Gold of Ophir: You have no Time to Die?

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By William Van Zyl (Dec 2021).

A dream of two African women wearing tall golden headpieces.

Golden headpiece – African American – Modern Art. In the context of this article, what is the headpiece you are wearing? Which gold is essential to you? God’s gold or man’s gold? Symbolically, we are all wearing a headpiece. Whose gold do you wear? Credit: https://www.dhgate.com/wholesale/african+art+decor.html

The first building block for this article is a dream a true dream of several years ago. A friend revealed this exciting dream and scenario to me. In the dream, he visits a shopping mall.

Two attractive African women are wearing beautiful precious metal headpieces. They strut up and down the aisles of the mall like peacocks. They are very proud. But, what could this symbolism mean?

However, let’s find out what the Gold of Ophir means. You will have to connect the dream to the Gold of Ophir.

What is the ‘Gold of Ophir?’

Ophir, is an unidentified region famous in Old Testament times for its fine gold. The geographic list of Genesis 10 apparently places it in Arabia, but in the time of Solomon (c. 920 bc), Ophir was thought of as being overseas. Gold, almug (or algum) wood (i.e., sandalwood), ivory, monkeys, and peacocks were procured Arabia. Source: Britannica.

The location of Ophir (Old Testament times). Credit: https://bible-history.com/biblemaps/1-kings-ophir-and-tarshish

Back to the dream.

‘The Golden Headpiece’ dream

The focus of the dream is on the pride and the arrogance of the two women.

‘It is still very vivid in my memory.’ He believed that this particular dream was very significant to him. The two African women walked into the mall with arrogant eyes, turning their heads slowly – signifying pride. The models were wearing these extraordinary headpieces adorned with gold, copper and brass. The precious metal headpieces were their crowns. After searching Christian dream books and Christian dream websites (dreambible.com), he discovered the meaning of the headpieces. Here are the details:

The headpieces represent intellect, attitude, character, perspective, guiding choices, self-control, and self-determination.

Copper = To dream of copper represents desire. When you see copper in a dream, it signifies desire. Believing that you can’t ever have something or noticing that something never works out for you. The attractive people or material things – that you don’t believe you can ever really have- are the focus. Copper can also mean that you are putting your desires, fantasies, and interests before the needs of others. You care more about what you want for yourself than what you want for others – or what you want to do for others. In other words, you could be selfish (self-absorbing). Negatively, copper may signify that you would lie, cheat, or steal from someone else. A copper colour represents desire because copper is close to gold in colour, but unlike gold, it is not as ‘precious.’

Brass = To dream of brass represents a false perception of genuine power. Putting up a convincing front or pretending you’re perfect. Audacity or bluffing. Negatively, brass may reflect deceit or a clever ruse (to deceive or to trick).

Gold = To dream of gold represents feelings of something in your life being valuable. Feelings of wealth or enjoying having something you value – all to yourself. Someone or something precious to you. Valuable opportunities or possibilities that are available to you all the time. Feeling secure in your level of power or freedom to do as you please. A guaranteed experience or reward. A sense of security with something you value. Gold could also represent good luck, wealth, healing, illumination, happiness, and achievement.

Note that this article focuses on 3 things – Man’s gold, the Gold of Ophir, and God’s gold.

Man’s gold is the gold we mine on earth (materialism). The gold of Ophir is the gold found in an area in the Old Testament in the Bible (‘concepts and ideas’). God’s gold is those things that are important to Him (you can’t touch it). It can only be ‘seen’ in the heart of man (for example, His Words—from the Bible).

The headpieces relate to the following:

1. A desire. He continued discussing his dream. I realised that ’I had several desires, believing that I could never have any of them. I noticed that some things just never worked out for me.  There was a sign that I would lie, cheat or steal to achieve my desires.’ – Copper.

2. Jealousy = Competition. He had experienced lots of competition in his life. It has a negative connotation (exclusion and bullying). Unwanted jealous reactions were elicited from nasty people.

