-We get a helmet, too - gotta protect the head! This is patently obvious, as the head is inherently fragile and yet controls the functioning of the entire body. In fact, modern research has shown that there is no better investment in battlefield safety equipment than a good helmet. It is the best piece of protective gear - by weight and by size - that any soldier has. In battle, the head receives a highly disproportionate amount of trauma relative to its mass, and almost half of all deaths among infantry are due to head injuries. Thus this last piece of defensive armor is in fact that which is arguably most important to our very survival. How appropriate that our spiritual helmet is salvation, rescue from the very death towards which we were hurtling like a car over a cliff. We were already dead in our sins, destined to pay the ultimate death penalty of eternal separation from God, and then He stepped in. Christ stepped down from heaven and onto the battlefield and took the bullet for us, He went to the Cross in our place and there secured our eternal slavation. This is the helmet we wear into battle every day (or should). Death - the second one at least, the real one - is defeated. It is no longer even a thing for us in Christ. Granted, we most likely will still face physical death in some shape or form, but we are totally protected from the second death. So yes, if we are in Christ clearly this is true for us, but taking our helmet into battle means we remind ourselves of this and live into this truth every day. No need for fear, no need to worry - talk about preventing spiritual concussions! I can plunge into the thick of the battle knowing that I am protected by the best helmet money can buy. In fact, way better than that, as it was purchased with something far more precious...
-Now the armor here is that of a typical Greco-Roman hoplite, one of the foot soldiers which comprised the ancient battle unit known as the phalanx. Their effectiveness derived largely from their solidarity as a unit, standing and advancing side-by-side in tight formation, shields up and spears leveled forward. A formidable force, this. And if by chance a foe was able to break their ranks and somehow break a hoplite’s spear, that warrior would turn to his backup weapon, a two-edged sword known as a xiphos. It would be primarily wielded in a thrusting, stabbing motion, as hacking away at an armored opponent would be far less effective and more taxing an endeavor. You would want to try and pierce thru a hole in their armor. It is interesting to note, then, that Paul here says the sword we are to take up is actually the machaira, which was a single edged blade designed to be used in a striking, hacking manor, more like a machete (only this blade was perhaps a bit longer). The machaira was more commonly wielded by cavalry soldiers. This was a more effective weapon for mounted militia, where from above one could reign down powerful blows on more relatively defenseless infantry. Which perhaps gives us an idea as to why Paul would tell Christ’s foot soldiers to take up such a weapon. Could it be that rather than facing off a heavily armored hoplite, we are in fact facing an enemy who is rather more unprotected and defenseless against our divine weapon, this Word of God (James 4.7, cf Luke 4.3-4)? Granted he does have a bow and some arrows, but once clad in our heavenly armor we become impervious to his pesky darts and in fact are able to mow him down with ease using the venerable Sword of Heaven. There are other perhaps more iconic swords in our world, used against the worst of villains. They are the stuff of legend. Excalibur. The sword of Gryffindor. Zulfiqar (a scimitar of Islamic fame). Narsil/Anduril from the world of J.R.R. Tolkien. Kusanagi-no-tsurugi of Japanese legend. Master Luke’s light sabre. Yet the tales of glorious battles waged and won for the souls of men with the Sword of the Spirit are largely lost on a world more enamored with things physical. We will only learn of most of them in eternity. Many are perhaps aware of its existence, this Sword of Heaven, thanks in large part to the tireless work of so many translators and other faithful workers, yet it is way underappreciated and underutilized, even by God’s people, not really perceived as any kind of weapon. Still, there is no blade more powerful (or real) than the one we wield in battle (or should - rather, must!) each and every day. We take up this magnificent weapon, this Sword of Heaven, God’s Word, and we wade into the fray and defeat our enemy. We cut down his lies, his half-truths, his false accusations. With it we effectively hack away at unbelief and we take our stand for what is true and right and good, and for the glory of our King.
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