The breastplate is the next piece of armor we will be looking at, this would not be the next likely piece to put on.  Having put on armor in the past, you would most likely want to put on any leg or foot protection next, giving you the ability to strap-up or fasten on that protection without the weight of the breastplate.

Breastplates made from various materials like bronze, steel, wood, leather, and event fabric. These breastplates were constructed in various ways, metals would be formed by hammering into one plate or piece (segmented) would be affixed to one another, with rivets, metal rings or leather straps. Leather would be boiled and stretched on a mold once dried it would become very hard. Fabrics were also molded by laminating layers together with a crude style of glue, a lot like fiberglassing today.

The breastplate extends below the chest, protect all your vital organ, bowels, lungs and the heart. Each vital organ has its own importance in sustaining life.  If anyone of these organs was impaled during the battle they could die in minutes or worst over weeks from infection. So the importance of having a breastplate is crucial in the daily battles.

First, what is righteousness and how do we put it on?

Righteousness is the condition of being right with God. This can only happen through faith in Christ Jesus. It is not our own righteousness but through faith in Christ, we obtain the righteousness that comes from God. Striving for righteousness apart from Jesus can be exhausting, its focus is on our own works not based on faith. Once our heart is changed then we and exhibit righteousness. Putting on true righteousness is putting on and believing in Jesus.

“and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—”

Philippians 3:9 ESV

And he (Abraham) believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

Genesis 15:6 ESV

As I was praying this week, in my mind, I saw, myself walking peacefully around my neighborhood. The shoulder of our street has grass growing right up to the pavement. I came to an area where the shoulder of the road went extra wide with three feet of gravel next to the road. I ask God “why is the road wider now at this point”. This is what God told me, “as you walk along my road of righteousness, then my righteousness will be widened in you.”

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

James 3:17-18 ESV

Why a Breastplate?

The side benefit of the spiritual breastplate is not to just protect the heart. The true reason is to cause your heart to be changed. As we wrap our vital organ in the good news of the gospel it will begin to conform us (heart, lungs, etc) into His image, Jesus. As we continue to allow God way to permeate our lives, we can walk in true righteousness as did Job. We have a greater advantage then Job we have the Jesus and the infilling of the Holy Spirit.

Whoever heard me (Job) spoke well of me, and those who saw me commended me, because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist them. The one who was dying blessed me; I made the widow’s heart sing. I put on righteousness as my clothing; justice was my robe and my turban. I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. I was a father to the needy; I took up the case of the stranger. I broke the fangs of the wicked and snatched the victims from their teeth.

Job 29:11-17

There is so must in scripture on God’s righteousness that I am unable to grasp all of it in one post. I will be continuing to study righteousness and write more on it in the future. In keeping with this page “Simple Truths” I will be giving small bite size thoughts and Godly principles.

Application

• Pray for a greater revelation of Jesus in your life, that you are able to apply His righteousness
• As God to continue to change your heart so that you will be able to do His righteous act