Why I bought a nose ring

“I bathed you with water and washed the blood from you and put ointments on you. I clothed you with an embroidered dress and put leather sandals on you. I dressed you in fine linen and covered you with costly garments. I adorned you with jewelry: I put bracelets on your arms and a necklace around your neck, and I put a ring on your nose, earrings on your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. So you were adorned with gold and silver; your clothes were fine linen and costly fabric and embroidered cloth. Your food was fine flour, honey, and olive oil. You became very beautiful and rose to be a queen. And your fame spread among the nations on account of your beauty, because the splendor I had given you made your beauty perfect, declares the Sovereign LORD. (Ezekiel 16:9-14 NIV)

 I began reading Ezekiel at the beginning of the DTS, mainly because I had never read it before. This section is from a vision Ezekiel had of Jerusalem, and how God picked up the Israelites and gave them life. He gave them all these good gifts; food, clothing, jewelry, etc. And then it goes on to say how she was actually unfaithful, the worst of all her sisters (Samaria and Sodom). I saw this passage as a warning for me. I can see how God has saved me in my life, how he has picked me up from "kicking about in [my] blood" (16:6) and given me life. In the passage quoted above, it mentions how God put a ring in her nose, and so I bought myself a nose ring. Now when I look in the mirror, I see it and am reminded of every good gift the Lord has given to me, and also to not be like unfaithful Jerusalem. I am reminded that everything I have is because of God, and that I am valuable to him.

"For you have delivered me from death 

and my feet from stumbling, 

that I may walk before God 

in the light of life." 

Psalm 56:13