WILL I, TOO, BE BEAUTIFUL?

WILL I, TOO, BE BEAUTIFUL?

Psalms 149:4 “…He will beautify the humble with salvation.”

I read this in my morning readings—another verse that jumped off the page at me from the book of Psalms.  (I love the book of Psalms!)   Let me tell you what I think it might mean—in part.  But first I think it will be fun to share some descriptions of Jesus Christ (the Lamb, the Word, the Lord…) in His eternal form:

Revelation 1:13-15 “and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and His hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire.  His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace and His voice as the sound of many waters.”

Our Lord is pictured here as a figure of unimaginable power (and with bright white hair)!

 Continuing in verse 16” …His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.”

Because He radiates such power, the author here (John) couldn’t even stare directly at Him for too long even in his dream state (or “in the spirit” as he calls it Rev. 1:10) or whatever experience God was having him go through so he could record this book for humanity— The Revelation of Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:1).

Jesus Christ (who was the Lord and the Word of the Old Testament) loved beauty!  He didn’t make himself as attractive as the world’s most recognized models when he came in human form but there was a good reason for this.  He wasn’t trying to attract attention to himself in his physical form.  He came to teach us about His Father (also our Father). 

John 17 (whole chapter) is Jesus’ prayer to God the Father about how he came to accomplish this.  He hid himself from public and religious authorities several times during his ministry so that he would not be arrested and crucified before his preassigned three- and one-half year work was finished.  If He had been too attractive, He would have stood out in a crowd.

Yet while in physical, human form, Jesus spoke of the beauties of His creation itself.  He talked about the beauty of the lilies and how gorgeous were some of the birds of the air.  Ironically, He included this in a promise to us to care for us (while on this earth) in a similar fashion as we practice living in faith.  Luke 12:27 “Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” 

Jesus also loved quality, attractive clothing to the degree that the soldiers at the stake where he was crucified bartered over which one of them would take home his coat.  (A side note—this was also prophesied in Psalms 22:18 “They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.”)

These are but a few of the scriptures that can be found speaking of the beauty of God.  As quoted at the start, we too will be given his beauty. (If we remain humble.)

This EXCITES ME!  I am a woman, so my desire to be beautiful comes naturally in my human form!  I truly appreciate the natural beauty which comparatively few people on this planet have inherited. Biblical history also records some MEN ALSO who had handsome and masculine features.  These traits became part of why they were selected for certain duties. 

Daniel was one of these:

Daniel 1: 4-6 “young men in whom there was no blemish, but good looking . . . who had the ability to serve in the king’s palace . . .Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azzzariah, Abed-Nego.”

I remember a trip to Switzerland that my husband and I took a few years ago.  I wonder why someone didn’t volunteer to tape my mouth shut because it was open much too OFTEN when viewing the stunning vistas that were beyond anything I had ever seen in a photo or on film!  We’ve all seen animals (or, at least photos of animals) that left us aghast at such beauty that we could hardly turn our eyes away.

 Someday, our God (our loving Creator) is planning to share that genetic beauty with me!!!  Someday I get to share in (Look like Him!) “the beauty of the Lord”!  The time is coming when “we shall see him as he is, for we shall be like him” (1 John 3:2).  Psalms 27:4 “One thing I have desired of the Lord, that I will seek:  That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple.”

Absalom is argued by some scholars to be the most handsome man in the Bible.  He was the son of King David.  2 Samuel 14:25 says in all Israel there was nobody as handsome as he.

See 2 Samuel 14:25 “Now in all of Israel there was no one who was praised as much as Absalom for his good looks.  From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.”

Among the beautiful women of scripture is Sarah, who was so beautiful that her husband, Abraham feared they might kill him so the king could steal her to become a wife of the king as he passed through that ruler’s land.  In fact, this happened on two different occasions by two different kings!

Genesis 12:10-15 “Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there…And it came to pass when he was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai, his wife, ‘Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance.  Therefore it will happen when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, ‘This is his wife’; and they will kill me, but they will let you live…”  This event happened and she was taken to Pharaoh.  You will enjoy reading this chapter in your Bible.

Later another king, Abimelech, also tried to steal Sarah from Abraham because of her great beauty.  (She was called Sarah by this time.)  Read Genesis 20:1-18. 

And I must add this: God sees his obedient and zealous children and servants as already beautiful in spirit. He even speaks in Romans 10:15 and Isaiah 52:7 of the beautiful feet of those who bring good tidings, the good news. Beautiful feet. We want beautiful feet, as God sees beautiful feet.

God also tells us that even right now he sees the hearts of those who have a meek and quiet spirit as being beautiful in heart, right now. In our present life, our God is more impressed with those beautiful in heart more than those in expensive clothing, fancy hairdos and fine jewelry.

1 Peter 3:3-4  “Do not let your adornment be merely outward — arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel —  4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.”

Having said that, I do believe that someday, our God (our loving Creator) is planning to share HIS PERFECT genetic beauty with me!  And not just me—but with all His Spirit born children! God loves living amid beautiful things.  All things created by Him reflect His glory! God loves variety, evident as we look over his creation. So we will all be beautiful, but in many different ways. We won’t all look the same.

Psalms 27:4 “One thing I have desired of the Lord, that I will seek:  That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His Temple.”

MAY GOD SPEED THAT DAY!