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To veil (cover) or not to veil. That is the question, or is it? I don’t think so, or at least, it’s not the only question. While whether or not covering is required is important, an equally important and often ignored question is who is supposed to cover. The section of the Bible that talks about head coverings is 1 Corinthians 11:1-16:

1 try to imitate me, even as I myself try to imitate the Messiah.

2 Now I praise you because you have remembered everything I told you and observe the traditions just the way I passed them on to you. 3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is the Messiah, and the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of the Messiah is God. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies wearing something down over his head brings shame to his head, 5 but every woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled brings shame to her head – there is no difference between her and a woman who has had her head shaved. 6 For if a woman is not veiled, let her also have her hair cut short; but if it is shameful for a woman to wear her hair cut short or to have her head shaved, then let her be veiled. 7 For a man indeed should not have his head veiled, because he is the image and glory of God, and the woman is the glory of man. 8 For man was not made from woman, but woman from man; 9 and indeed man was not created for the sake of the woman but woman for the sake of the man. 10 The reason a woman should show by veiling her head that she is under authority has to do with the angels. 11 Nevertheless, in union with the Lord neither is woman independent of man nor is man independent of woman; 12 for as the woman was made from the man, so also the man is now born through the woman. But everything is from God. 13 Decide for yourselves: is it appropriate for a woman to pray to God when she is unveiled? 14 Doesn’t the nature of things itself teach you that a man who wears his hair long degrades himself? 15 But a woman who wears her hair long enhances her appearance, because her hair has been given to her as a covering. 16 However, if anyone wants to argue about it, the fact remains that we have no such custom, nor do the Messianic communities of God.

I think that this passage refers to a separate head covering/veil that is not the hair. Substituting long hair in verse 6 is one reason why I don’t see it being the hair. The verse would then read “For if a woman does not have long hair, let her also have her hair cut short…” If the woman already has short hair, it doesn’t make sense to cut it short since it’s already short.

Other reasons include the fact that when taking a Nazarene (?) vow, a man would be required not to cut his hair, and therefore have long hair. Again, if long hair was the covering and men were to be uncovered, this wouldn’t make much sense. And finally, one does not have to be a believer to have long hair (it is given by nature), and not all believing women are able to have long hair. (Plus, there is also the debate of what is considered long hair.)

Another thing to note is that verse 16 probably only refers to verse 15, not everything previous to it. If it really was about everything previous to it, why would it have been included in the letter at all? So, (not just because of this), I would have to conclude that the passage is speaking about a separate head covering/veil to be worn over the hair.

The bigger question, for me is exactly who this verse is referring to. It’s pretty apparent that it is talking about, at least, married women (verse 3). So, married women are to cover. The CJB switches from using wife to woman after verse 3, while other translations use woman throughout. I would think, reading the book it is talking to married women, but I’m not really sure about that.

Regardless, there isn’t anything wrong (so far as I can tell) with being an unmarried woman and wearing a head covering, even if it isn’t required. So, if you’re looking for head coverings, or just want to try some, Miss Rachel at A City On a Hill is having a Cover Your Hair giveaway. Cover Your Hair has a wide variety of head coverings, including tichels, wide headbands, snoods, hats, and headbands with tails. You can visit coveryourhair.com to see their selection. There’s really something there for everyone.

Anyway, your thoughts on head coverings? Who is required to wear them?

Psalm 3 is a great reminder of how YHVH is our protector, sustainer, and saviour. It highlights just how much YHVH does for us, how He protects us and how great and powerful He is.

It is written in the form of praise, rather than as a plea (which I suppose it could have been seeing as David wrote it when he was fleeing Avshalom), which emphasize just that much more YHVH’s greatness and the praise that He is due. Emphasis is placed on what YHVH does, not what He “can do”.

1 A psalm of David, when he fled from Avshalom his son:

2 YHVH, how many enemies I have!
How countless are those attacking me;
3 how countless those who say of me,
“There is no salvation for him in God.” (Selah)

Here we see the situation that David is in, which, I think, magnifies even more what follows. That is, how YHVH sutains us, protects us and delivers us.

4 But you, YHVH, are a shield for me;
you are my glory, you lift my head high.
5 With my voice I call out to YHVH,
and he answers me from his holy hill. (Selah)

YHVH is our Shield. He protects us from our enemies, amongst other things. He is our glory and is the One who lifts our head high. When we call out to Him, he answers our prayers.

6 I lie down and sleep, then wake up again,
because YHVH sustains me.
7 I am not afraid of the tens of thousands
set against me on every side.

YHVH is our sustainer. He is the reason we are alive and wake up each morning. It is because of Him that we need not be afraid of those who are against us.

8 Rise up, YHVH!
Save me, my God!
For you slap all my enemies in the face,
you smash the teeth of the wicked.
9 Victory comes from YHVH;
may your blessing rest on your people. (Selah)

YHVH will save us. He will take care of our enemies. Our victory comes from Him. We don’t have to pursue it on our own. How great is YHVH that He will fight our battles for us?

I made this bread for the local fair at the beginning of October and have made it several times since because our family enjoys it. It’s nice because it tastes like “normal” bread but it’s really quick to make since there’s no rising time. Between when you start and when it’s finished cooking is only about an hour. Unfortunately I don’t have a picture of it, but I thought I’d share the recipe anyway.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 3 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup buttermilk (or substitute, see below)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375F.
2. Combine butter, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt until the mixture resembles fine crumbs. (I usually melt the butter then add the other ingredients.)
3. Stir in the buttermilk to make a soft dough.
4. Knead 8-10 times. (I just flour my hands and do this in the bowl, but you could dump it on a floured surface if you want.)
5. Form into a round loaf and cut an X about 1/4 inch deep on the top with a floured bread knife.
6. Bake on a cookie sheet for 35 to 45 minutes, until golden brown.
7. Tastes good warm or cooled. We just take chunks off the loaf rather than slicing it.

Buttermilk Substitute

Add one tbsp of lemon juice or vinegar to a liquid measuring container (more than 1 cup). Add milk so that the total volume of lemon juice and milk is one cup. Swirl around to mix together and let sit for about 5 minutes.