It is here, beginning in verse 14 of Ephesians 6, that Paul introduces the seven pieces of the Armor of God. This is no ordinary armor. It is God’s perfect armor, tested and proven in the greatest of all spiritual battles. But where did Paul get this imagery and information? Why these seven specific pieces? Why a belt, a breastplate, sandals, a shield, a helmet, a sword, and finally prayer? What did Paul have in mind?
What is remarkable is that throughout this passage Paul draws on a series of messianic Hebrew Scripture passages that describe the Messiah Himself. In other words, the Armor of God is far more than a list of spiritual virtues. It is a portrait of Yeshua Himself. He is our strength. He is our might. He is our defense.
There are seven pieces that compose the Armor of God. Seven is the number of spiritual completeness and perfection. Here we have God’s complete provision for the believer. Seven is also the number of rest, of Shabbat. When we put on this armor, we rest in God’s provision and protection. Seven is also the number of branches on the menorah in the Holy Place, reminding us that our service for God can only be carried out in His strength.
Let’s look at them and see how Yeshua wore them and how He imparts this power to us. We read in verse 14 that the first piece of armor is the Belt of Truth. “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist.” This is a direct reference to Isaiah 11, a Messianic passage describing the reign of the coming King, telling us that the Messiah will first come from the stem of Jesse, not mightily as the Son of David with armies, but in a humble state. When He appears, we read that, “Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, and faithfulness the belt of His waist.” (Isaiah 11:5). He will impart righteousness and faithfulness to man.
The second piece of armor is the Breastplate of Righteousness, which comes directly from Isaiah 59. This is deeply moving passage. Here we are told that the Lord looked and saw that there was no man, no one to intervene, no one to intercede. And here the Lord Himself steps in to save. It is in this context that we read, “He put on righteousness as a breastplate” (Isaiah 59:17). He put it on to give it to all who come to Him. It is His righteousness that we all need in order to approach God.
The third piece of the armor is the footwear of the believer, “And with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” (Ephesians 6:15). Here again, Paul draws from an important Messianic passage found in Isaiah 52. The section begins with these inspiring words, “How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace, who brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!'” (Isaiah 52:7). Many ancient rabbis understood this passage to refer to the coming Messiah, including the Pesikta de-Rav Kahana. Here we see the Messiah at His First Coming bringing the Good News, proclaiming peace, and announcing salvation, leading directly into Isaiah 53, where He gives His life for the sins of many.
The fourth piece of armor is the shield of faith, “Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:16). This appears to allude to Psalm 91, which in the first century was regarded as a source of protection against demonic powers. There we are told that the Lord is our refuge and protection, and in verse 4 we read, “His truth shall be your shield and wall of protection.” Immediately afterward, we are told, “You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day.” Here, Paul speaks of the shield that extinguishes all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” We can relate this to Yeshua’s victory over Satan in the wilderness temptation, when His victory gave us our shield, our protection against the enemy’s fiery darts. Yeshua won the battle through the Word, and that is the power behind the shield of faith.
The fifth piece of armor is the Helmet of Salvation. This is another direct quotation from Isaiah 59:17 where he spoke of the breastplate. The helmet speaks of the assurance of our salvation.
This is especially important in the midst of spiritual warfare. This helmet reminds us that, no matter how fierce the battle may become, we cannot lose the war. It speaks of our eternal security in the Messiah.
The sixth piece of armor is the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. This is our weapon of both defense and offense, provided by the Spirit of God. The Greek word for “word” here is rhema, that which is spoken, a saying, a declaration, or an utterance. This may be an allusion to Isaiah 49:2, a passage describing the preparation of the Messiah when He was young there we read that the Lord, “He made My mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of His hand He hid Me. He made Me a polished arrow and concealed Me in His quiver.” Here we may understand that God was instrumental in the teaching and education of His Son.
And the seventh piece of armor, is Prayer. The verse reads, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the believers.” This is the last but also the one that somehow envelopes all the others.
Someone said that Satan laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray. The Lord listens to all our prayers.
As it is with the Word of God, and as it is with each of the other 6 elements, prayer should be practiced daily. And how did God train Yeshua when He was young? How often did Yeshua pray and study the Word? We are told that when the Lord trained the Messiah when He was young, “The Lord God …awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.” The Messiah speaks here and tells us that He, God Himself, “awakens Me morning by morning, (b’boker b’boker), He awakens My ear To hear as the learned.”
And perhaps the greatest lesson of the Armor of God is this: The armor is not merely something the Messiah gives us. The armor is the Messiah Himself. He is our truth, the Belt of Truth. He is our righteousness; the Breastplate of Righteousness. He is our Peace; the Shoes of the Gospel of Peace. He is the object of our faith; the Shield of Faith. He is our salvation; the Helmet of Salvation. He is the living word; the Sword of the Spirit. And through Him we have access to the Father in Prayer, the atmosphere in which the whole armor is to be worn and through which we are empowered.
Go to the video – The Armor of God Through the Messiah – The Invisible War