God Speaking

“He has taken me to the banqueting hall, and his banner over me is love” (Song of Songs 2:4)

I have a friend who has been given a beautiful gift of creativity. Give this lady a piece of paper and with a few deft movements of her fingers a flower emerges, much to the amazement of those of us who are watching. She is a great asset at bridal or baby showers where she has been known to transform tissue paper into a blooming Easter Bonnet for the guest of honor to wear. Her other specialty is to create personal banners for parties. Our own family have been recipients of these, made with love, banners and they have been carefully taken down and kept as keepsakes. These banners make a statement about the person who is being feted in that special function.

Banners in all sorts of different forms are part of our daily life. Our city erects majestic banners for our city streets for special seasons of the year. They bring a feeling of joy to all who drive past. One of our city overpasses was recently covered with a giant banner announcing a coming festival. A great way to grab attention. Other banners are displayed to signify what a particular group believes and people march behind them to give support and uphold their cause.

Banners were used for quite a different reason in Biblical times. The banner of a king was a precious object and the carrying of such was a huge honor. The banner of the king was a sign for all the soldiers to keep constantly in sight so they did not stray away from protection/ a rallying beacon/ a reassuring that the king was leading/ a sense of heading in the right direction. Moses realized that the banner he would follow was the Lord God Almighty himself.

“Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner” (Exodus 17:15)

Isaiah prophesied that One was coming who was to stand as a banner for all peoples. We know that this Precious One did arrive and he has become the trustworthy banner for all of us to follow for complete assurance of protection.

“In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him and his place of rest will be glorious.”(Isaiah 11:10)

So how do we relate to those beautiful words, “His banner over me is love”?

The Lord always draws people to him by love. This beautiful verse is promising us that if we are willing we can be welcomed under his banner of protection just by following him. If we keep that banner always in sight and not be distracted by the outside world we will always be heading in the right direction. We will not be straying down dangerous paths not knowing where we are going frightened of what lies around the corner.

Sometimes we may be asked to hold high the banner for our king so others may be drawn to him. How proudly would we do that? How willing are we to let others know that it is the Lord Jesus Christ we are following so closely? Perhaps we may be the only banner carrier in our work place/ our school/ our community. Will we raise high his banner with enthusiasm and joy so that others will gladly join the ranks of all of those who have discovered how life changes when the Almighty God goes before us and we are under his protection?

The verse in the Song of Songs has been turned in to a beautiful hymn of praise to our Savior and perhaps when we need to have the strength to raise his banner high we can sing it loudly, remembering that his everlasting arms are always there ready to help us at any given time

He brought me to the banqueting table

He brought me to the banqueting table

And his banner over me is love.

I am my beloved’s and he is mine

And his banner over me is love.

The one way to peace is the way of the Cross

And his banner over me is love

Click here for the lyrics to the kids version