Hepzibah

What are Garments in the Bible? Garments or Clothes are identified with attitudes or actions. Apostle Paul used the clothing analogy to describe actions and attitudes a believer must put off or on as a new being in Christ. In Colossians 3:12 , “Therefore as God’s chosen people,holy and deadly loved,clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience”. This was also confirmed by Jesus that , the world will identify you by your actions and attitudes,needless, to said by the Garment you have on, which speaks louder than you. Garments are also associated with beauty, dignity. authority and prosperity .

Garment played a major role in the history of salvation starting from Genesis to Revelation . God formed Adam and Eve without any clothing for it was not required, they were naked and unashamed ( Genesis 2:25) . When they were deceived by Satan and their eyes were opened, they became ashamed of their nakedness. God provided a temporary clothing for them to hide their nakedness / sins with the skin of a slaughtered animal ( Genesis 3:21) and eventually provided a permanent garment of salvation ( Isaiah 61:3, 10) . Salvation is changing of dirty/ filthy garment to white garment ( Isaiah 64:6, Revelation 7:14).

Types of Garments

The Bible recognizes many Garments but some are discussed below:

• The Garment of Praise: Is a metaphor for the gladness and thanksgiving to God. Prophet Isaiah called for A Garment of Praise for the liberated captives as hope is being restored , for the redeemed and a continuous offering unto the Lord ( Isaiah 61 3,Hebrews 13:15). Today those who know the joy of the Lord, wear the “Garment of Praise ” and always seeking for ways to praise God as He ministers to their hearts and minds.

• The Wedding Garment: This represents righteousness, sincerity, repentance, humility. It may be interpreted as the higher level of righteousness to enter the Kingdom of God as depicted in the parable of the man without a wedding garment in Matthew 22:11-13 and was bound and sent out of the banquet.

• The Heavenly Garment: Believers are citizens of heaven( Philippians 3:20) and they are expected to be in their heavenly garment when they meet Jesus such like He is. It is a garment to be recognized by Him and is one of the eternal rewards given by grace. It can be described as the glorious bride’s garment to adore her groom.- the Lamb( Revelation 19:7-8). The bride has prepared herself ready for this day and she was granted to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure garment- for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. .

• The Garment of Salvation: This may also mean same as Garment of Righteousness which depicts honour and purity ( Isaiah 61:10). Believers are to put off the deeds of darkness and put on garment of righteousness which represents their new being and the work of the Holy Spirit within them ( Roman’s 13:12, Ephesians 4:22, Colossians 3:9-10)

• The Royal Garment : Queen Esther knew the appropriate dressing to see the king Ahasuerus unsummoned, it can only be the Royal Garment ( Esther 5:1a). In this context, her garment was a spiritual implications of bravery ,humility, compassion, wisdom courage, meekness, patience and long- suffering, having fasted for three days. Her wisdom which was from above was truly honourable and excellent in dealing with the issue of redemption of her people.( James 3:17-18, Esther 5:3-8, Esther 7:2).

• The White Garment: This symbolizes purity . Ecclesiastes 3:8 says “Let your garment be always white”- to be unspotted by sins. It is symbol of perfection. A garment for the faithful believer, the overcomer , victorious and those whose name are in the book of life ( Revelation 3:5).

• Garment of Many Colors: Jacob ‘s favorite gift to Joseph was a coat of many colors ,as a result he was envied by his brothers ( Genesis 37:1-3) The coat denotes favor, nobility, love and representation of God’s glory, majesty and light ( Psalms 104:1-2). It also symbolized his future leadership ( Genesis 41:40) and rich ancestral inheritance ( Matthew 1:2).

• Garment of Violence: Denotes an act of pride, self conceit and cruelty that leads to violence ( Psalms 73:6, Malachi 2:16).

• Garment of Sack or Sackcloth: This is a garment of mourning. It is also a sign of submission (1 Kings 20:31-32, or repentance or self – humiliation ( Matthew 11:21, Esther 4:1, Psalms 30:11, 2 Samuel 3:31).

• Garment of Filthyness : An unclean garment. God described the righteousness of man as a filthy garment ( Isaiah 64:6) . Joshua, the high priest was found clothed in filthy garment ( Zechariah 3:1-5).

I am sure you would have put on one or more of these garments at what time or the other. Some of the garments are still on you but which garment do you have on now? Are you wearing the garment of salvation or the wedding or of violence? Christians are expected to clothe themselves with the Lord Jesus ( Romans 13:14a) You should be identified with His character which are meekness, humility ,compassion for the poor, long suffering and perseverance. It’s very important that you examine yourself and ensure that you are well prepared for the right garment. What garment are you seen in the spiritual realm? Remember, Joshua, the high priest with all his works was found clothed in filthy garment ( Zechariah 3:1-5) . Therefore, ask for grace to be prepared for the Marriage of the Lamb so as to qualify for the Heavenly Garment- the Utimate Garment !!! What Garment are you putting on ? A question we should all aspire to answer sincerely.