The original Hebrew text, speaks to the “loins girth about with truth,” and not a ‘belt of truth.’ Girthing however, suggests that there is something holding the content, Truth (in this case), together. The girthing is a covering of the hip, ham and the thigh…body parts. If focus is on what is covered, by what is it covered and why a covering, then an understanding of “loins girth about with truth” can be determined.
What is Covered?
Athletes on their way to the finish line often trip up because of a gripping pain they experience during their sprint to victory. A muscle is “pulled” or they have a hamstring injury. Recovery is possible but sometimes not immediate. The loins which is hip, ham and thigh, must much more be protected in a battle. They are going to be needed for the win. The enemy will pursue until its opponent is subdued and he [the enemy] will take advantage of that position when the opponent is down. He will go for the kill!
Being exposed to the spiritual enemy, the devil, makes an attack easy. Hamstrings are quite susceptible to injuries…so it is in the natural, so it is in the spiritual. Without the loins girted with the Truth, the spiritual warrior is prone to serious injuries. Naturally, a series of exercises must be employed to prevent any serious damage to the ham. Spiritually, the exercise is knowing and applying the Truth of the Word of God in daily walking with God.
What is the Covering?
“…righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins…” Isaiah 11:5
In the Book of Romans chapter 1:18, Paul in his first letter to them explained: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness…” If the Truth was suppressed in unrighteousness, then the converse is also true, that the Truth is expressed in righteousness thus Isaiah 11:5. The covering is Truth, which is the Word of God and Truth is righteousness.
Why a Covering
Israel is God’s chosen! He delights in Israel as His children. As Father, Deliverer and Sustainer, His love towards Israel remains unchangeable and unshakeable. By extension, His love for mankind remains constant and undeniable. The Lord forms a covering over His people Israel…to this day. There is wisdom to be applied to a covering however, and the loins girted with Truth is one such covering. In a Biblical sense, upholding God’s Word is girting the Truth about the loins but beholding precedes upholding.
Beholding the Truth
Beholding is to have a regard for; pay attention to; get a hold of [see] the Truth. It is grasping it, believing it, and be awed by it! It will not be seen as a necessary armour if there is unbelief. The atheist and the agnostic despise the Truth. To them the Belt of Truth is an unnecessary armour. In a spiritual battle, the atheist and agnostic cannot be clad with as important a sheathing as this Belt because by their own admission, there is either no God or they cannot commit to believing in the existence or a non-existence of God or a god. By virtue of their stance, there are no spiritual battles to fight because there is no God who saved [them] from anything or anyone. There are no spiritual battles to fight because no battle exists for the souls of men between the prince of the air and a heavenly Father. On the premise (or none thereof) of the agnostic, the ultimate reality [of a God] is unknown and perhaps unknowable.
Outcome of Unpreparedness
In a spiritual battle, it is not enough to know that there is one God…the Bible says, “Good [for you]! Even the demons believe that and shudder [see James 2:19]. The “Jews indeed” must engage the entire armour of God. Without the Truth of the Word, exposure and harm can be both spiritual and physical.
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience [Ephesians 5:6]
There were Jews who rejected the Messiah…the promised Deliverer of the Jewish nation; the Sent One. They were looking for the Messiah but overlooked Jesus, a man claiming to come from God, Who was indeed the Messiah. The Jews rejected God’s Son! For that reason, they were subjected to wrath from God. Similarly, the Ephesians were warned against deception from ‘empty words.’ Now if Truth is Word [of God], then the opposite is also true, that lies are empty words. God’s wrath, His anger, indignation and displeasure becomes inevitable save for His mercies. Remembering that He is Sovereign, is to remember that He determines the discipline…and only for the good of Israel [God’s people].
The whole point of the necessity of the “loins girth about with Truth” is summed up in this:
…that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand [Ephesians 6:13]
Pray extensively and unceasingly for Israel, God’s people…Jews indeed!
