Breastplate of Righteousness

Armour of God

The breastplate is an important piece of armour which works in conjunction with other body pieces, often joined together to form one complete piece that protects the upper body. It must be made strongly, and a good design may be articulated (formed of many segmented pieces giving the armour greater strength, flexibility and lightness), and will probably require the soldier to wear padded clothing underneath to absorb the force of blows. The entire chest area is protected by a breastplate.

This protects the soft vital organs from wounds inflicted by the enemy. The heart is such a major organ - a favourite target for killers who know how vulnerable and vital the heart is.

Spiritually, the heart of a man is his emotional and spiritual centre. A stubborn man determinedly set against God is said to have a hardened heart. Those who hearken to God are spoken of as having soft hearts, and clearly a soft heart is a prime target. But rather than hardening oneself spiritually to try to grow immune to blows to the heart (and there is no heart so hard that it can withstand such blows), the only real protection comes from righteousness. A man of integrity has a protection that defends him from temptation and worldly considerations, from meanness, bitterness, jealousy, intemperance and more. The righteousness of God is given to man as a gift, and it defends the human heart.

Just as the physical breastplate must be well-designed to allow absorption of blows and comfortable wearing, so must we understand that the spiritual breastplate is not a straitjacket. It is not self-righteousness; it is not a hairshirt; it is not a thousand rules and regulations. It is rather the fulfilment of the Law through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This gives us room to breathe, to feel and to be, and we will know the love of God flowing through us. Righteousness is the only protection against anything that tries to attack the human heart.