them I had read something in the Bible that spoke of a king who ruled over a kingdom. In his kingdom, there were many subjects, soldiers, and noblemen. In that kingdom lived children, mothers, and fathers; people of all ages—infants, adolescents, and adults. The king’s own children, his sons and daughters, were there and according to the Bible they wore special garments and robes that were beautifully arrayed signifying that they were the children of the king. There was something even more interesting than just being recognized as a child of the king. By those garments and the colors that graced the robes, they were also identified as being pure!
I encouraged my family by reminding us that we too are children of the King—the King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ! As such, He has royal apparel and garments of salvation that will adorn us with grace, mercy, rectitude, judgment, virtue and righteousness. Such are the robes and garments that make beautiful the King’s children in this earthly kingdom, and by them they are known among the nations.
"But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God… And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed. I will greatly rejoice in the LORD
my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations" (Isa. 61:6, 9-11).
Isaiah speaks of a priesthood of God. In the New Testament, we find the writings of the apostle Peter, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light" (1 Peter 2:9). Who is this royal priesthood of whom he speaks if not The Church of God? Every covenanted member of the Church is a priest unto God, and all of us together make up a royal and holy priesthood under Christ’s authority, who is our High Priest! Consider the honor and nobility that God has bestowed upon us when we see in the Old Testament that He referred to Israel as "a kingdom of priests" (Ex. 19:6), yet He refers to the Church as "a royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9). Oh, what a privilege to be called ministers of God! Yet, what a responsibility to show forth the praises of God and to live worthy of that vocation!
Isaiah continues to speak about the "seed" and "offspring" of these covenanted people which shall be known among the Gentiles, and that they shall be acknowledged as those who are blessed of the Lord. An offspring is defined as: children of a particular parent; descendant, the product or result of something. Galatians 3:26 speaks of us as being "the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." How are the "priests" and "ministers" of God identified? How are His "seed" and "offspring" identified? How is this "holy nation
" identified? Is it not in a similar way to the king’s children
in 2 Samuel 13? Isaiah says something in verse 10 that I believe helps to answer the questions posed. He speaks of being clothed of God with garments of salvation and with the robe of righteousness. What this means then is that God’s royal priesthood, His children, His offspring, will be recognized as the King’s seed in this present world, in every nation, by His righteous spirit and attire of salvation that they are clothed with!
The shine and glisten of fine diamonds, pearls, precious stones, purified silver and gold of this world do not compare to the honorable beauty of the inner works of a redeeming God, wrought in a regenerated and sanctified heart and life! This inner work of a redeeming God does not simply stay on the inside of the one who is walking with God and has been in the presence of God, but it spills over to every facet of their lives.
Paul writes to Timothy exhorting both men and women that, pertaining to adornment, they should be concerned about the biblical adornment of godliness, honesty, love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance and righteousness—that which can be attained in a person’s life through Christ.
A man may achieve his lifelong dreams, have the best job and make big money. He may buy the nicest ties, cleanest shoes, high priced suits, flaunt exceptional things and drive the fanciest car in town; but if his life is tainted with sin, if he has bloodied hands, wrath and pride are in his heart. "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Matt. 16:26). What makes a man "find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man" (Prov. 3:4)? The Bible says it is holy and righteous living! Before Paul directed his writings to the women regarding their adornment, he first speaks to the men saying, "I will therefore, that men pray
every where,
lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting" (1 Tim. 2:8). Oh, for more men of prayer! Fathers who pray! Husbands who pray! Sons who pray! Have you seen a man so precious as when he is found upon his knees in the presence of Almighty God, being molded and formed to His likeness and image? He comes up off of his knees and is no longer short tempered and of little patience! He stands upon his feet transformed and is no longer rough and hard, but soft in speech and sensitive to the needs of his wife and children! He may not be the man the world wants to see, but he is the man whom God has called him to be! He may not have much, but he’s got God—so he’s got it ALL!
When Moses came down from the mountain after spending many days with God it is said that, "the skin of his face shone" (Ex. 34:29). We find in Scripture the description of another godly man’s countenance as the world gazed upon him. It was Stephen’s face described as "the face of an angel" (Acts 6:15). They needed no face embellishment, no jewels, ornaments or decorations! They needed no man-made enhancements because God’s existence in their lives graced their countenance and beautified their appearance!
