Throughout the Bible, golden rings carry powerful symbolism. Whether earrings, nose rings, finger rings, or even rings used in construction, golden rings represent unity and the ability to hear from God. Today, we don’t need to focus on wearing jewelry, but we need to focus on the spiritual reality that these golden rings represent. We are to allow God to decorate our lives with spiritual jewelry so we are prepared as a bride for the return of Jesus Christ for his wedding supper.
Earrings
In order to have an earring, a person must have a hole in his ear. The hole in the ear represents that the person is willing to listen to someone. In Moses’ law, if a servant was going to dwell in his master’s house for the rest of his life, his ear was taken to the door and was bored through with an awl (Deuteronomy 15:16-17). This represents that he would always listen to the voice of his master.
When Jesus came to earth, it is said that his ears were “digged” (Psalm 40:6). Jesus was a perfect servant of God, and his ears were always open to God’s word. Jesus was always listening to his Father, and he always did what his Father told him to do.
We need our ears to be opened to hear from God, for only then can we accomplish the specific things that God wants us to do. Our ears will be “digged open” by the sharp sword of God’s word (Hebrews 4:12). The Bible says that faith comes by hearing, and hearing comes by the word of God (Romans 10:17). We need the ability to hear from God, and that ability comes as we read the Bible. The more we spend time in the Scriptures, the more the sharp sword of God’s word will open our ears to hear God’s voice.
Gold represents the word of God. Therefore, a golden earring through a hole in the ear represents the ability to hear from God. As it says in Proverbs 25:12, as an earring of gold is a wise reprover on an obedient ear. When a person receives instruction from God, it is as though he is adorning his ear with a golden earring. The ability to hear God’s word connects us to God.
In Exodus 32, the Israelites broke off the golden earrings in their ears and made an idol. This represented that they were no longer willing to listen to God, but they wanted to follow their own ideas instead. Whenever we follow our own ideas rather than the word of God, we will end up rebelling against God and causing problems. God wants our ears to be adorned with spiritual golden earrings so that we hear his voice and fulfill his will.
Nose Rings
When Rebekah was going to go to marry Isaac, she was given a nose ring. This nose ring represents that she was willing to be led to Isaac’s house and become his wife. Wearing a nose ring represents willingness to be led. Cattle wear nose rings in order to be led from one place to another, and people are often compared to cattle in the Scriptures because we are to be humble and to work hard for God (1 Timothy 5:18; Matthew 11:29). God wants us to be adorned with spiritual nose rings so that we can be led by his Holy Spirit.
Finger Rings
Pharaoh gave a signet ring to Joseph when he made him Prime Minister of Egypt (Genesis 41:42). This ring represented that Joseph was connected to Pharaoh and to his authority, and it showed that Joseph represented Pharaoh. The King of Persia gave a signet ring to Mordecai (Esther 8:2), representing that Mordecai had the authority of the king to act in his name.
When the Prodigal Son returned to his home, his father gave him a ring (Luke 15:22). This ring represented that he was connected again to his father, and their relationship was healed. Rings on the finger represent connection with another person. God wants to adorn us with spiritual rings to show our relationship with him and represent that we have our authority to act in his name.
Construction Rings
In the Tabernacle of Moses, golden rings were used in the ark (Exodus 25:12-15), the altar of incense, and the table of bread to transport them from one place to another. Whenever the Israelites moved, they put poles in these golden rings and carried these objects with these poles. The use of golden rings to transport these valuable objects shows that in order to move forward spiritually, we need to listen to God. We also need to stay united with each other when moving forward, for if these gold rings break, we cannot move forward properly.
These objects in the Tabernacle represent divine operations such as the manifested presence of God (ark), prayer (Altar of Incense), and the ministry of the word of God (Table of Bread). In order to manifest these spiritual operations effectively on the earth, we need to be adorned with spiritual golden rings. We must hear from God and be united with each other.
Furthermore, within the Tabernacle there were 5 rods that were inserted perpendicularly through golden rings in the boards in the sides of the Tabernacle to keep the boards upright (Exodus 26:26-29). These 5 rods represent the 5 ministry positions of apostle, prophet, evangelist, shepherd, and teacher. The boards represent individual Christians. This teaches that Christians (boards) must be united to a true ministry (rods) in order to be built up into the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-16). This unity is only possible if the boards have golden rings. This shows that we must be open to true ministry in the body of Christ, and we must maintain unity within a Biblical church in order to become a suitable habitation for God.
The curtains of the Tabernacle were joined together by gold rings, emphasizing that golden rings symbolize unity (Exodus 36:13).
Spiritual Golden Rings
Through all this, God is not calling us to wear gold jewelry. Instead, he is calling us to be decorated with the spiritual gold jewelry of Christ. These golden rings represent unity with God, the ability to hear from God, and unity with our fellow believers. When we are adorned spiritually with golden rings, we are becoming prepared as a bride for the wedding supper of the Lamb.
The bride of Christ must be adorned with these beautiful golden rings in order to be prepared for the marriage supper of the lamb (Isaiah 61:10).
God says he will adorn his people with ornaments, giving them a nose ring and earrings (Ezekiel 16:11-12). This shows that he will lead us and speak to us, and he wants us to be able to follow him and hear his voice.
The early church was adorned with these precious jewels. They had great unity with God and with each other (Acts 4:32). Whenever believers unite together with God and with each other, they are spiritually adorned with these golden rings, and then they have great spiritual power (Psalm 133).
Believers are commanded to be of one accord, of one mind (Philippians 2:2). We are commanded to speak the same thing and not be divided (1 Corinthians 1:10). We are to be joined together with the golden rings of God.
There is power when believers unite together.
If we can agree in prayer, we can accomplish anything that God wants (Matthew 18:19). If we gather together in Jesus’ name, he is among us (Matthew 18:20).
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).
Protecting Spiritual Golden Rings
Jewelry is valuable, and spiritual jewelry is especially valuable. Spiritual jewelry is more valuable than material jewelry because it reflects the riches of God. In the New Testament, material jewelry is not important (1 Peter 3:3), but spiritual jewelry is very important.
Thieves try to steal valuable jewelry, and Satan will try to steal the spiritual jewelry of the church. He will try to break off our spiritual golden earrings and hinder us from hearing from God. He will try to break the golden rings that bind us together, destroying the unity within the body of Christ.
We must work hard to maintain these golden rings. We must preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3).
Our flesh will war against unity, and the devil will war against it. We don’t need the false unity that comes from the world, we need the true unity that comes from mutually submitting to the apostolic words of Christ, and then we will be adorned as a bride with the golden rings of God.
by Peter
