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Articles
"Don't Forget Your Cloak"
One interesting piece of armor that describes the character of God is not mentioned by Paul in Ephesians 6. It is the cloak of zeal found in Isaiah 59:17. In today's society, a cloak is typically thought of as a piece of a superhero's costume, or maybe an outdated article of clothing. But in Bible times the cloak was invaluable to the soldier. It provided heat, which was important to defend against the cold. Oils were used to make your cloak almost waterproof, which was important in rainy areas and in crossing bodies of water. It also provided on the spot comfort for where you slept, which was important during long marches. Without his cloak, a freezing, drenched and sore soldier can easily be an unmotivated soldier. And an unmotivated soldier, while still able to fight, will not be performing at his peak.
There was a once a young shepherd who was cloaked in zeal. David had no physical armor when he went before Goliath. The giant laughed and mocked, but David had something greater on his side. David said to Goliath in 1 Samuel 17:45-47, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord's, and He will give you into our hand.”
God was with David because he took up the spiritual armor of God. David had nothing to be afraid of because he knew God was with him. Ultimately when many of us would have cowered back, or made excuses, he wrapped himself with the cloak of zeal as the last piece of armor and FOUGHT FOR THE LORD COURAGEOUSLY AND VICTORIOUSLY!!!
Today, wear the helmet of salvation, fasten on the belt of truth, put on the breastplate of righteousness, put on your shoes of the gospel of peace, take up the shield of faith , and wield the sword of the Spirit. But, don't forget to cover your armor with the cloak of zeal. Today let's be altogether zealous for all Christ’s work, for all Christ’s Truth, and at all times zealous not only in one good thing, but in all good things, wrapping ourselves up completely in zeal. Let zeal protect you from Satan's attempts to rain on your work, or to beat you up spiritually or to extinguish your fire altogether. God bless you!
He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak. Isaiah 59:17
