Ephesians 6.13-24 (4)
Pray Psalm 140.6-8.
I said to the LORD: “You are my God;
Hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD.
O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation,
You have covered my head in the day of battle.
Do not grant, O LORD, the desires of the wicked;
Do not further his wicked scheme,
Lest they be exalted.
Selah
Sing Psalm 140.6-8.
(Old Rockingham: O Lord Most High, With All My Heart)
You are my God, O God, my LORD! Give ear, show mercy to my pleas!
Salvation grant by Your strong Word; grant not their wicked, evil schemes.
Read Ephesians 6.13-24; meditate on verse 17.
How does a helmet help? A sword?
Preparation
1. What kind of “helmet” should we wear?
2. What is the “sword of the Spirit”?
Meditation
What guards your mind throughout the day? That is, what thoughts determine your disposition? Guide your steps? Come out in your conversations? Are they thoughts of self-advantage, worldly interests and concerns, fears and doubts? Or are they thoughts of salvation—safety, love, eternal life, power for witness, growing in grace and peace, Jesus?
Put on the helmet of salvation and keep it on. Prayer and periods of meditation and singing will keep that hat in place so that you guard your mind against frivolous, fruitless things and are always thinking about Jesus and the blessings of knowing Him.
And always have the Word ready to wield in fighting a path through the temptations and trials of the day, or in hacking through some difficulty, working out your salvation, persevering in your work, or encouraging your fellow believers. The assurance of salvation, and consistent growth in it, firmly in our mind, then the Word of God will be ready for our hands, for whatever good work the Lord sends us to do.
Head and hands, salvation and Scripture. Add these to your warfare wardrobe each day.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162.
Soldiers, athletes, equestrians, and now even children cannot pursue even the most mundane of sports without donning head gear of some sort or another. For in truth, to protect our head is to protect health and safety on a variety of levels. And no matter how cumbersome, hot, constraining, or hair-flattening helmets are: they are for us and not against us. They are supplied for our good.
Thus, Paul tells us to “take the helmet of salvation” (Eph. 6.17). But don’t just take it, put it on.
A carried helmet does not do the work it is intended for.
Just like a winter hat, jammed in a pocket, does not keep you warm.
It is only when donned that it does any good.
“O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation,
You have covered my head in the day of battle” (Ps. 140.7).
The heartfelt knowledge of our sin and of God’s protective salvation covers our head from assault. When we know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, His love and forgiveness, we are ready to abolish anything that assails us. “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4.7). Cover your head, and your heart and mind will be guarded.
Then, as Matthew Henry noted in our quote for today: “the apostle recommends only one weapon of attack.” And what better weapon could there be than the Sword of the Spirit—the Word of God! (Eph. 6.17)
“For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight…” (Heb. 4.12, 13).
As the comic strip Pogo said, borrowing a line spoken from the War of 1812: “We have met the enemy and he is us”, so speaks Hebrews 4.12, 13 about the Word of God. Its winnowing work seems aimed directly at us. When we are in the Word—reading, meditating, and praying—it sets about finding out our weaknesses, sins, lack of faith, etc. etc. and works the Spirit through us, massaging the truths therein, into our heart, mind, conscience—the whole of us—to make us winners in the battle for our soul.
We are not called to club others over the head with the Word; but instead, are to be readying ourselves for “reasonable service”.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,
that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Rom. 12.1, 2).
“The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the inner depths of his heart” (Prov. 20.27).
The protective helmet of salvation, and the powerful double-edged Sword of the Spirit, will do their work of protection when it is put on and taken up. But that preparation must be done, by us, otherwise we will be vulnerable—not ready for the onslaught—undressed, unshod, unprotected, and unarmed.
“You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand,
beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness,
being led away with the error of the wicked;
but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen” (2 Pet. 3.17, 18).
Battle ready—the game is on. Now all we need is prayer.
Reflection
1. How does being sure of our salvation encourage us in our walk with and work for the Lord?
2. Why is “sword” a good image for the Word of God? How do you experience the Word as a “sword”?
3. Whom will you encourage today to put on the full armor of God?
Salvation must be our helmet. A good hope of salvation, a Scriptural expectation of victory, will purify the soul, and keep it from being defiled by Satan. To the Christian armed for defense in battle, the apostle recommends only one weapon of attack; but it is enough, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. It subdues and mortifies evil desires and blasphemous thoughts as they rise within; and answers unbelief and error as they assault from without. Matthew Henry (1662-1714) Commentary on Ephesians 6.17
Pray Psalm 140.1-5, 12, 13.
Thank the Lord for His great salvation and the many ways that salvation saves and improves your life. Call on Him to give you just that guidance from the Word you will need throughout this day to fight the good fight.
Sing Psalm 140.1-5, 12, 13.
(Old Rockingham: O Lord Most High, With All My Heart)
From evil, violent men, I pray, deliver me, preserve me, LORD!
Their hearts they bend to evil ways, and serpent’s venom is their word.
Guard me, O LORD, from wicked hands; from violent men preserve my life!
They sow my path with wicked plans, with nets and snares and cords of strife.
The LORD, I know, my cause shall take, and justice for me surely do;the righteous will thanksgiving make; the upright e’er shall dwell with You.
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
