I have been reading Esther in the Old Testament with my girls community group and I have learned that a lot has not changed since it was written. In Esther 2, the women who are to see King Xeres must go through a year worth of beauty treatments. Interestingly, they also state that these women were beautiful to begin with. Here's how I felt (and Beth Moore felt): "So, you're telling me that I'll never be beautiful enough- I'll always need more".
Beth Moore also conducted a questionnaire with various women from the U.S. She asked them, "What's the hardest thing about being a woman?" Several women said this (or something to this effect): "Being too much and not enough at the same time". Man! I feel the same way constantly. I don't want to be either of those things but it seems I am both.
The one thing I like about Esther was that when offered "extra" treatments before seeing the king, she denied them. She knew she was enough.
I feel like I like to shop and buy things that will make me "more beautiful"...as if I wasn't already. I feel like the clothes make the woman, not that the woman makes the clothes. I do think that buying things that flatter your figure or fit you is something that is important- just as important as modesty. However, I don't want my beauty to be defined by what I wear.
As Gretchen Wilson put it in Redneck Woman (Preface- don't take this out of context):
"Victoria's Secret
Well their stuff's real nice
Oh but I can buy the same damn thing on a Wal Mart shelf half price
And still look sexy"
It's not the clothes that make the woman, it's your inner beauty and own natural beauty that makes the clothes look nice. Esther was enough, and God created me to be enough too.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
The Old Testament and Fashion?
Last week I started a bible study on Esther with some lovely ladies in my community group here at UM. The study is by Beth Moore. Interestingly, the study is called "Esther: It's tough being a woman". Without going through an entire week of information, I'll summarize it. (Also- check out Esther 1)
In Esther 1, King Xeres (ZURX-EZ) throws this crazy wild party. Like the biggest bash ever (way bigger than the inaugural ball of our time). It started with 180 days of showing off his awesome stuff, and then a 7 day nonstop party in his gardens. Cool fact: our word paradise comes from the same word they used for their gardens: paradeisoi. So just imagine- the most beautiful place in the world. I think of Versailles in France, or if you visited Miami, Vizcaya. To stay awake (and appear amusing) Xeres and the gang obviously drank a ton. The main reason that he held this party (besides the obvious self-love) was to get the men of the area to agree to go to war. What's the best way to convince men to go to war? Show off your beautiful naked wife!
Meanwhile, Queen Vashti was throwing her own "ladies-only" party (mainly because women we're oppressed- don't think they decided to do this on their own) a little bit far away. King Xeres sends his 7 men (7 dwarfs) to "fetch her" and bring her to his party completely naked. Queen Vashti said "NO" (more like HECK NO!). The King was obviously shocked by her answer and created a decree (while intoxicated don't forget) that Queen Vashti was never allowed to be in his presence, and more importantly, he sent a message to all the people of his land that women are to respect their husbands and every man should be the ruler over his own household.
Just reading that- our culture doesn't seem that much different from theirs. Not only do we love showing off all of our possessions, we also love showing off our women and strength. We never want those things to be jeopardized.
Finally, check out Psalm 49: 6-20:
6 those who trust in their wealth
and boast of their great riches?
7 No man can redeem the life of another
or give to God a ransom for him-
8 the ransom for a life is costly,
no payment is ever enough-
9 that he should live on forever
and not see decay.
10 For all can see that wise men die;
the foolish and the senseless alike perish
and leave their wealth to others.
11 Their tombs will remain their houses [a] forever,
their dwellings for endless generations,
though they had [b] named lands after themselves.
12 But man, despite his riches, does not endure;
he is [c] like the beasts that perish.
13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,
and of their followers, who approve their sayings.
Selah
14 Like sheep they are destined for the grave, [d]
and death will feed on them.
The upright will rule over them in the morning;
their forms will decay in the grave, [e]
far from their princely mansions.
15 But God will redeem my life [f] from the grave;
he will surely take me to himself.
Selah
16 Do not be overawed when a man grows rich,
when the splendor of his house increases;
17 for he will take nothing with him when he dies,
his splendor will not descend with him.
18 Though while he lived he counted himself blessed—
and men praise you when you prosper-
19 he will join the generation of his fathers,
who will never see the light of life .
20 A man who has riches without understanding
is like the beasts that perish.
I really like verses 13, 18, and 20. I need to constantly remind myself that my wealth is from the Lord and not on my own.
I'll end with a quote from Beth Moore, " I can tell you something that will never be a waste of time: ascribing to God His measureless worth" Check out Psalm 96: 4-6 too.
Peace.
In Esther 1, King Xeres (ZURX-EZ) throws this crazy wild party. Like the biggest bash ever (way bigger than the inaugural ball of our time). It started with 180 days of showing off his awesome stuff, and then a 7 day nonstop party in his gardens. Cool fact: our word paradise comes from the same word they used for their gardens: paradeisoi. So just imagine- the most beautiful place in the world. I think of Versailles in France, or if you visited Miami, Vizcaya. To stay awake (and appear amusing) Xeres and the gang obviously drank a ton. The main reason that he held this party (besides the obvious self-love) was to get the men of the area to agree to go to war. What's the best way to convince men to go to war? Show off your beautiful naked wife!
Meanwhile, Queen Vashti was throwing her own "ladies-only" party (mainly because women we're oppressed- don't think they decided to do this on their own) a little bit far away. King Xeres sends his 7 men (7 dwarfs) to "fetch her" and bring her to his party completely naked. Queen Vashti said "NO" (more like HECK NO!). The King was obviously shocked by her answer and created a decree (while intoxicated don't forget) that Queen Vashti was never allowed to be in his presence, and more importantly, he sent a message to all the people of his land that women are to respect their husbands and every man should be the ruler over his own household.
Just reading that- our culture doesn't seem that much different from theirs. Not only do we love showing off all of our possessions, we also love showing off our women and strength. We never want those things to be jeopardized.
Finally, check out Psalm 49: 6-20:
6 those who trust in their wealth
and boast of their great riches?
7 No man can redeem the life of another
or give to God a ransom for him-
8 the ransom for a life is costly,
no payment is ever enough-
9 that he should live on forever
and not see decay.
10 For all can see that wise men die;
the foolish and the senseless alike perish
and leave their wealth to others.
11 Their tombs will remain their houses [a] forever,
their dwellings for endless generations,
though they had [b] named lands after themselves.
12 But man, despite his riches, does not endure;
he is [c] like the beasts that perish.
13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,
and of their followers, who approve their sayings.
Selah
14 Like sheep they are destined for the grave, [d]
and death will feed on them.
The upright will rule over them in the morning;
their forms will decay in the grave, [e]
far from their princely mansions.
15 But God will redeem my life [f] from the grave;
he will surely take me to himself.
Selah
16 Do not be overawed when a man grows rich,
when the splendor of his house increases;
17 for he will take nothing with him when he dies,
his splendor will not descend with him.
18 Though while he lived he counted himself blessed—
and men praise you when you prosper-
19 he will join the generation of his fathers,
who will never see the light of life .
20 A man who has riches without understanding
is like the beasts that perish.
I really like verses 13, 18, and 20. I need to constantly remind myself that my wealth is from the Lord and not on my own.
I'll end with a quote from Beth Moore, " I can tell you something that will never be a waste of time: ascribing to God His measureless worth" Check out Psalm 96: 4-6 too.
Peace.
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