This is an encouraging word to gird up your loins. The King James version will be used because it uses this special word gird, that I want to pay close attention to, as the Lord has been highlighting it to me.
WHAT IS GIRDING?
Let me first explain what girding the loins looks like for a visual. I took this very popular slide off the internet, it is not mine. Long ago, men wore tunics that would hang low and if they were to fight or work, they had to bind them up. In this image it shows it being tied but the belt was also used to make it secure. The belt (or girdle) could be a strong band or a simple sash depending on the occasion. In the book of Jeremiah, the Lord has some interesting instructions regarding a girdle.
THE CLOTH
Take the girdle that thou hast got, which is upon thy loins, and arise, go to Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole of the rock. So I went, and hid it by Euphrates, as the Lord commanded me. And it came to pass after many days, that the Lord said unto me, arise, go to Euphrates, and take the girdle from thence, which I commanded thee to hide there. Then I went to Euphrates, and digged, and took the girdle from the place where I had hid it: and, behold, the girdle was marred, it was profitable for nothing. Jeremiah 13:4-7
Why would God ask the prophet Jeremiah to take such a long journey, twice, only put a cloth in the rocks and take it back up again? What is the significance of this cloth and why was it first wrapped around the loins or waist?
First let’s look at the Hebrew word is for girdle. Ezor (H232), means waist cloth but it can also mean a belt. Other definitions in the Blue Letter Bible, said it can metaphorically mean God’s power over kings or faithfulness. When we shift to the New Testament, much of the original wording is in Greek, not Hebrew. So, the Greek word for girded is zonnymi or zonnumi (G2224) or gird thyself which is perizonnymi or perizonnumi (G4024).
To understand what this cloth may have represented in Jeremiah, we must read further in the text.
I have seen thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, and thine abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! Wilt thou not be made clean? When shall it once be? Jeremiah 13:47
The people had fallen away from truth. They had become immoral, replacing good for evil and evil for good. Much like we see happening now.
GIRD THE LOINS
The scripture in Jeremiah, about the waist cloth, was given to me a while ago when I was struggling with speaking for the Lord, but I didn’t quite understand what the Lord was telling me. Then recently, I heard another scripture that brought it back to my remembrance.
Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside His garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that He poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded. John 13:3-5
Now the cloth used for girding as described in Jeremiah was to be placed by the river, which became soiled and good for nothing. However, the cloth that Jesus had around His waist in John 13, was used to purify the disciples.
ACTS OF SERVICE
This scripture in the book of John, shows a special relationship between the master and the servant, that the Lord was highlighting to his disciples. Jesus was showing the disciples how important it was to serve others with a humble heart, even while being a master. One thing I didn’t understand before I started researching this was that a Jewish man did not wash feet. Only the servants of the home or the women washed feet. That’s why Peter so adamantly protested Jesus when He came before him to wash his feet (John 13). Not only did Jesus wash the disciple’s feet, He first removed His garment and laid it aside. Metaphorically this shows how we ourselves, when we serve, are to lay our fleshly selves down (our titles, pride, etc.) and humbly serve.
And when He had called the people unto Him with His disciples also, He said unto them, whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. Mark 8:34
HOLD YOUR GROUND
Let’s also look at the significance of the waist cloth being girt around Jesus waist and some scriptures that may give us deeper insight. If we go back to the Old Testament when Nehemiah went back to rebuild the temple of God, he was met with a lot of opposition. Many people pushed back upon him. He instructed those who were committed to restoring the temple to stand firm with a tool in one hand and a sword in the other.
They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. Nehemiah 4:17-18
This is also true whenever building a ministry. We, as Christians, when we are trying to work for the Lord must remember to build with one hand, but have the sword of the spirit girded by our side. When we work for the Lord we are honoring and serving Him above all else. We cannot stand in our own strength and serve effectively. The sword of the spirit contains God’s Word and His power. This sword is our weapon of defense. When we humbly serve while standing in the truth of God it can change peoples hearts and lives. The first thing that is listed in the book of Ephesians describing the armor of God is the belt of truth.
BELT OF TRUTH
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth… Ephesians 6:14
I believe the towel that was girt around the waist of Jesus is a symbol of Jesus being rooted in truth. We are to serve humbly and lovingly while being rooted in God’s truth.
Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when He will return from the wedding; that when He cometh and knocketh, they may open unto Him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when He cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that He shall gird Himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. Luke 12:35-37
BINDING THE STRONG MAN
The Lord showed me something right before I was supposed to do this article. When kids are about to move out of their parent’s house, sometimes they are put in charge of the house while the parent’s are away, because there is a level of trust there and they are learning how to be grown up. Generally, children know that their parents love them and if they screw up they will be forgiven. But that doesn’t mean that Dad would be okay if you wrecked the house while he was gone. If you wreck the house, most likely you won’t be asked to take care of the house again. The child knows, Dad is coming home soon. If he wants his Dad to be proud of him, he would be putting his house in order to prove to his Father that he is mature and trustworthy.
When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. He that is not with Me is against Me: and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth. Luke 11:21-23
Jesus is coming back soon. We must have our house in order. What we do matters in the eyes of God. If you are in agreement with what the world says is right, and it doesn’t align with scripture, you are probably on the wrong side.
THE BATTLE
There is a reason why our scriptures contains so many references to being prepared. We are in a spiritual battle that is getting more intense. So draw close to the Lord and prepare for battle.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:10-11
Put on the WHOLE armor of God. Do you really want to go into battle without a sword or a belt? We are to be battle ready and remain in obedience to the Lord (Romans 1:19). No one does this perfectly but we make a continuous effort to set our minds and hearts on Jesus. Thankfully, the Lord gives us supernatural strength in order to do this because we cannot do it on our own.
PERSECUTION
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 Peter 1:13-16
The Lord died for our sins. If our Savior went to such great lengths to deliver us from sin, why wouldn’t we make every effort to avoid falling into it? We are to take holiness seriously. Thankfully, we have a very loving God who forgives. God helps us turn away and stay away from sin. If we continue to live in the same sin, perhaps we have not fully surrendered to God.
BUT GOD
We make a choice each day who we will choose to serve – the world or God. When we choose to serve the world there are consequences. Just as the waist cloth was soiled in the book of Jeremiah, we can become soiled and unprofitable before the Lord when we wrap ourselves up in the world. But when we pick up our cross and choose to serve Jesus, He tends to us by washing our feet. And our Jesus wears a golden waist cloth.
And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. Revelation 1:13
If we read further into the book of Revelation, we see that the sword is actually now coming directly out of Jesus’ mouth. Many critics claim speaking truth is judgmental. But that is not what the Bible says. Speaking truth is love because truth births change. As Christians, we are to welcome wisdom and correction (Proverbs 12). We are ambassadors for the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:20). As ambassadors, we are the Lord’s representatives, assisting each other in the way of the Lord. Until the Lord returns, we have opportunity to assist Him in transforming people’s lives.
And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. Revelation 19:15
When Jesus comes back, He will make all things right. He is coming back as King and we will all bow before Him (Romans 14:11). It is imperative that we know and follow His ways. We should take His return very seriously. Stand strong friends, and cling to Jesus.
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth. 1 Corinthians 13:6
Leave a Reply