{"id":313,"date":"2012-09-27T12:15:58","date_gmt":"2012-09-27T18:15:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rolledscroll.com\/?p=313"},"modified":"2013-01-17T22:54:39","modified_gmt":"2013-01-18T05:54:39","slug":"clothing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rolledscroll.com\/blog\/archives\/313","title":{"rendered":"Clothing"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to my ROLLED SCROLL study, where I follow cultural and literary images found in the Bible in an attempt to unearth God\u2019s meaning in His pattern of usage.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0CLOTHING<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n

I spent three muggy summer months in Japan when I was twenty, during which time a generous host family outfitted me in a traditional ensemble: navy-and-white cotton yukata<\/em> robe, brilliant yellow obi<\/em> sash, wooden geta<\/em> sandals in the lucky colour red. My round eyes and wild blonde perm notwithstanding, I felt very Japanese! I\u2019d been initiated into the culture by identifying with that ancient emblem, the national costume. Of course, long before countries divided into geographical entities\u2014at the dawn of civilization, in the \u201cage of innocence\u201d\u2014apparel wasn\u2019t even an issue.<\/p>\n

History:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>The Old Testament relates the history<\/em> of clothing beginning in the Garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve traded in their nudity for a suit of fig leaves they vainly hoped would cover their shame from succumbing to the lies of chaos and death brought by Satan (disguised as a snake; Gen. 3:1-10). But before God turned them out of the Garden of communion with Him, He provided a covering of animal skins in the first biblical bloodletting\u2014the genesis of the sacrificial system of substitutionary sin atonement (Gen. 3:20-24).<\/p>\n

Value:\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>The next biblical scene shows Abraham, through his servant, negotiating for Isaac\u2019s wife with a dowry of jewellery and garments (Gen 24:52-53). High economic value<\/em> was placed on raiment as gifts, trade items, and plunder taken in war (Judg. 17:10; 2 Chron. 9:24; Josh. 22:8; 1 Sam. 27:9). One\u2019s outfit was a mark of one\u2019s status: widows could be distinguished from prostitutes; lepers shredded their clothes to warn others of their disease; kings and courtiers were dressed for success; penitents and mourners wore sackcloth\u2014dark, coarse goat\u2019s hair also used to make grain sacks (Gen. 38:14-19; Lev. 13:45; Gen. 41:42; 2 Sam. 3:31).<\/p>\n

Religion:\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Clothing took on the religious significance<\/em> of purity and consecration when God prescribed fine linen from turban to breeches for the priests, with gold embroidery decorating the high priest\u2019s extravagant and bejewelled outfit (Exod. 28:2-5; Exod. 29:21; Lev. 19:19). This pristine attire was splattered with blood during temple offerings, showing the defilement of sin (Lam. 4:14). Tearing of one\u2019s own clothes was a synonym for grief, as when the prophet Ezra learned of the sin of Israel\u2019s intermarriage; tearing off another\u2019s clothing showed subjugation, as when conquered kings were stripped of their vestments and their authority (Ezra 9:3; Job 12:17-19; Job 19:9).<\/p>\n

God\u2019s provision<\/em><\/strong> for His people extended to their wardrobes: during Israel\u2019s forty years in the wilderness, the wanderers\u2019 apparel and even footwear miraculously\u00a0didn’t\u00a0deteriorate (Deut. 8:4; Deut. 29:5). The most-used fabrics for the outer mantle and inner tunic worn both men and women in Bible times were wool, linen, and cotton (and possibly silk)\u2014although flax and fleece were never woven together unless for priests (Deut. 22:11). One\u2019s cloak, used to carry goods, was not to be loaned out or taken, as it doubled as a blanket at night (Exod. 12:34; Exod. 22: 25-26; Deut. 24:13).<\/p>\n

God’s character:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>The OT uses the metaphor to explain God\u2019s character<\/em> as Creator and Judge. He clothes the heavens with blackness and wraps up the waters in a garment, and attires the fields in lilies for a more stunning effect than the glory of Solomon\u2019s wardrobe (Isa. 50:3; Prov. 30:4; see also\u00a0Luke 12:27-28). The clouds are the garments of the sea, and the sea in turn dresses the deep, and Leviathan wears his skin like a raincoat that no human can remove (Job 38:9; Ps. 104:6; Job 41:13). Yet someday the heavens and earth will wear out, and God will roll them up like a mantle and change the clothing of creation (Ps. 102:25-26; Isa. 50:9; Isa. 51:6-8; Heb. 1:12). For now, God robes Himself with honour and majesty; He wraps Himself in light as a garment, and in the armoury of righteousness, salvation, vengeance, and zeal\u00a0(Ps. 104:1-2;\u00a0Isa. 59:17). In vivid messianic prophecy, Isaiah described the coming of the Lord in priest-like robes splattered blood-red from treading the winepress of judgment (Isa. 63:1-3). And yet, again with the imagery of dressing, God expressed joy that Jerusalem would be brought out of exile and rebuilt:<\/p>\n

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Awake, awake,\u2028put on your strength, O Zion;\u2028put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city<\/em>. (Isa. 52:1 ESV<\/em>)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Bible stories:\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>The lives of some of the most colourful biblical characters<\/em> feature clothing:<\/p>\n