(Audio/Video and Text Available)
Title: The Armor of God, Part 4
Intro:
Last Monday Silas and I went to the Brown’s game, (I told Silas what to wear after checking the weather, and, what do you suppose was the best advice I gave him as to what to wear?
Shoes. Why?
And how did I demonstrate how important the shoes were? (By wearing them.)
(Picture of your shoes)
We rove up and then we made the long walk down E 9th and I saw this lady wearing these ridiculous shoes.
(show picture)
14 Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 n addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
(Pray)
Notes:
No major English variants
Many have seen a connection to what Paul writes here and Isaiah 52:7
How delightful on the mountains
Are the feet of one who brings good news,
Who announces peace
And brings good news of [c]happiness,
Who announces salvation,
And says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
However, J.I. Packer reminds us that this connection may be a mistake:
“Despite a clear illusion to Isaiah 52:7, Paul does not have in mind the barefooted messenger who takes the Gospel to others.
The image here is of the Roman soldiers sturdy sandals, which gave him stability and protection in battle.
Ironically, the peace that comes from the Gospel readies one for war against evil.”
Dave Guzik:
The preparation of the gospel is represented as the protective shoes (or sandals) worn by Roman soldiers. No one can fight effectively or effectively go about his business without this equipment.
Preparation is a word meaning “a prepared foundation.” The gospel provides the footing for everything we do. However powerful the rest of your body is, if you are wounded in your feet you are easy prey for the enemy.
On the shoes: “Josephus described them as ‘shoes thickly studded with sharp nails’… so as to ensure a good grip. The military successes both of Alexander the Great and of Julius Caesar were due in large measure to their armies’ being well shod and thus able to undertake long marches at incredible speed over rough terrain.” (Wood)
So let’s put all this together and, hopefully, arrive at some useful conclusions.
The image of the gospel represented by “war sandals” is pointing to preparation and readiness.
Think of 1 Peter 3:15:
…but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, but with gentleness and respect.
The image of the “war sandals” is also about grip.
The terrain will be treacherous, the Gospel keeps you from slipping.
The image of the “war sandals” is also about endurance.
The journey will be long and difficult.
When Silas and I went to the browns game, we probably walked about five miles. Two from the care to the stadium, one inside the stadium climbing the stairs, and two more to get from the stadium back to the car. I wore my best, most comfortable shoes.
And yet, when we got home, my feet were aching. I can’t imagine what this poor lady felt like
(show images of two shoes again.)
We are going to war people, not a fashion show. all of the weight of the rest of the armor will end up on these shoes. War is not a time to be fancy and fashionable, it is a time to be ready.
Pray/QA