Skip to main content

His Banner

 Let him lead me to the banquet hall, and let his banner over me be love. (Song of Solomon 2:4)

          Looking up the use of “banner” in Biblical times, one source describes it as “In the Bible, the term "banner" symbolizes identity, unity, and divine protection. It represents a standard or ensign raised high for all to see, serving as a rallying point for God's people. The Hebrew word for banner, "נֵס" (nes), signifies not just a physical object but also a spiritual concept deeply rooted in the identity and protection offered by God.” (Bibledictionarytoday.com )

          Armies rallied around and marched under a banner that told everyone who they were. Citizens welcomed the victorious with banners much as fans welcome the victorious do today, with banners, flags, and cheering. Their banners make it clear to everyone that they’re with the team.

          My problem with banners – or bumper stickers, or anything else that announces my connection with others is my expectation that I will be a disappointment to the others. There was an ad at one point in which a guy stands in the center of a plaza area, throws his arms out to the side and shouts, “I love you! I love you!” That’s waving a banner. The woman steps in closer and whispers, “I love you. I love you.” That’s me if I’m being bold. I can challenge people (sometimes) without a problem, but being emotionally vulnerable? That’s hard, especially face-to-face.

          But if “His banner over me is love,” then God is doing the “guy role.” Yes, I know He spread His arms wide, and I know that dying on the cross was His shout of “I love you.” I get that. I’ll even tell people that about them. Not about me except, perhaps, with me as just one of the flock, herd, mob, or the dehumanized entity called a collective.

          None of us does a good job of loving, and I think that’s one of my problems with this verse, and why I need to quote it a lot and aloud. I’m embarrassed because I’m not good enough. I’m not worthy. I can’t match Him (or you, or that other Christian) in loving Him or anyone else. But that doesn’t matter in this verse. That doesn’t change His banner.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The List

              Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,   through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;   perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)           Think about it. We have been justified. At least, we could be justified if we stopped insisting that our justification be based on our merits. We have peace with God, or could have peace if we stopped throwing temper tantrums. We have gained access into grace i...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Way, The Truth, and The Life

              Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me . (John 14:6)           If “I am the gate of the sheep…I am the good shepherd” from chapter 10 is a double whammy, this verse is a triple whammy. And its first victim is the notion that any other so-called god was acceptable or the same as Jesus. He, and He alone is the way, the truth, and the life, and the only way to get to the Father. There is no other Savior, or Redeemer, according to Jesus. Now, to be fair, other religions will claim that their religion or god(s) are the only way. That is the nature of gods and of religions. If this and that are equally good and agree on what’s necessary, then this and that are the same thing, so there’s no need to from the other to one. If that’s the case, then why speak against the other or promote the one? There’s a song I’ve been listening to i...
Post a Comment
Read more

Listen To Him

              The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him . (Deuteronomy 18:15)           Today, we switch from Jesus’ claims of “I am” to prophecies made about Him. My Bible platform is starting in Deuteronomy. I’d start in Genesis, where we would learn that the one who would save us would be a descendant of Eve (Genesis 3:15), of Noah (by default), Abram and Sara(Genesis 12:1-3). Isaac (Genesis 17:19), Jacob (Genesis 25:23), Judah (Genesis 29:8), and David (II Samuel 7:12-16). There were also references to a new covenant (Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 36:22-32). In addition, there were prophecies about when and where the prophet/Messiah would be born and what would happen to him.           Of course, naysayers will claim that Jesus’ life was retrofitted or reverse enginee...
Post a Comment
Read more