November 2002

Christ:
The Landscape of Life

Part Forty-one

“LO and BEHOLD”

“Guarding our garments” (F)

         In our exposition on the word, garment, we have examined the Hebrew and Greek words; and now we seek the Dict. root for garment (garnir) which interestingly means: “TO EQUIP”! This is a great revelation; for indeed Scripture supports a correlation between garments and being equipped with protective outerwear! We see this in 1 Sa 17:38 when “King Saul clothed David in his armor by putting a bronze helmet on his head and clothing him in a coat of mail!” Heb 8302 defines coat of mail as: “A corslet [Dict. “A piece of armor worn on the trunk of a body that may include a helmet”]; breastplate, harness and habergeon [Dict. “Medieval jacket made in a mesh of metal links or plates and worn as armor”.] Goliath of Gath also wore similar armor except his was giant-size, weighing an astounding 125 pounds- about 57 kilograms! (1 Sa 17:5) No wonder the army of Israel was daunted when confronted by this formidable foe! But young David cast off Saul’s burdensome armor, to trust in an unseen Armor of Anointing that won the victory for God! In keeping with this glorious triumph, Heb 8302 is translated as breastplate in Isa 59:16-17.

“The Lord saw and was displeased that there was no justice (in the land); He saw and was devastated that no man was fit to be an intercessor; so His own Arm brought Him Salvation as His Righteousness upheld Him! HE PUT ON RIGHTEOUSNESS AS A BREASTPLATE, AND MADE SALVATION AS THE HELMET FOR HIS HEAD! HE PUT ON THE GARMENTS OF VENGEANCE FOR CLOTHING; CLAD HIMSELF WITH ZEAL AS A CLOAK!”

         Wow! Who could be better equipped than with such glorious garments as these?! And is this not well-supported in Eph 6:10-18 which says,

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might! Put on the whole armour of God so you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For it is not flesh and blood that we wrestle against; but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual wickedness in high places!! Therefore take upon you the whole armour of God, that you may be able (Gk 1410 dunamis,“have Miracle-power”) to withstand in the evil day! And having done all this, to stand! Stand therefore, with your loins girded with Truth; wearing the breastplate of Righteousness! Have your feet shod with the provision of the Gospel of Peace!! Above all, take up the Shield of Faith, wherewith you will be able (Gk 1410 dunamis, “have Miracle-power”) to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Take the helmet of Salvation, and finally, the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God! Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, watching out with all perseverance and supplication for all saints!”

         Paying special note to the breastplate, the Dict. defines the word: “A metal plate worn as a defensive armor for the breast; also a vestment worn in ancient times by a Jewish high priest and set with 12 gems bearing the names of the 12 tribes of Israel!” What do these coverings of soldier and priest have in common? Both serve as SAFEGUARDS OF THE HEART! 1 Thess 5:8 adds,

“LET US WHO ARE CHILDREN OF THE DAY BE SOBER AND PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF FAITH AND LOVE; AND FOR OUR HELMET, PUT ON THE HOPE OF SALVATION!”

[TO BE CONTINUED]