“The Armor of God”

Sunday, July 24, 2022

 The Lord saw it, and it displeased him
        that there was no justice.
He saw that there was no man,
        and wondered that there was no one to intercede;
then his own arm brought him salvation,
        and his righteousness upheld him.
He put on righteousness as a breastplate,
        and a helmet of salvation on his head;
he put on garments of vengeance for clothing,
        and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.
According to their deeds, so will he repay… (Isaiah 59.15b-18a)

The Apostle Paul took note of this passage, which describes God’s resolution to step in and execute justice against evil men.  This whole latter portion of Isaiah looks forward to the coming Messiah.  Paul applied it not only to the Son of God as he prepares for war, but to each individual Christian.

During his imprisonment in Rome, a constant presence with him was a Roman soldier tasked with guarding him (Ac 28.16).  It’s likely that the ever-present image of a man in full armor and ready for violent action suggested to Paul the following:

Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God… (Ephesians 6.14-17)

Belt of Truth

This is not the kind of belt that holds up your pants.  This is a piece of armor, complete with small disks of metal sewn into the leather and intended to deflect attacks against one of the most sensitive and vulnerable areas of the body, including numerous organs and two major arteries.  Being tied up with truth is to protect and fortify us in the same way.

Breastplate of Righteousness

The vital organs require substantial protection, too.  The body provides its own, skeletal protection of the heart and lungs, but when someone is out to kill you, something more comprehensive is required.  Righteousness—not of our own doing, but “the righteousness from God that depends on faith” (Php 3.9)—provides just such a barrier between what is vital in our souls, and the attacks from Satan and his minions.

Shoes of Readiness

One of the reasons for the Roman army’s effectiveness was its ability to travel great distances in very little time, with each soldier carrying his basic necessities with him in the field, on foot.  For this reason each soldier was equipped with a sturdy pair of hybrid sandal-boots, to protect his feet and provide the surest footing possible, both on the march and in battle.  “The gospel of peace” teaches us to go where we are needed, at a moment’s notice, whether in the physical world or its more important spiritual analog.

Shield of Faith

This is the first item on the list that is active.  The shield performs the same function as the belt and breastplate, but not only is it much more effective, it’s also movable and adaptable, a dynamic piece of the soldier’s equipment, to be used both as a powerful defense against “the flaming darts of the evil one,” and also in conjunction with the sword, as part of the offensive armament.  Our faith, likewise, must be wielded in attack or defense as the situation requires, and provides the most effective protection available to our spiritual lives.

Helmet of Salvation

To be without any piece of the assigned armor would mean the soldier is unequipped for his appointed task; but the helmet is of particular importance, because it not only helps to preserve the soldier’s life, but also his ability to interact with the world around him.  Attention is paid to the eyes and ears, and the hard shell, whose chief job is to protect the skull and brain within it, demands more skill and attention in its manufacture than any other piece of the armor.  The head is one of the most attractive targets to the enemy, and having it well protected is essential.  In the same way, if our heads are not helmeted with salvation, there’s very little reason to even bother fighting.

Sword of the Spirit

The last piece of equipment on the list is the sword.  This is not the precise, renaissance-era rapier, or the massive, slashing cavalry saber of the Napoleonic age, but a short, broad, stubby affair, sharpened on both sides but used mainly for getting in very close with the enemy and stabbing relentlessly at his least protected points.  Our spiritual combat will not resemble a civilized competition, nor is it the kind of fight where we can bludgeon from on high and then gallop away before the enemy has a chance to react.  Instead, it will require us to look evil in the eye and use the tools God has given us, including his word, to defeat and leave it dead on the field.

Why?

But why should we take up the armor at all?  Couldn’t we pay someone else to do our fighting, as the average citizen paid the taxes that covered the legions’ salary?  No.  Our fight is more important, and the enemy will not limit himself to attacking those who stand against him on the battlefield.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. (Ephesians 6.12-13)

Jeremy Nettles

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