God is my Banner
Moses built an altar and named it, “The Lord is My Banner”.
Exodus 17:15
As a child, I sang, “His Banner Over Me Is Love” with much gusto and hand motions. My own children would dance around their rooms with this proclamation.
Even today, banners help identify allegiances. We see flags to rally fans for our favorite sports team or school alma mater. We rise to honor a national flag and some even fly flags to promote political affiliations. A Banner is a visible identifier on display. It unifies followers. In Biblical times, it was hung to commemorate a victory and to serve as a reminder of the winning team.
This was the very occasion of Moses’ statement, “The Lord is My Banner”. The Lord brought the Israelites a glorious victory over the Amalekites in Exodus 17. This was Moses’ declaration of worship and praise and thanks to God. It was a proclamation that the people belonged to the Lord.
What does it mean to me that “The Lord is My Banner”? I am saying that I belong to Him. It is a personal statement about my identity. Yet, it means much more than this! His banner reminds me that His protection brings victory; His provision sustains me. It reminds me than in the darkest hour, he is with me; that His purposes stand, even when circumstances seem otherwise. I want to recognize and honor God’s victories in my life, and I want everyone to know that I belong to Him.
The verses in this song of my childhood fully illuminate why God’s banner over me is love:
The Lord is mine and I am His; His banner over me is love.
He brought me to His banqueting table; His banner over me is love.
He is the Vine and we are the branches; His banner over me is love.
Jesus is the rock of my salvation; His banner over me is love.
Let us shout for joy at your victory and lift the banner in the name of our God (Psalm 20:5).
Jill Hardin
Unless otherwise notated, all Scripture is from the Christian Standard Bible.
