The Christian Letter, Volume One: Chapter 14, Part 4 of 6
We often think of Samson with long hair, never envisioning him with a huge beard. No razor was to ever touch his head, and when it did, Samson became weak. But was it his hair? Like the nakedness of Adam and Eve, it was the nakedness of Samson when he lost his beard that caused his strength to leave. He had sinned many times, but still had the covering. It was only when he felt invincible that he gave up his covering. When we feel more attached to our appearance than to HaShem: we will fall in the same way. It was not Samson’s hair growth that returned to him his strength, but his prayer of repentance.
Men should look like men, and in that: Men should look as masculine as they can. Would a lion look as fatherly, or as fierce, without his mane? In fact, when a lion is castrated, he sheds his mane and it never grows again. The male lion then looks like a lioness. I trim mine to keep it even (Ezekiel 44:20), but find no purpose to shave it off. If a man is able to grow one, then it is unnatural to shave off the beard. When one does, he feels weaker in that he feels younger, or less of an adult.
Although I have never seen Adam painted this way, he likely had a beard, though it is of great doubt that Eve did. So, what about a woman shaving her armpits or legs? While there is no commandment against it if they choose to do so, what would be the female equivalency to the beard? Perhaps a tall spine and an honest heart, but also a great beauty, for it is no crime for a woman to be beautiful and physically fit, inasmuch as it is no crime for a man to be as handsome as he can be by being physically fit.
For a man true fashion is: A bit of earth worked into his hands. His face painted with lines of both joy and sorrow, radiating a faith untainted by folly. His ears hear the Word and his tongue cannot help but to recite the promises, nor cause any to forget the curses. His feet tread where once unwilling; a road with a cross that seems to be the end, but he bears a heart that knows of the field of graves upon the hill behind it, and Heaven beyond that. He is not bearing clothes that smell of “Cowboy Passion Cologne,” but his boots, pants, and shirt, are as worn as his hat, for he gave his good clothes away to those without. And, pulled on by children, is a cord with a blue reminder of what ought never be forgot. They pull to touch the beard, and marvel at an age of wisdom with understanding enough to be, not childish, but child like.
For a woman true fashion is: An offering of bread held out with both hands. Her face has a blush caused by earnest smiles, and eyes painted the hue given by Elohim, radiating humility and kindness. Her mouth is not painted red, but bears the color of love by uttering His Word in peace, hope, and fear. She adorns her ears with the Words of the Creator and her feet with the dust of His footprints. Around her neck is His light yoke, and around her Biblical garment are tassels of dazzling white and a blue hue of remembrance, while upon her crown is not a tiara, hat, or chemicals, but the wisdom of love unto her husband greater than her own will, showcasing a love that affects all around her.
For children true fashion is: Laughing and playing, learning and touching, revering life and being sad at death, scuffed knees from trying what he or she could not yet do but in time shall, and eager hearts with questions of hope upon the Sabbath. Along with an open mind, they openly wear a reminder, and are asked often of the hope within them, and they are unafraid to answer with happiness. They take naps under the table and help with making cookies to share with widows, their hands are covered in everything and their heart filled with wonder; his or her arms are dressed, not in cloth, but with ready anticipation of grasping tight the embrace of the Saviour.
Let us remember this with the time we once spent on only outward appearance. It is only then we see that some haircuts are a form of idol worship. From coloring hair for a big football game, or working on it for long periods of time before a big dance, this can be as big of an idol to us as the sun was to the Egyptians, becoming more important than Sabbath, family, or our reputation. Haircuts that intimidate, from Nazi skinheads to wildly colored or spiked hair, ought be avoided by looking to 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22.
So what kind of hair cut should we have? Can women have short hair and can men have long hair (2 Samuel 14:25-26)? I will not debate as to whether or not the Messiah had long hair, and I doubt many people preached to Samson about his. So let’s consider Scripture. Please read 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 and have it handy.
So, men are not to have long hair, right? Paul is not speaking here about cloth head coverings or hair. He states this is allegorical in the beginning of the chapter. Paul encourages us to look at the animals, or nature, and discern. We see the male is the head of his family, and often has the most plumage, hair, horns, or beard. This is about rank. The Messiah is above the man, the husband is above the wife, and the wife is above their children. (Note: Higher authority does not mean whip cracking, but rather a fine example. After all, how does the Messiah treat the men He is above? Consider Ephesians 5:22-33). Long or short hair is not sinful for either sex (Acts 18:18 and Deuteronomy 21:10-13), so long as they are not trying to mimic the opposite gender’s appearance, worship false idols, or use it as a means of intimidation, fear, or sexuality.