In today’s society, jewelry—necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings, etc.—is not limited to women only, but is also common among men. People today array themselves with all manner of costly things. While they concern themselves with the external or outward adornment, they have forgotten about that which is important and esteemed in the eyes of our Creator.
In the eyes of God, a man of clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted his soul unto vanity, nor sown deceitfully, is a beautiful thing! (Psa. 24:3- 5). A man of honest conversation, full of good works and faith, submissive to those in authority, who fears God, willing to endure grief and suffer wrongfully with all patience, and who does not sin, is one who has given greater regard to the permanent ornaments that garnish the inner man. (See 1 Peter 2:12-23).
"In like manner also, that women adorn themselves… not with broided hair hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works" (1 Tim. 2:9, 10). "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 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" (1 Peter 3:3, 4). In these scriptures, the main topic is adornment. We read that both Paul and Peter warn against the saints of God adorning themselves and wearing gold for decorations. You might find it hard to believe, but one of the main reasons people wear gold, pearls and costly array is to adorn themselves. What is glamorous and alluring, and even necessary to the world, is not so to God. God has no interest in all the fancy, external decorations of this world with which men and women laden themselves. What does He take pleasure in? Here is the answer, "For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation" (Psa. 149:4).
The Bible gives priority to "an ornament of grace unto thy head" (Prov. 1:9). It gives emphasis to "an ornament of grace: a crown of glory" (Prov. 4:9). It speaks of being crowned "with lovingkindness and tender mercies" (Psa. 103:4). It tells of "gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel" (Prov. 20:15). Would you agree that if anyone knows the true value of things it is God? If your answer is in the affirmative, then should we not accept without any question His counsel of not adorning ourselves with "corruptible things, as silver and gold" (1 Peter 1:18), but rather, that highly recommended, incorruptible and acceptable adornment of a meek and quiet spirit which is of a great price in the eyes of God?
This is not intended to be a message on abhorrence of gold, silver or precious stones. There is nothing sinful in and of themselves. These are materials that God Himself placed on this earth and that have their purpose. Sin is found in the pride, lust and vain uses that mankind makes of these things. All too often, people wear their jewelry as an identification symbol or a status symbol that others might take notice of it. Does this not sound like vanity and pride at work in people’s hearts? It would do us well to remember that the pride of life and the lust of the flesh and lust of the eyes are condemned by the Father above. Isn’t it true that vanity and pride have no room in the life of a child of God? The Bible tells us these things are of this world and that "the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever" (1 John 2:17).
When a man or a woman’s body has been laid to rest, I’ve yet to hear anybody say, "He always had on the purest gold." "At all times she wore the greatest looking bracelets." "His necklace sparkled bright and shiny every time you ran into him," and so on. Those temporal and earthly things will all have passed and be of no real importance! The beauty and attractiveness of a person is ultimately judged by the life they lived. Their character and conduct, how they carried themselves, what they stood for and what they stood upon while in life will define them. The saints at Antioch were called Christians, not because of some golden ring, silver badge or external adornment they wore, but because of the lives they lived that reflected Jesus Christ! Oh, what a difference when people speak of the righteous works of that man or woman, or of the great things they did in God! What a powerful testimony to the beauty of God’s salvation when they say that young and old people alike were attracted to that person’s godly countenance and upright spirit!