3. The Mall (shopping centre) – social settings and choice of ‘who I want to be’ or ‘want to become.’

4. Superior attitude: Dominant attitude; wants to out-perform others.

5. Positivity: Overly optimistic. For example, believing to be more intelligent, prosperous, and blessed.

6. Conceit or arrogance: Never to lower standards. Their appearance and ‘looks’ give them the edge over others.

7. Other: Experiences, resources and physical superiority are also included.

8. Additional: Haughtiness, superiority, and insecurity are also identified.

This passage below – marked in my Bible with a particular person’s name next to it – is very dear to me. The instructions are:

 ‘…lay your gold (your precious belongings) in the dust,’ and then,’ lay the Gold of Ophir (those things important to you) to the stones of the ravine (your life).’ And take God as your gold…(Let the Almighty be your gold)

The Gold of Ophir is those things that are important to you. On the contrary, you may ask, what is man’s gold? I have discussed this with an experienced believer. Here is the person’s take on this contrast—God’s and Man’s gold. I compare and contrast these two areas.

To add more depth and value, let’s look at the associated scriptures:

Job 22: 21 – 30

21. Reconcile now and be at peace with Him;

thereby good will come to you.

22. Receive instruction from His mouth,

and lay up His words in your heart.

23. If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored.

If you remove injustice from your tents

24. and consign your gold to the dust
and the gold of Ophir to the stones of the ravines,
25. then the Almighty will be your gold
and the finest silver for you.

26. Surely then you will delight in the Almighty

and lift up your face to God.

27. You will pray to Him, and He will hear you,

and you will fulfil your vows.

28. Your decisions will be carried out,

and light will shine on your ways.

29. When men are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’

then He will save the lowly.

30. He will deliver even one who is not innocent,

rescuing him through the cleanness of your hands.”

Man’s Gold:

Man’s gold is valuable material things that are important to every person—things you can touch. It could also include fame, fortune, money, sex, and power. It is dominant and powerful. According to Job 22, take your gold (your personal possessions) and your important things (gold of Ophir) and place them in the dust; it is worthless.

A golden nugget. Man’s gold: This could signify an obsession that is not healthy.

But seek ye first His kingdom, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matt 6:33

God’s Gold:

We have not yet discussed the symbolism of God’s Gold in detail. Here are the essentials. They are associated with Him. God’s gold is:

1. Love:

We should love God and our neighbour as ourselves.

30. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12: 30 & 31.

2. Humility:

We have to practice true humility

James 4:10

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

3. Trust:

Place all your trust in God.

Proverbs 3:5-6. New International Version

5. Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
6. in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight

4. Bearing fruit:

In the process of dying to self, we should be imitating the life of Christ – He is our role model. Tap into the true vine.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. John 15: 1- 4 NIV

 

5. Submission:

James 4: 7-8

7. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 

The-heart-of-man-either-a-temple-of-god-or-a-habitation-of-satan. DIAGRAM: See the peacock in the far right top of the heart. Follow the link to find out more about the possible ’animals’ that could be in the heart of man. https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/the-heart-of-man-either-a-temple-of-god-or-a-habitation-of-satan-represented-in-ten-emblematical-figures-1851

Spiritual perspective:

What you place or carry on your head – symbolically – also represents your spiritual life. The ‘gold’ in your stream (your life) determines what is important to you. So, I asked myself the following questions: ‘What is important to me? What is my spiritual status? Who and what reigns in my heart? Are the gold of man – or the Gold of Ophir – in my heart? Or, are the Gold of God in my heart?

If you have man’s gold (or the ‘Gold of Ophir’) in your heart – including things that are very important to you – remove it, place it in the dust (reject it as invaluable), and take up God’s gold. God’s gold is His precious laws, statutes and precepts – establish them in your heart. Then, you will have great success. You will be truly rich.

Take time to die to self. Take up your cross and follow Him. Reject man’s gold (materialism), reject the gold of Ophir (own ideas and concepts). But, Make God your gold (His Laws, Statutes, Precepts, and Instructions).

Copyright © 2021 by William Van Zyl

Gold of Ophir: You have no Time to Die?

A dream of two African women wearing tall golden headpieces.

All rights reserved. This book or any portion

thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner

whatsoever without the express written permission of the

publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Published by Five House Publishing (New Zealand)

First Publishing, 2021

More eBooks and articles are available at https://fivehousepublishing.com/

More about the author at http://williamvanzyl.com/

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      William Van Zyl (Five House Publishing)

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