Side note: A passage that oft raises questions is the brotherly kiss found in Romans 16:16, 1 Corinthians 16:20, 2 Corinthians 13:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:26, and 1 Peter 5:14. Children, women, and other men, would kiss the edge of the beard as part of a greeting. They would also say, “Shalom, Yahoweh bless you.” or something very similar. The holy kiss is a showing of love in a righteous manner. In 2 Samuel 20:9-10 we learn the act is such a show of friendship and warmth that Amasa did not notice the sword. Sound familiar? Judas. “He who I kiss,” … a warm brotherly affection sold the Rabbi for thirty pieces of silver in Matthew 26:14-16, 48-49. Be on your guard.
In Leviticus 19:26-28 (also Leviticus 21:5 and Deuteronomy 14:1-3) we see we’re not to eat anything with blood, practice divination or fortune telling, round the hair at the temples or mar the edges of our beard, cut gashes in our flesh when someone dies, or tattoo ourselves. Portions of this Law have to do with outward appearance, but in a matter differentiating from mere dress code.
Yahoweh desires our love. The traits in Leviticus 19:26-28 were done by people who mourned over the death of the sun gods, such as Tammuz, along with his impersonators Zeus, Ra, Mithra, and every other sun god. The Egyptians, for example, had their hair cut short and in a certain way, so that what remained appeared in the form of a circle surrounding the head (the halo is said to be derived from this). If these things are done for another reason, it is not because of high self-esteem.
Leviticus 19:26-28 wages combat upon the superstitions of Egypt, which has been adopted by many other cultures. If this were written today, would it read that we could not grow pumpkins, as a means to keep us from having jack-o-lanterns? This commandment is similar to the commandment to not worship other mighty ones, or have idols. To the Israelites, a shaven face was an idol of social status within pagan Egypt.
The beard, or hair, was cut as a sign of mourning the death of a deity. They marred the edge of their beard by cutting it all off. We are not to worship false deities or even have so much as the appearance of doing so, hence, Bible believing men, if able, ought have a beard.
Different times and cultures tell us a beard is not considered glamorous, but we must listen to the Word. Less than one hundred years ago if one could grow a beard, but chose instead to shave it off, the act was considered a hindrance of testimony. Now you may think this is insane, but to desecrate the beard would be insane. If you do not believe me then just ask David. In 1 Samuel 21:13-19 David drooled, not on his shirt or on the floor, but on his beard, to make people think he was crazy.
Let us consider 2 Samuel 10:1-10. The men’s beards were cut off, causing them to be humiliated. David asked them to wait until their beards grew back; therefore, the men tarried at Jericho until their beards were grown. Also, in Ezekiel 5:1-5, to make the people understand punishment … Ezekiel cut his beard off. A shaven face is what sun worshippers prefer (Genesis 41:14) but often it is said that true elders are those humble enough, and old enough, for a beard.
For some, growing a beard is manly, or a way of proclaiming adulthood or freedom from the military. Some enjoy a beard because without one they get scratchy and lose affection from others. For others it is a little more pragmatic: “I like beard … hate shave. Me caveman!”
For the record: EliYahu (Elijah) was a caveman.
Regardless, our true reason ought be: “Do not round the corner of your head, nor destroy the corner of your beard.” (Leviticus 19:27).
“Do not round” could also be read, “Do not curl”. Curling, which is what Orthodox Jewish men do with their hair called ringlets, is exactly what we are instructed not to do. There are no ancient paintings, pottery, or carvings of any kind showing Jews with side curls. Jewish men of old dressed with and without hats and had varying lengths of beards and hair, but did not have ringlets, or other indications of modern day Catholic or Rabbinical clergy.
So when did the beard become “unfashionable?” At various times, and for various reasons, I’m sure, but one story I heard really stuck with me. The World Wars had the use of chemical warfare, and so soldiers shaved their beards to be able to wear the gasmasks. Due to this need the first safe personal razor company was established for the soldiers, and any other man who wanted to use them.
Of the men who returned: we loved them as we mourned the ones we lost. These men, treated as heroes, and clean-shaven out of a need to survive, became the models of patriotism and manhood; in time, most men followed suit and shaved to be like the returned soldiers. And, since no one makes money if you have a beard, there came a heavy influx of advertising by razor companies about how “sexy men are” if they look like “younger boys.” Beards became unfashionable … along with the Bible that calls for one.
We changed heroes.
“I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard, I did not hide My face from humiliation and spitting.” (Isaiah 50:6). The One Who bore the punishment of our sin had His beard ripped out, a beard that children came up to and kissed. A beard that prostitutes and other women kissed with holy kisses. A beard His disciples kissed … our sin, our lawlessness, ripped out.Yahoshuah, beardless, upon that cross, bore our sin. I am reminded of this daily, and I long one day to kiss the beard of the One I love more than all: the bearded One Who first loved me.
“It has delighted Yahoweh,
for the sake of His righteousness,
to make the Torah great and esteemed.” (Isaiah 42:21).
Be Blessed and be a Blessing.
Shalom
-Valentine Thalken Billingsley
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