Jewelry In The Bible
In the first five books of the Bible, the true and living God delineates three main areas of dress that the Christian cannot disregard with impunity. What God says is law; it cannot be changed. Nothing can be added to it. nor anything taken from it. (Ecclesiastes 3:14)
Ornaments/Jewelry—Genesis 35:4, Exodus 33:2-6
Nakedness—Genesis 3:7
Cross-gender dress—Deuteronomy 22:5
These are issues in our modern society of Christianity only because we have not understood the truth of God’s Word and have been following the dictates of the world and our own unconverted or ignorant heart. Times of ignorance God winked at. But that time is passed now. God requires everyone that nameth the name of the Lord to depart from iniquity and repent. (Acts 17:30) Why? Because the heavenly tribunal is in session. The judgment is set and the books are open. (Daniel 7:9-10) Soon they will close and Michael will stand up. (Daniel 12:1) We do not want Jesus to stand up while we still have sins on the books of record we have not repented of. Why? Because there are no more second chances. God will have a people pure, true, and faithful in every detail of life.
“Jewelry refers to the ornaments people wear. The most common types are bracelets, broaches, earrings, necklaces, and rings. Jewelry has been used chiefly for personal decorations.”
World Book Encyclopedia
Let us now consider the wearing of ornaments and jewelry, which also has its roots in spiritualism. Spiritualism is not only communicating with the dead. Remember, modern spiritualism now has a Christian façade. One only needs to imbibe its doctrines, customs or sophistries knowingly or ignorantly to be ensnared.
The use of ornaments, jewelry, and rings of all types is well documented in ancient pagan ceremonies.
“It is evident from this text (Genesis 35:4) that it was customary to connect the use of earrings with idolatry. This is further intimated in Hosea 2:13, where the wearing of earrings is associated with burning incense to Baal. Isaiah 3:20 is also supposed to refer to idolatrous practices. Earrings were doubtless used as amulets, (charms used by witchcraft to dispel disease or injury). With strange figures and characters engraved upon them (amulets) they were considered as charms warding off evil. They are still thus used in the East. Jacob, being commanded to go to Bethel to renew his covenant with God, desired to put away every vestige of idolatry from the people, and for this reason buried these earring amulets with the teraphein under the oak.”
“When the Orientals (as well as the Egyptians) go to their sacred festivals they always put on their best jewels. Not to appear before the gods in such a way, they consider, would be disgraceful to themselves and displeasing to the deities. A person whose clothes or jewels are indifferent will borrow of his richer neighbors, and nothing is more common than to see poor people standing before the temples, or engaged in sacred ceremonies well adorned with jewels.
James M. Freeman
“It came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight…” “The earring here spoken of (nezem) is more properly a nose ring. The servant says (Verse 47) :’…I put the earring on her face.’”
Ezekiel 16:17 “Thou hast also taken thy fir 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.”
The use of jewelry clearly attracted the evil spirits. Its spiritualistic nature cannot be separated from the actual wearing of it. One person had described it this way: the demons go in and out of the piercings made in the flesh. The use of jewelry for personal decoration has a special attraction for demons.
Beauty And Sexual Attraction
According to the jewelry experts, jewelry is worn for two main reasons: (1) beauty, and (2) sexual attraction.
And in that order. It is also the main purpose of self-adornment. What would sexual beauty be without jewelry or make-up? Boring, perhaps some would say impulsively. However can we always be sure that what we see is what we get when such extensive and expensive means are used to cover up, hide, and deceive us about what is really there?
The love of dress endangers the morals and makes woman the opposite of the Christian lady characterized by modesty and sobriety. Showy, extravagant dress too often encourages lust in the heart of the wearer and awakens base passions in the heart of the beholder. God sees that the ruin of the character is frequently preceded by the indulgence of pride and vanity in dress. He sees that the costly apparel stifles the desire to do good. 4T 645
The Bible teaches modesty in dress. "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel." 1 Timothy 2:9. This forbids display in dress, gaudy colors, profuse ornamentation. Any device designed to attract attention to the wearer or to excite admiration, is excluded from the modest apparel which God's word enjoins. MH 287
There are doubtless talismanic figures made according to some occult laws of astrology. Such talismans are very ancient. They are supposed to cure diseases and to ward off evils…Talismans, generally of silver, are carried to the heathen temples. These images represent as nearly as may be the diseases or the special trouble under which the offerers suffer. It is supposed that the gods will be propitious on seeing them, and give the sufferer the relief sought.”
Freeman
“Rings have always been worn as talismans. Talisman means magic charm… what is and what is not a talisman or amulet is purely a personal matter.”
Heiniger
Cultures and peoples who do not believe in the true and living God(the Lord Jesus Christ, who said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13: 5), or who do not believe that the Bible is god’s love letter and livings Word to humanity, are hopeless indeed. In their desperation to find a way to escape sickness and death, or even to insure protection against supernatural forces and dark powers, they cling to the worthless objects made by their own hands. This is a futile cause and an unsatisfying endeavor.
As Christians, do we need to mimic the heathen, who does not know God, in this pagan practice of ornament-wearing—which is really a sign of faithlessness, fear, desperation, and an infinity to the powers of darkness?
Amulets had magical powers and so called healing properties. Gems were considered a miraculous jewel with talismanic value. According to historians, jewelry has always had two purposes—even to the present time: (1) an ornament for adornment; and (2) an object of worship.
The question is, worship to who? It is obvious who is being adorned—the wearer. But who is the no-so-obvious, invisible, sly one who chooses not to reveal himself, who is content to distract worship from the only One who deserves our worship—our Creator and Redeemer!
And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
Revelation 5:11,12
Symbolic value
“As historical culture developed certain visual images assumed symbolic rolls. The scribed, painted, or modeled image came to symbolize a real experience, whether inner or outer. These symbolic values became closely associated with jewelry forms. In ancient times the seal or talisman was worn around the neck or on the finger. The seal symbolized authority, and its impression on clay or wax authenticated a given message. The ring itself assembled importance as a symbol of rank and authority. All sorts of jewelry forms are used as symbols of institutional relationship. Fraternity, lodge, and club emblems are worn as pins and rings. Engagement rings and wedding rings symbolize the personal and institutional relationship of man and woman. Such symbolic values have a wide currency in present day commercial jewelry.
Philip Morton.
“I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.” Isaiah 42: 8
Jewelry The Spiritualism Connection—Rick & Gwen Shorter