Ornaments–<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nExo 33:1-6 And the LORD said unto Moses, Depart, and<\/i> go up hence, thou and the people which thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed will I give it: And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite: Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art<\/i> a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way. And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned: and no man did put on him his ornaments. For the LORD had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are<\/i> a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee. And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by the mount Horeb. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n It appears from the context of this passage that wearing ornaments was an indication to God of pride, arrogance, etc. He expected the people to express their humility after their castigation for worshipping the golden calf. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n In Scripture, decorating the body with ornaments \/ jewelry is presented differently in different situations. In many of these contexts, ornamentation is portrayed as out of harmony with God’s way.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nGen 35:1-4 And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother. Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were<\/i> with him, Put away the strange gods that are<\/i> among you, and be clean, and change your garments: And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went. And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were<\/i> in their hand, and all their<\/i> earrings which were<\/i> in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was<\/i> by Shechem. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nornaments of prostitution–<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n2Ki 9:30 And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it;<\/i> and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nJer 4:30 And when<\/i> thou art<\/i> spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; thy<\/i> lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nEze 16:17, 18 Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them, And tookest thy broidered garments, and coveredst them: and thou hast set mine oil and mine incense before them. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nEze 23:40, 41 And furthermore, that ye have sent for men to come from far, unto whom a messenger was<\/i> sent; and, lo, they came: for whom thou didst wash thyself, paintedst thy eyes, and deckedst thyself with ornaments, And satest upon a stately bed, and a table prepared before it, whereupon thou hast set mine incense and mine oil. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nHos 2:13 And I will visit upon her the days of Baalim, wherein she burned incense to them, and she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and she went after her lovers, and forgat me, saith the LORD. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nsymbols of pride–<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nIsa 3:16-24 Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing <\/span>as<\/i><\/span> they go, and making a tinkling with their feet: <\/span>Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts. In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of <\/span>their<\/i><\/span> tinkling ornaments <\/span>about their feet,<\/i><\/span> and <\/span>their<\/i><\/span> cauls, and <\/span>their<\/i><\/span> round tires like the moon, The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers, The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings, The rings, and nose jewels, The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins, The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails. And it shall come to pass, <\/span>that<\/i><\/span> 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; <\/span>and<\/i><\/span> burning instead of beauty. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nartificial beauty–<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n1Ti 2:9, 10 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; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n1Pe 3:1-5 Likewise, ye wives, be<\/i> in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled<\/i> with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning<\/i> of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be<\/i> the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament<\/i> of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\na bride or groom preparing for their wedding–<\/b> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n (a symbol of the beauty of character that Christ wants to see in His bride)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nGen 24:22 And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels<\/i> weight of gold; <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nGen 24:53 And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them<\/i> to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nIsa 49:18 Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and<\/i> come to thee. As<\/i> I live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee,<\/i> as a bride doeth.<\/i> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nIsa 61:10 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<\/i> with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself<\/i> with her jewels. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nJer 2:32 Can a maid forget her ornaments, or<\/i> a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nEze 16:8-12 Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was<\/i> the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine. Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil. I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers’ skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk. I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck. And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nRev 19:7, 8 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nRev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nA sister who had spent some weeks at one of our institutions in _____, said that she felt much disappointed in what she saw and heard there. . . . Before accepting the truth, she had followed the fashions of the world in her dress, and had worn costly jewelry and other ornaments; but upon deciding to obey the Word of God, she felt that its teachings required her to lay aside all extravagant and superfluous adorning. She was taught that Seventh-day Adventists did not wear jewelry, gold, silver, or precious stones, and that they did not conform to worldly fashions in their dress. When she saw among those who profess the faith such a wide departure from Bible simplicity, she felt bewildered. Had they not the same Bible which she had been studying, and to which she had endeavored to conform her life? Had her past experience been mere fanaticism? Had she misinterpreted the words of the apostle, “The friendship of the world is enmity with God, for whosoever will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God”? <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/i><\/p>\nMrs. D, a lady occupying a position in the institution, was visiting at Sr. _____’s room one day, when the latter took out of her trunk a gold necklace and chain, and said she wished to dispose of this jewelry and put the proceeds into the Lord’s treasury. Said the other, “Why do you sell it? I would wear it if it was mine.” “Why,” replied Sr. _____, “when I received the truth, I was taught that all these things must be laid aside. Surely they are contrary to the teachings of God’s Word.” And she cited her hearer to the words of the apostles, Paul and Peter, upon this point, “In like manner, also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broidered hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; but, as becometh women professing godliness, with good works.” “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.”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/i><\/p>\nIn answer, the lady displayed a gold ring on her finger, given her by an unbeliever, and said she thought it no harm to wear such ornaments. “We are not so particular,” said she, “as formerly. Our people have been overscrupulous in their opinions upon the subject of dress. The ladies of this institution wear gold watches and gold chains, and dress like other people. It is not good policy to be singular in our dress; for we cannot exert so much influence.” <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/i><\/p>\nWe inquire, Is this in accordance with the teachings of Christ? Are we to follow the Word of God, or the customs of the world? Our sister decided that it was the safest to adhere to the Bible standard. Will Mrs. D and others who pursue a similar course be pleased to meet the result of their influence, in that day when every man shall receive according to his works? <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/i><\/p>\nGod’s Word is plain. Its teachings cannot be mistaken. Shall we obey it, just as He has given it to us, or shall we seek to find how far we can digress and yet be saved? Would that all connected with our institutions would receive and follow the divine light, and thus be enabled to transmit light to those who walk in darkness. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/i><\/p>\nConformity to the world is a sin which is sapping the spirituality of our people, and seriously interfering with their usefulness. It is idle to proclaim the warning message to the world, while we deny it in the transactions of daily life. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/i> RH 03-28-82<\/p>\nCarefulness in dress is an important item. There has been a lack here with ministers who believe present truth. The dress of some has been even untidy. Not only has there been a lack of taste and order in arranging the dress in a becoming manner upon the person, and in having the color suitable and becoming for a minister of Christ, but the apparel of some has been even slovenly. . . . These things are preaching to the people. The minister gives them an example of order, and sets before them the propriety of neatness and taste in their apparel, or he gives them lessons in slackness and lack of taste which they will be in danger of following. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/i> 3SM 249<\/p>\nAll who meet upon the Sabbath to worship God should, if possible, have a neat, well-fitting, comely suit to wear in the house of worship. It is a dishonor to the Sabbath, and to God and his house, for those who profess that the Sabbath is the holy of the Lord, and honorable, to wear the same clothing upon the Sabbath that they have worn through the week while laboring upon their farms, when they can obtain other. If there are worthy persons who, with their whole heart would honor the Lord of the Sabbath, and the worship of God, and who cannot obtain a change of clothing, let those who are able, donate to such a Sabbath suit, that they may appear in the house of God with cleanly, fitting apparel. A greater uniformity in dress would be pleasing to God. Those who expend means on costly apparel and extra fixings, can by a little self-denial exemplify pure religion, by simplicity of clothing, and then use the means they have usually expended needlessly in aiding some poor brother or sister, whom God loves, to obtain neat and modest apparel.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/i><\/p>\nSome receive the idea that in order to carry out that separation from the world which the word of God requires, they must be neglectful of their apparel. There is a class of sisters who think that they are carrying out the principle of non-conformity to the world by wearing an ordinary sunbonnet, and the same dress worn by them through the week, upon the Sabbath, to appear in the assembly of the saints to engage in the worship of God. And some men who profess to be Christians view the matter of dress in the same light. They assemble with God’s people upon the Sabbath, with their clothing dusty, and soiled, and even with gaping rents in them, and placed upon their persons in a slovenly manner. This class, if they had an engagement to meet a friend honored by the world, and they wished to be especially favored by him, would exert themselves to appear in his presence with the best apparel that could be obtained; for this friend would feel insulted were they to come into his presence with hair uncombed, and garments uncleanly, and in disorder. Yet these persons think that it is no matter in what dress they appear, or what is the condition of their persons, when they meet upon the Sabbath to worship the great God. They assemble in his house, which is as the audience-chamber of the Most High, where heavenly angels are in attendance, with but little respect, or reverence, as their persons and clothing indicate. Their whole appearance typifies the character of such men and women. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/i> 2SM 474, 475<\/p>\nIn the outward adorning there is revealed to worldlings as well as to Christians an absence of the inward adorning, the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which in the sight of God is of great price. . . . <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n