Armor

I’ve been following Bro. Brad’s Brief Bible Blog since he started it. This month he is posting each day on a chapter in Proverbs. If you haven’t been following along, please take the opportunity to look at the posts here near the end.

Back in the 26th chapter Solomon looked at a contentious man as one that stoked an existing fire. Undoubtedly mankind has a tendency to do that, and it is damaging to relationships. Most people strive to stay away from controversy.

Here in the 28th, though, he suggests an ongoing contention:

They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them. [Proverbs 28:4 KJV]

Not for any desire to be so, but it is a natural result of diametrically opposed positions. There are times Christians are to be contentious:

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. [Jude 1:3 KJV]

This is not to be undertaken lightly, and not without the full armor of God.

We hear first of the helmet of salvation from Isaiah:

For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke. [Isaiah 59:17 KJV]

Paul expands on the armor:

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: [Ephesians 6:13-17 KJV]

Why? Because we are not righteous within ourselves, God had to make provision. Back to Isaiah to find the Righteous One:

Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment. And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. [Isaiah 59:15-16 KJV]

And that intercessor is Jesus Christ.

Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. [Romans 8:34 KJV]

Slem iz Jarka Helmet (Wiki Commons)