How do we respect something that is lost? Do we wear white, as we might see in India, or as the daughters of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands did in 2004? Or do we don our black robes, as does much of the world to show our loss to others?
It’s accepted that we grieve for all sorts of things: jobs; homes; position; people. The grieving process is designed to give us time to transition through our loss, as well as to let others know we are in pain. It’s a way of respecting that which is taken from us.
Even if we choose to wear no special colors at all, those around us can tell. It’s impossible hide our deepest emotion from those who know us well.
What does the Bible say about our display of respect? How can we reflect a sense of connection for that which carries importance to us?
Micah 1:16 tells us:
“Make yourselves bald and cut off your hair, for the children of your delight; make yourselves as bald as the eagle, for they shall go from you into exile.”
If we hide our distress, how will the world know we care? Our bald head will not bring our lost loved ones back, but others will see our love for them is undiminished.
Acts 18:18 tells us:
“After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow.”
We aren’t told Paul’s vow, but it’s certain he only cut his hair once he completed the vow. The people around him would then know Paul took his vows seriously. His baldness made it real to the rest of the world.
Isaiah 22:12 tells us:
“In that day the Lord God of hosts called for weeping and mourning, for baldness and wearing sackcloth.”
Judah had made herself strong but without considering God’s place in her fortifications. Her baldness was to be an outward sign of her coming repentance.
What does our bald head show to the world? What do we grieve for? Is it our children, carried off by the wiles of the world? Or is there a promise we have made to God? Or maybe, just maybe, our bald head is a sign of our grief for sin and our repentance before God.
We don’t have to be bald headed for the world to see where we stand. It’s plain in how we live, the places we visit, and the television shows we watch in our living rooms. We may think we are fooling everyone, but our bald heads are out there for everyone to see.
What we respect is clear to the world. If we respect the Word of God, the world will know.
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Code: FGO.B.02.15.vp.esv
Originally published on 4-6-15 in Relationships