Lecture 1
How Did We Miss This Garment?
Practically all of the superheroes in the Marvel comics wore capes (cloaks).
As a matter of fact, we questioned the ability of the superhero if they did not have a cloak. So how did we miss this key piece of garment?
Also, as children, whenever we pretended to be a superhero or a supervillain, the first thing we grabbed was something to tie around our necks in the representation of our cape and something to use as a helmet and a sword.
So, I ask again, “How did we miss this piece of the garment?”
Just like with the Shield of faith, the difference between a cape and a cloak is the size of the garment. Also, a cape was hooded, whereas a cloak was not; and where the cape was waist length, the cloak was the length of the body.
The significance of the size of the cape vs. the cloak was its ability to protect, which is one of the reasons that it was a necessary part of the garment of a soldier. It served as an extra layer of protection for many who used it in Bible days.
The significance of the cloak varied based on who was using it.
Example #1: The use of the cloak by a Soldier
the cloak worn by the Roman soldiers, called the sagum, was thick and warm. Regarding the sagum, the Romans in Britain website informs us that, “It was used to protect the soldier from bad weather on the march and during sentry duty, and it doubled as a blanket at night.”
Example #2: The use of the cloak by the poor and/or blind
For the poor and/or blind, the cloak had a different purpose. It was so crucial to the well-being of the poor that no one was able to deprive a person of it even if it had been used to secure a loan. Also, the fact that it could have been used as security for a loan hints at the value of this particular garment. (2021)
Exodus 22:26-27 New International Version
26 If you take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, return it by sunset, 27 because that cloak is the only covering your neighbor has. What else can they sleep in? When they cry out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.
Deuteronomy 24:12-13 New International Version
12 If the neighbor is poor, do not go to sleep with their pledge in your possession. 13 Return their cloak by sunset so that your neighbor may sleep in it. Then they will thank you, and it will be regarded as a righteous act in the sight of the Lord your God.
For the blind, a cloak was used as a way of providing for oneself. We have as an example the account of blind Bartimaeus found in Mark Chapter 10. He couldn’t see, so his way of making a living was to beg. Those who threw money at him would throw the money in his cloak. This way he was sure to get what was given to him because he couldn’t see to pick up any monies that were thrown outside of his cloak. Yet when he heard that Jesus was passing by he did not hesitate to toss away his means for providing for himself.
Mark 10:46-52 New International Version
Blind Bartimaeus Receives His Sight
46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” 50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.
The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”
52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
There is significance in what Bartimaeus did when he tossed aside his cloak to go to Jesus. Not only did he throw aside his means of providing for himself. He threw aside his way of life. He threw aside his covering, and his identity, and he did this without a second thought. He threw aside what could have hindered him, held him back, delayed him, or tripped him up. We are told that he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
Sometimes you have to be tired of being tired of the circumstances that you find yourself in.
Sometimes you need to want something so bad that you will quickly set aside anything that would hinder you from stepping out on faith to claim what you want.
Enough has to be enough sometimes for a person to make the moves necessary to change.
They told Bartimaeus to be quiet. They tried to shush him, but enough was enough. Bartimaeus was tired of his situation. He didn’t want to be in his situation any longer and with all that he had heard (faith comes by hearing), he did not allow anyone or anything to hold him back any longer. This was his chance and he took it. He cried louder and when he was called he threw aside his cloak. Bartimaeus was tired of being blind. He wanted to see. When Jesus called him, he did not hesitate to go. Basically, he sold his cloak for a sword.
The Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. (Ephesians 6:17)
Now check this out, Jesus, who is the Word of God did not touch Bartimaeus. He spoke and the Word received was this: “Go, your faith has healed you.”
Catch this huge lesson:
To the Israelites, his disciples, Jesus says, “Sell your cloak, and buy a sword.”
When what covers you is not the reality that you want, sell your cloak and buy a sword. Blind Bartimaeus did not want the reality that he had so he released his cloak to get a sword from the Word of God.
What does that look like today?
To understand what this would look like for us today, we need to understand what the cloak represents.
So, I ask you to come with me to where the cloak is first seen being worn by none other than King Jesus.
The Missing Battle Garment – The Cloak of Zeal
Isaiah 59:15b-17 New King James Version
The Redeemer of Zion
Then the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him
That there was no justice.
16 He saw that there was no man,
And wondered that there was no intercessor;
Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him;
And His own righteousness, it sustained Him.
17 For He put on righteousness as a breastplate,
And a helmet of salvation on His head;
He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing,
And was clad with zeal as a cloak.
Read Isaiah 59:15-17
What was it that the Lord saw that was missing that caused Him to Dress for Battle?
Read Ezekiel 22:30
What did the Lord tell Ezekiel that HE was looking for?
Notice that in both Ezekiel 22:30 and Isaiah 59:16, the issue was the same.
Define Clad.
In the wintertime, we put on extra layers of clothing on really cold days. So zeal was used as an extra layer of protection. This extra layer was put on because it was noticed that there was no one to intercede and defend those who could not defend themselves.
Therefore, what you are seeing here is just how protective the Lord is over us.
Our Heavenly FATHER IS JEALOUS FOR US.
2 Corinthians 11:2New International Version
2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.
Now that is Love.
Please proceed to Module 9, Lecture 2-What Is Zeal?
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