Joshua 24: 1-2, 14-18 (New Jerusalem Bible)
Ephesians 6: 10-20 (Common English Bible)
The letter written for the Christians in Ephesus can be taken as an instruction guide. The first half is composed mainly of instructional theory, while the second half explains the practical steps for prayer. Paul wrote this letter sometime between 54-57 AD while he was in a Roman prison. Paul was regarded by the Roman Emperor Nero as a ringleader of the Christian faith.
In verse 12, Paul mentions the struggle against the forces of cosmic darkness and spiritual powers of demonic evil that influence humankind on earth. Contemporary thinkers have considered several possibilities about these demonic powers. They may simply represent such things as mental illness or a severe physical illness that can not be cured. One can see how a schizophrenic person from that era could be considered possessed by a demon.
But well-informed critical thinkers have tried to take seriously the language of spiritual evil and the demonic in the New Testament. When we look at the world today there is so much evil that even Genghis Khan would be shocked. Just within recent history there was the Holocaust against the Jewish people during the tyranny of Hitler where millions were murdered, in 1994 in Rwanda the Hutu people tried to exterminate theTutsi people with 800,000 killed and in Gaza today 40,000 innocent people have been killed. One can wonder why this barbarism is going on in the 21st century?
In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he uses a metaphor of a Roman soldier equipped for battle. And no doubt that Paul knew what a Roman soldier looked like. Often a prisoner, especially one with influence, was chained to a Roman soldier. So Paul compares the military attire to Christians defending their faith.
Paul writes that the Roman soldier’s belt is the belt of truth. It was the belt on the soldier’s tunic from which his sword hung and gave him freedom of movement. The Christian moves freely and quickly to spread the good news about Jesus.
There is the breastplate of righteousness. The only way to deflect the accusations against the Christian faith is to follow Jesus and what he really taught.
There are the sandals. Sandals were a sign of one equipped and ready to travel. This is a symbol of missionary work and traveling to parts unknown to spread the gospel.
There is the shield. Paul is talking about the long oblong shield which could protect the whole body. When a shield like that was struck by flaming arrows, the arrow would sink into the shield without harming the soldier.
Paul uses the helmet as a symbol for salvation. Christ gives us forgiveness and strength to overcome evil in the days to come.
Finally, Paul unveils the greatest weapon of all, and that is prayer. Often our tendency to pray is during the great crises of life, but it is the daily prayers that Christians will find strength. Reading the Upper Room’s daily prayers is a good place to start.
The Apostle Paul continues by asking members of the Ephesian churches to keep praying for God’s people. Intercessory prayers are very important. While God never sleeps, people do. We can take comfort in knowing Christians on the other side of the world during our darkness of sleep are praying for us and our nation, whether the prayers come from Australia or India.
In verses 19 and 20, Paul writes, “As for me, pray that when I open my mouth, I will get a message that confidently makes this secret plan of the gospel known. I’m an ambassador in chains for the sake of the gospel. Pray so the Lord will give me the confidence to say what I have to say.”
The Spirit of God inspired Paul to say a lot in just those two sentences. Paul was under great pressure because of his imprisonment. The Roman authorities had him under lock and key. Yet these authorities have not yet silenced him. God gives him the ability to spread the gospel by his letters.
Paul’s concern for others extends to those Christians who are in prison like him. While there is no persecution of Christians in America, we should pray for those in foreign nations who are being jailed and even executed for their faith. That is real persecution.
At the end of his letter, Paul prays for continued strength to share the gospel, despite incredible opposition. Yet the apostle realizes he cannot do so unless he is equipped against the evil ones. And that is the armor of God, which is stronger than any Roman soldier’s battle gear.
From the Hebrew Bible, Joshua recites the story of how God told the Hebrews, God’s choice of people to lead them. God chose Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses to lead them. Moses had delivered their ancestors from slavery in Egypt, guided them through the Wilderness of Sinai and delivered them to the Promised Land. Joshua then confronted the people to make a choice of what is ultimately most important when worldly values and powers clash with God’s Kingdom. Terrible consequences happen with wrong choices. If we follow other gods by valuing our own prosperity while ignoring the poverty of others and if we refuse to challenge the despots with their lies, can we really say we’re following God? What will our legacy be like? Joshua declared in chapter 24, verse 15:
“But if serving Yahweh seems a bad thing for you, today you must make up your mind, whom do you mean to serve? As regards to my family and I, we shall serve Yahweh.”
This modern and postmodern consumer society is all about choosing material things. The biblical world uses choice in a particular way. In this reading “choice” is an expression of loyalty. An ancient or feudal person of lesser status and wealth swears loyalty to a king or patron who has greater wealth or status. The choices Joshua talked about were a choice between the pagan gods of Mesopotamia or the true living God, Yahweh.
We still have that same choice today. Only this time it is the idols of wealth, consumerism and power that many value. Those were not the values that Jesus taught. Jesus is the Way and by that I do not mean religious exclusivism as many believe. What it actually means to me, is to follow Jesus’ teachings and live life as it should be. That is the true Way to follow.
AMEN
