August 17

“No man who merely skims the Book of God can profit from it; we must dig and mine until we obtain the hidden treasure.”

Order, Glory, and God’s Design

The modern world we inhabit is a world that celebrates anarchy, a world that rebels against any semblance of order. It is a world that worships confusion. God’s Word paints a different picture. Scripture depicts a well-ordered life that is reflective of the wisdom and authority of God. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 11: 3, “The head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.” It is not about one being better than the other. It is about order. The eternal Son, in His humanity, willingly submits to His heavenly Father. If even the Son of God is not ashamed to walk in this order and submission, then neither should we.

The apostle uses the analogy of head coverings to drive the point home. In the church in Corinth, a man would dishonor himself if he went into the worship assembly with a covered head. To cover one’s head was to hide the glory God gave him in creating him as His image bearer. However, when a woman would go into prayer or prophecy without a head covering, she was dishonoring the head, that is, the man. Paul is not afraid to use strong language in this section, “Every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head” (1 Corinthians 11:5). Paul uses a metaphor to drive the point home, “For if a woman will not cover her head, neither let her be shaven…” (1 Corinthians 11:6). The husband was the head, the covering sign of which was the wife’s head covering. To reject that covering was to publicly display oneself as a shamed man, not a man of God.

Appearances aside, Paul drives it back to creation. “For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man” (1 Corinthians 11:8–9). Eve was created as a helper for Adam. She was not created as a helper for herself but a helper suitable for the man. That creation order is not antiquated, it is eternal truth. However, Paul balances the point just made, “Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 11:11). Man is made for woman, and woman for man. They both are vital and necessary. They both are to be honored. They both are dependent upon God.

The apostle appeals to creation. “Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?” (1 Corinthians 11:14). God wrote His design on humanity at the foundation of creation. Male and female are not created interchangeable despite how much culture tries to proclaim otherwise. Long hair was given as a “glory” for the woman to wear as a natural covering by God Himself (1 Corinthians 11:15). The physical differences between male and female point to a well-ordered universe in which the God of glory purposely designed distinctions, not a random universe where science reigns supreme.

God’s Word is good for today as it was yesterday. We live in an age where men have turned from their responsibility and women have turned from God’s design. Both are acting dishonorably toward the role the Creator has assigned them. Modernity’s attempt to erase differences between male and female are not the fruit of progress; they are the product of rebellion. Paul points out in this passage that idolatry and anarchy often go hand in hand. The devil is at work in the hearts and minds of men to muddy the waters of what God has made clear and obvious.

Paul issues a challenge that still stands, “Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?” (1 Corinthians 11:13). Will we dishonor God and live in rebellion or will we honor God in His well-ordered design? God calls His people to walk as beacons of His glory in this world, not as those who mimic a world that hates Him. The headship of Christ over man, man over woman, is a picture of love, order, and God’s wise design. As we walk in that order we honor our God and we shine as lights in this dark world.

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Nehemiah 12:27-13:31
1 Corinthians 11:1-16
Psalm 35:1-16
Proverbs 21:17-18

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All my bones shall say, “O LORD, who is like you, delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, the poor and needy from him who robs him?”
~ Psalms 35:10

New Testament: 1 Corinthians 11:1-16

Summary: Head Coverings

We’ll see as we read here that some matters discussed in this chapter may have only local significance. But the spiritual principles apply to us today. When it comes to sharing in public worship, we must ask ourselves some serious questions. One of those questions is do I dishonor authority? We got to be careful not to dishonor the Lord, no matter what the cultural standards may be. God has established headship in creation and in the church and he intends for us to respect it.