21/10/13

Significance of the ring

Luke 15:22 - But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:


There are many things in the Bible which the world has made a different meaning for and people follow what the world says thus are deprived from the real understanding of scriptures, today's message is one such case.

We read one of the things the father did for the lost son on his return is put a ring to his finger.

The world tells us the finger ring is a symbol of love because it is round without end, some others have another theory related to the finger it is put on which also symbolizes it as love (something to do with the heart).

If we look at the Bible the first mention of a ring in with Joseph the son of Jacob in the land of Egypt. We see when Joseph is made a Prime (Chief) Minister of the kingdom, Pharaoh took off the ring of his own finger and puts it on Joseph along with the other things he did as putting a robe of fine linen and a gold chain on his neck; all these were symbolic. Pharaoh did not put the robe on Joseph because Joseph was not wearing anything, nor put it because it was looking netter and had designs or embroidery on it. The scripture describes the robe by only the material it is made of and that is stated as fine linen which was symbolic to royalty and was also used in the priest's vest. It is a very important symbol in the Bible such as to perfectly complete the sacrifice of Jesus, God had a young (mad) person to appear out of nowhere in the Garden of Gethsemane and then flee naked leaving his linen robe behind.

Even in the book of Esther we see the ring symbolizing authority. In the parable of the prodigal son the father puts the ring on his son symbolizing restoring sonship. The son had left the father taking his part of the inheritance and thus lost relationship with the father. Thus we see the first thing the father did on seeing his son come back was to restore the relationship by putting the ring on his son's finger, thus gave the son authority in the family.

In marriage exchange of rings are very important, but truly marriage is not connected with it. Bible states marriage happens when a man and a woman come together (have relationship) with the intension to start a family. Thus same sex marriage is not a marriage; also live-in relationships are not considered marriage when they do not want to start a family. If those in live-in relationship have a child then they are already considered married. Marriage is less to do with the couple and more to do with the family. That is why it is related to a Church where importance is given to the souls we bring in the Church even though Christ is the Head of it. The rings in marriage are symbolic gestures from the family of the opposite sides to the couple; they symbolize the acceptance of the new person into the family as son/daughter.

The Lord is telling us through the parable; before man sinned he was called son of God for the image of God was in him. Due to the lust of the flesh man ate of the fruit of doubt and thus corrupted the image in him and lost sonship. God (The Son who was within God and was declared by the Father) humbled Himself and came as man Jesus and dwelled amongst us but yet kept the image uncorrupted in Him He overcame corruption that is why He is called Son of God. He made a way for us to return to the Father by His Spirit. The Father is telling us when we come back we will retain the same sonship we had before we sinned, we will again have the same authority as we had before we sinned, and we will walk with God in the Heaven like we did before we sinned.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, when You made us we were made in the flesh but yet were called Sons of God like the Angels. We lost the honor due to the lust of our flesh, but You did not give up on us. The book of Revelations has the Angels calling fellow servants and brethren for we will again be restored in relationship with You and those in Heaven. Lord, in the parable none went to search for the lost son but in reality You did. You did not just wait for us the prodigal sons to return but came yourself for us to restore us to You, we thank You Lord for your love...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference ]
Genesis 41:42-43
42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;
43 And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.

Mark 14:51-52
51 And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him:
52 And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.

Esther 3:10 - And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.

John 1:12-13
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Revelation 19:10 - And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Revelation 22:9 - Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)