August 6

Ezekiel 5
I still remember my first trip to the barber shop where I paid for my own haircut. Until then Dad had always cut my hair. He did a good job, but in junior high in 1968, his style had not changed in the 13 years that he had been cutting my hair. I could have him cut it to any length and style I wanted it cut, as long as it was his. I had a paper route; I could afford to pay a barber, even though it cost a great deal in relation to how long it took me to earn the money. All I wanted was to look a little more like everyone else. In 1968/69 the Broadway musical, Hair, had rocked the nation. Hair had become a symbol not of mere style change but of challenging the moral system of the nation. The Cowsil’s recording of Hair climbed to Billboard’s #2, and helped a hair style become more than a fashion statement.
Hair has long been more than a fashion statement. It has also been a moral statement. Under the Old Testament Law, when one took a Nazarite vow, one never cut one’s hair until one had completed the Nazarite vow, then he would shave his head. Thus when Samson, who had a life-long Nazarite vow, cut his hair, it was the final breaking of the three signs of his Nazarite vow, and it demonstrated his complete abandonment of his moral commitment to the vows. Two women in Jesus’ day washed Jesus’ feet and dried them with their hair. Both were acts demonstrating extreme devotion to the Lord. In the days of New Testament Corinth, long hair on a woman seems to have been a symbol that she is in submission to her husband or father. It would appear that the prostitutes in Corinth (of which there were many) often shaved their heads. Long hair was a public statement of a woman’s submission and fidelity to her husband.
The Lord uses Ezekiel’s hair to make a judgment statement. What Ezekiel did with his hair graphically portrayed what God was doing in judging the nation. Judah had been unfaithful to Him. Therefore, He was judging her. He was cutting her off. She was receiving double for her sins. Let us never forget that a great part of the glory of the Lord is that He does judge. It is unpleasant for us to view, but nevertheless, it is His glory! Whenever we see His judgment, we should remember that it is also His glory! It is amazing that he can even use our hair to bring glory to His name! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john