When we "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world" (1 John 2:15), we will always long to be absolutely different in desire and practice from the world! Read this testimony found in J. E. Elliott’s book, Jewelry and the Child of God:
"Near the turn of the [20th] century, an event of interest occurred in India. Amy Carmichael, missionary to India, tells in her book Gold Cord
how the ladies in the Dohnavur Fellowship were led of God to stop wearing jewels. It all began to materialize when a minister called Walker of Tinnevelly said to his wife: ‘Give
me your jewels. What does a winner of souls want with jewels?’ On the evening of the previous to this incident, another lady named Ponnamal had overheard a small girl remark, ‘When I grow up, I am going to join that band and wear jewels like that sister.’ Ponnamal was disturbed by the girl’s statement for she wanted her life to be a reflection of Christ. Upon seeking God concerning the ‘jewel question,’ Ponnamal’s answer from God was Isaiah 62:3, "Thou [not something else] shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.’ The answer was very clear to Ponnamal. She was to present herself [not her jeweled self ] in a plain, unadorned, manner to her Lord. Thus, she removed and left off her jewels. Amy wrote of her: When it came time for her to die, Ponnamal confessed, ‘The laying aside of my jewels was to me a new emancipation... I could not have done this new work [for God] if it had not been for the new courage that came with that break with custom and from bondage to the fear of man.’ Later, a young lady named Star felt the need to remove her jewels. Her father warned her, ‘If I hear that you have taken off your jewels, I will come for you.’ The threat of her father did not hinder Star from endeavoring to wholly follow her Lord. She removed her jewels and her father did not harm her. Amy said of Star: It was a tremendous decision that she made at the foot of the cross that day, but nothing anyone could say could shake her. She had seen her Beloved, her Redeemer. On His brow was a crown not of gold, but of thorns, His hands and His feet were not jeweled, but pierced. She had seen Him. Could she follow Him adorned with gold? The things that Amy Carmichael wrote of occurred a few years before the Arise, Shine of the Church. That which God required then, is still required today. God never changes! The Church is right in its stand ‘Against Wearing Gold for Ornament.’"
What of you, dear saint of God? Have you been tempted to try to substitute God’s beauty with secondary things of this world? Those of us who are covenanted members of God’s Church sincerely promised in the presence of God and witnesses to accept the Bible as the Word of God, the New Testament as our only rule of faith—to believe and practice its teachings rightly divided. The 26th of our Prominent 29 Teachings—"Against members wearing gold for ornament, or decoration such as finger rings, bracelets, earrings, lockets, etc.", is perhaps one of the most controversial teachings to the Christian world. The Church of God understands the Bible is not silent on this subject and the scriptures mentioned throughout this article are only a few of the many that substantiate the Church’s stand on this adornment issue. One look around the mainstream denominations and so-called Pentecostal organizations will demonstrate that they have no restrictions whatsoever regarding jewelry. We may very well stand alone on this issue today!
"The Church of God believes that the Bible has sufficient information to govern all occasions that might arise. In the Book there are sufficient laws and rules, either in statute, type or prophecy, or principle… to govern the Church without making new ones" (History and Polity; Stone). Open up your Bible, dear reader, and see the types and shadows in the Old Testament that validate the Church’s position! Read of God’s displeasure with the "daughters of Zion" in Isaiah 3:16-26, due to their pride and arrogance. They were more interested in the flashy and crescent ornaments than the spiritual well-being of the hidden man of the heart.
Read of Jacob in the Old Testament who was on his way to Bethel (House of God). "Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments: And let us arise, and go up to Bethel... And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem." Please observe in this type and shadow that neither Jacob nor his household would come to Bethel until they had removed "the strange gods" from among them and changed their garments. It speaks of the outward adornments they possessed at the time. Isn’t it interesting that these things were removed and then buried before they went into that place called the "House of God"? Ah, yes, The Church of God still requires that all prospective members be clean and put aside (remove and bury) all their jewelry before they can become covenanted members of "the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Tim. 3:15).
Again, I make mention of Psalm 149:4, "For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation," and I draw your attention to Esther as she was brought to the palace under the custody of Hegai for beauty preparation before entering into the king’s house. She was given "things for purification," but said "things" were "out of the king’s [own] house" (Esther 2:9). Esther brought nothing. She had nothing. She required nothing and received nothing from anybody until arriving at the king’s palace where it was out of his house she was given those things that would be used to beautify her! So it is today when God calls us. When we are brought to Him we recognize He has everything we need for that beautification process. It comes out of His own treasure chest—royal apparel, garments of salvation, ornaments and chains of grace, a crown of glory, lovingkindness and tender mercies. All of it is from His own supply! The King of glory provides that "washing of water by the word" (Eph. 5:26) which can purge, purify, and beautify us in preparation to enter into the King’s house!
When I read, "And she had a garment of divers colors upon her: for with such robes were the king’s daughters that were virgins appareled" (2 Sam. 13:18), I think of every covenanted member of The Church of God, the Body of Christ, who will not be "arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls" (Rev. 17:4), but rather "arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints" (Rev. 19:8).
By Bishop Oscar Pimentel, General Overseer
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