How To Fashion Disaster
Opening Prayer
Gracious, loving Lord, I need Your kind and patient help now just to know how best to pray today.
Read Isaiah 3:13-4:1
[13] The LORD takes his place in court; he rises to judge the people. [14] The LORD enters into judgment against the elders and leaders of his people: “It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses. [15] What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?” declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty. [16] The LORD says, “The women of Zion are haughty, walking along with outstretched necks, flirting with their eyes, strutting along with swaying hips, with ornaments jingling on their ankles. [17] Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion; the LORD will make their scalps bald.” [18] In that day the Lord will snatch away their finery: the bangles and headbands and crescent necklaces, [19] the earrings and bracelets and veils, [20] the headdresses and anklets and sashes, the perfume bottles and charms, [21] the signet rings and nose rings, [22] the fine robes and the capes and cloaks, the purses [23] and mirrors, and the linen garments and tiaras and shawls. [24] Instead of fragrance there will be a stench; instead of a sash, a rope; instead of well-dressed hair, baldness; instead of fine clothing, sackcloth; instead of beauty, branding. [25] Your men will fall by the sword, your warriors in battle. [26] The gates of Zion will lament and mourn; destitute, she will sit on the ground. [1] In that day seven women will take hold of one man and say, “We will eat our own food and provide our own clothes; only let us be called by your name. Take away our disgrace!” Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
What is it that so offends the Lord here?Having berated Judah for its immorality, the attention passes to the nation’s leaders (13-15) and then its women. The leaders are judged for exploiting the poor, but the women for their pride. It’s not so much the fashion that God judges, but what it reveals of the human heart. These women, wives and daughters of the wealthy, are arrogant and look down their noses at others. Their attire is described in detail, for all the pride and wealth that it represents will be stripped away when Jerusalem is destroyed. Their end will be shame (4:1). In an age when “image is all” and the cut of a jacket or the length of a hemline can reveal the true fashionista, God’s attention is on the heart. It’s not that Christians should deliberately look dowdy. Goodness knows, there are too many who, by paying no attention to their clothing, portray Christians as followers of a Lord who rejoices in the ugly rather than in beauty. Within the bounds of decency, there’s no harm in dressing in an attractive way. However, a heart transformed by grace into the likeness of Christ will always be more attractive than the best that New York or Paris fashion can offer.
Apply
How do you show that you know your heart, not your outward appearance, is what’s most important to God?
Closing prayer
Lord, help the inner beauty of Your grace to shine through me today. I want to reflect Your beauty to others.
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