THE EVIL SIDE OF COSMETICS
BEAUTY IS VAIN
I think many of us have noticed that there can be a 'spirit' to certain things.This can include a wide variety of items and behaviors.
Some of these include such things as Manner of Dress, Cosmetics, Hairpieces, Language, Fragrance, Tattoos, Holidays, Novels, TV, Movies, Music, etc.
Any of these can change the way we feel and act. For instance, music will cause you to move and dance differently depending on the tune.
It can also become a chant or 'mantra' in your head that's hard to get rid of. The words and lyrics can even lead to bad behaviors, driving too fast, and 'acting out'.
The same is true of Fragrance and Cosmetics. These can make us feel like someone else and even be used as a tool to manipulate others or become overly prideful.
A very good, and cautionary, example of this is given in the Bible in the story of Jezebel who used face paint (makeup) in an attempt to manipulate her husband King Ahab and the Army Commander and Future King Jehu.
Jezebel did not prevail, and she was thrown down out of the window and killed. Upon her death she was called a 'cursed woman' and was eaten by dogs.
The same thing can be said of Fragrance which can be used to attract the opposite sex and to create a certain feeling and atmosphere.
It is fine for one to bathe and smell good and fresh, just as it is fine to brush and comb your hair to look presentable and even dress in a presentable way, but these things are all taken too far in our society and have all too often been used in a prideful and seductive way.
Look at the passages below to see what the Bible says about Cosmetics and Fragrance, and then compare it to the good woman in Proverbs 31 where there is no mention of either of these but rather someone who is vitruous, unselfish and productive.
Proverbs 31:30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
JEZEBEL –
· 2 Kings 9:22
And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?
And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window.
33 And he said, Throw her down. So they threw her down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trode her under foot.
34 And when he was come in, he did eat and drink, and said, Go, see now this cursed woman, and bury her: for she is a king's daughter.
35 And they went to bury her: but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands.
THE EVIL SIDE OF FRAGRANCE, PERFUMES & COLOGNES:
THE STRANGE WOMAN –
What are aloes in the Bible?
Aloes [N] (Heb. 'ahalim), a fragrant wood ( Numbers 24:6 ; Psalms 45:8 ; Proverbs 7:17 ; Cant 4:14 ), the Aquilaria agallochum of botanists, or, as some suppose, the costly gum or perfume extracted from the wood.
Behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
11 (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
12 Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)
13 So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
14 I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.
15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.
19 For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:
20 He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.
21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
22 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
23 Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
26 For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
GOOD WOMAN PROVERBS 31
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
JEZEBEL – Makeup, Cosmetics, Hairdos & Hair Pieces, etc.