Sunday, June 27, 2010

Armor of God

What Is the Full Armor of God?
Exodus 39:1-43 Priestly Garments
The account of the priestly garments completes the description of the temple in Exodus and symbolizes the service of the priesthood of God. The garments are prophetic in nature and represent different aspects of the ministry of Yeshua/Jesus. As His kingdom of priests and holy nation, His bride and ambassadors of His Word, we are called to “clothe ourselves” in these priestly garments, as they significantly reflect the image of our Messiah. Wearing them reflects His very nature, and represents the heart and image we are to walk in daily. As believers in the Messiah of Israel, we are part of His priesthood and the priestly garments are for us today. May we be found wearing the garments of Yeshua that sanctify and purify our walks daily and keep our hearts and minds protected and strong in Him (Psalm 132:9; Thessalonians 5:8).

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, grow powerful in union with the Lord, in union with his mighty strength! 11 Use all the armor and weaponry that God provides, so that you will be able to stand against the deceptive tactics of the Adversary. 12 For we are not struggling against human beings, but against the rulers, authorities and cosmic powers governing this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm. 13 So take up every piece of war equipment God provides; so that when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist; and when the battle is won, you will still be standing. 14 Therefore, stand! Have the belt of truth buckled around your waist,put on righteousness for a breastplate, 15 and wear on your feet the readiness that comes from the Good News of shalom. 16 Always carry the shield of trust, with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the Evil One. 17 And take the helmet of deliverance;along with the sword given by the Spirit, that is, the Word of God; 18 as you pray at all times, with all kinds of prayers and requests, in the Spirit, vigilantly and persistently, for all God’s people (CJB)

Ephesians 6:10-17 is a wonderful depiction of putting on God's Word and protecion against an enemy that is not seen, but one who uses "deceptive tactics", the adversary of our souls. We are fighting in the spiritual realm, against a deception that threatens our faith, we must be prepared to go to battle and stay strong in the Lord!

I believe the armor Paul was speaking of had more to do with who we are (and are becoming) in God's eyes and not what we see in the world.

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light...

We are a royal priesthood! Therefore we should become more familiar with the garments of our high calling! We should also be able to recognize our High Priest as He wears His holy garments (armor) in service before the Lord as He labors (battles the enemy of our souls and atones for our sins, and so much more) on our behalf.

Ephesians 4:22-24 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

And there are many verses like this one that teach us we are to continually be growing in the likeness of Yeshua, growing in God and His ways.

Let's begin looking at this verse by verse: (I recommend going to the bible and reading the verses quoted below in their entirety for a fuller understanding of what is being taught in His word)

*14 Having girded your loins with truth: (Paul is quoting Isaiah 11:5 here)
~Exodus 28:42 And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach:
~Isa 11:5 (Speaking of the One to come) Also righteousness will be the belt about His loins, And faithfulness the belt about His waist.
**The belt spoken of here is the also translated as the innermost garment, it would be likened to the linen breeches God commanded the priests to wear for modesty, "to cover their nakedness"

We are to walk before our God as virgin brides, newly created creatures in Messiah, walking in modesty, humility, truth and sanctification through Him. The linen breeches cover our nakedness, covering our lusts and desires of this world, the white linen reminds us of our betrothal to our King and our high calling.

**The second belt is the same word in the Hebrew, but the context of this part of the verse suggests this belt is the one wrapped around the waist of the priest, a different garment than the linen breeches

Traditionally it is taught that when the priests would serve before God they were making a distinction between the upper and lower half of the body. We are to be focused on our heart and our mind during our service to Him being sure that it is in service because of our love for Him and desire to worship Him alone.

*14b Having put on the breastplate of righteousness:(Paul is quoting Isaiah 59:17 here)
~Exodus 28:15 You shall make a breastpiece of judgment, the work of a skillful workman; like the work of the ephod you shall make it: of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen you shall make it.
~Isaiah 59:17 He put on righteousness like a breastplate...
~This breastplate is also called the breastplate of judgement in Hebrew, it was placed over the heart, upon it were twelve stones, each one symbolizing one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The High Priest (think ancient and our present High Priest, Yeshua) wore the twelve tribes over His heart, a constant reminder of the people on who's behalf He is making atonements for. Acts 17:31 "Because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead." He is our righteous judge, just as the garments are named in Ephesians and confirmed in Acts. Upon each shoulder of this garment is a stone, each one has six of the tribes names engraved upon it. Our High Priest, Yeshua, literally bears the weight of His people (burdens, sins, our everything) upon His shoulders.Psa 68:19 "Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, The God who is our salvation." In Hebrew, the name of Jesus is Yeshua, it literally means salvation. This same verse could be read without translating salvation into english: Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, The God who is our Yeshua!


The breastplate has 12 stones upon it, each one a different color and each one engraved with one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The High Priests wears these tribes over His heart, a constant reminder of the children of Israel, for whom He labors before God. Hebrews 4:14 "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession."

For next week: Verse 15 & 16

1 comment:

Just an Average American Mom said...

I LOVE the Armour of God! It is my favorite from the whole Bible.

Thanks for stopping by and following.

Looking forward to reading more.