Jehovah-Nissi – “The Lord My Banner” (Part 2)

by Chris Simmons

Last week, we considered the name Moses gave for the altar he built after the defeat of the Amalekites in Exodus 17:15, “The Lord is my banner.” In so doing, Moses ascribed to God the name which means an ensign or a standard which was used as we use a flag in military battles today. It is something, both then and now, to inspire men to rally together for a common cause under the authority of another. The altar was built as a memorial of the victory and should serve to remind us of our dependence on God and our need to act under His authority and direction, when Jesus is our banner. Isaiah prophesied of this in Isaiah 11:10-12, “Then it will come about in that day that the nations will resort to the root of Jesse, who will stand as a signal for the peoples; and His resting place will be glorious. Then it will happen on that day that the Lord will again recover the second time with His hand the remnant of His people, who will remain, from Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And He will lift up a standard for the nations, and will assemble the banished ones of Israel, and will gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” Jesus is that “root of Jesse” being the descendant of David (Romans 1:3) and we must look to Him as our banner. Jesus declared Himself to be our banner by comparing Himself to Moses when he held up the bronze serpent on a standard that the people might live (Numbers 21:7-9). Jesus said to Nicodemus in John 3:14-15, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; that whoever believes may in Him have eternal life.” What is the banner of Jesus Christ to mean to us?

It is a symbol of unity. As children of God, we are to be united under the banner of Christ. Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:1-3, “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” We are to be “united as one man” (Judges 20:11) in our worship of God, our stand for truth and our opposition to error and every practice not done by God’s authority. Great things can be accomplished when a group of people become united to the point that they act as one. This can only happen when brethren persist in abiding in the “teaching of Christ” (II John 9) and commit to speak only that which His word has revealed to us (cf. I Peter 4:11). “Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment” (I Corinthians 1:10). If all truly understood what it means to have Jesus as our banner, there would never be a need to coerce brethren to rally to the banner or to prioritize their lives so that assemblies are never forsaken.

It’s our standard of truth. Psalms 60:3-5, “Thou hast made Thy people experience hardship; Thou hast given us wine to drink that makes us stagger. Thou hast given a banner to those who fear Thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. That Thy beloved may be delivered, save with Thy right hand, and answer us!” Jesus is our standard for truth and He has revealed God’s standard for righteousness to us. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me” (John 14:6). Just as a flag sets apart one military regime from another, so we are set apart (sanctified) through the truth that Christ revealed (John 17:17). Will we ever exchange the truth of Christ’s banner for anything else (Romans 1:25)?

It’s a source of pride. When the soldiers who fought on the Island of Iwo Jima in World War II finally achieved victory and famously mounted the American banner or flag, they did so with a sense of pride in what that flag represented to them. Not out of personal pride or glory but for the cause of what the flag represented, they boldly stood by the flag they fought for. It’s interesting that historians note regarding the famous picture that was taken of the six soldiers raising the American flag, that the pictured flag was actually the second flag that was raised. The first was reportedly deemed to be too small and after finding a larger one, they raised it with great honor and pride. As soldiers of Christ, our pride is not in self but in our relationship with Him and everything that He lived and died for. Are we proud to carry the banner of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Or, as opposed to those soldiers on Iwo Jima, do we search for as small of a banner as possible so that those around us might not readily know who we stand with, and by? Paul was not ashamed to carry the banner of the gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16) and he asked that Timothy not be ashamed of the banner he was willing to suffer for (II Timothy 1:8, 12). Jeremiah the prophet wrote in Jeremiah 9:23-24, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,’ declares the Lord.” May it be our prayer that “with all boldness, Christ shall even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death” (Philippians 1:20).

A reminder of humility. The banner of Jesus Christ is to serve as a memorial that apart from Christ, we can do nothing (John 15:5). It is to reflect our abiding consciousness of the need to subject our will unto His. For our banner is our example of such humility; who came not to do His own will but His Father’s (John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38). Paul reminds us of the need to follow in His steps and to do “nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself” (Philippians 2:3; note verses 4-9). The banner of Jesus Christ reminds us that regardless of how obediently we may serve, how courageously we may fight, or how much we may accomplish for the Lord’s sake, the glory belongs to God (Ephesians 3:20-21).

A declaration of faith and trust. Joshua, who was designated by Moses to lead the battle, was certainly a man of faith, for he and Caleb were the only two who later had enough faith in the banner of God to say confidently, we can take the land. It represents our conviction that things will turn out “exactly” as God told us they would (Acts 27:25). It’s our affirmation that we will overcome and in fact, “overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). It represents our assurance that everything entrusted to God in our lives is guarded and kept by Him – “for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day” (II Timothy 1:12).

A resolution of commitment. Just as Moses’ raising of the rod didn’t absolve the Israelites from having to fight, so we must do our part. We must “fight the good fight of faith” (I Timothy 6:12) and “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). We’ve got to put our hands to the plow and not look back (Luke 9:62). We’re personally responsible for the work that must accompany salvation (Phil. 2:12). Spiritual victory does not come without a cost in terms of trials and persecutions that we must be willing to pay (Luke 14:25-35) – even if it costs us our life (Revelation 2:10).