Exodus 17:15

A Royal Banner

Jehovah-nissi The Lord is my banner. Exodus 17:15 (RVm).

Have you ever seen an old regimental flag? I remember seeing some once in a cathedral. There they hung faded and tattered and smoke-begrimed yet the sight of them thrilled me through and through. What scenes they had witnessed! these shabby old bits of silk what war adventures they had been through! How many lives had been laid down to keep them flying! How many a dying hope they had kept alive! On each were embroidered names Inkerman, Lucknow, Tel-el Kebir. They were the names of the battles where they had won fame. There they hung in the peace of their last resting-place, far removed from the din of battle; yet each seemed to preach a silent lesson of duty bravely done. Maybe you've seen a similar flag in your country.

A flag in itself is just a bit of colored silk with a device on it. What makes it so precious? It is the cause for which it stands. Have you ever been on a battleship at sunset? As the sun dips below the horizon a bugle sounds and the flag is hauled down; and every sailor, no matter what he is doing, stands in silence to salute it. But it is not really the flag he is saluting: it is the king whom the flag represents.

When Moses took as the motto of the children of Israel the words “Jehovah-nissi” “The Lord is my banner” he meant that the Israelites were to take God as their King and Leader. On that day Moses' rod the symbol of God's power had been as a banner rallying the people. When he held it up Israel prevailed, and when, in sheer exhaustion, his hand fell down, Amalek prevailed. You remember how Aaron and Hur supported him one on either side that he might be able to hold up his hands till sunset; and so Israel won the victory.

It was to celebrate this victory, and to keep it in the remembrance of the Israelites, that Moses built the altar. The name by which he called it “Jehovah-nissi” was at once a thanksgiving to the Leader who had made them conquerors and a promise to be faithful and obedient to Him in the future.

Like the Israelites of old we can all enlist under this wonderful banner.

When our British soldiers wish to enlist they have to be examined by a doctor; not all who present themselves are accepted. They must not be too old or too young, they must be a certain height, measure so much round the chest, have good eyesight, sound teeth, and be otherwise healthy. But the Heavenly King accepts everybody. There is no age limit. Old and young alike may enlist. He accepts girls as well as boys, and He is able to make splendid soldiers even of the weakest.

What are some of the duties of a soldier towards his banner? First, he must he loyal to it. Some of the most glorious deeds of history are recorded of men who fought for their banner with their last breath.

There is a story told of a brave young soldier who was found lying in a trench severely wounded and in great pain. The enemy found him and wished to take him away to hospital to have his wounds dressed, but the man would not allow them to lift him. Next day he was discovered dead in the trench, and when they lifted him up what do you think was underneath? the flag of his regiment! He had died rather than surrender it.

That is the kind of loyalty which Jesus wants from His soldiers.

Secondly, a soldier must never he ashamed of the flag. Do you think a British soldier is ever ashamed of his flag? What a ridiculous question to ask! On the contrary it thrills him with pride, and spurs him on to noble deeds. I can imagine only one case in which he would feel ashamed of it if he saw it in the hands of the enemy.

Yet Christ's soldiers are sometimes ashamed of their colors. The Apostle Peter was once ashamed of his, but one look from his Master cured him for life. He went out and wept bitterly, and we know that afterwards he braved many dangers for Christ's sake and at the last died a martyr's death. Todaywe are not likely to be asked to be martyrs, but Christianity isn't as popular in many places like it once was. Unbelievers say the Bible is filled with outdated ideas. They ridicule Jesus and those who believe in him. Will you be ashamed to stand for Jesus? Will you be afraid to stand for the truth in the Bible?

In the last place, the soldier must follow whenever the banner leads. Unquestioning obedience is the first duty of a soldier. If that goes, everything goes. What would you think of a soldier who said “I won't” when he received an order? If that sort of thing were allowed there would soon be mutiny in the camp.

So, if we are to be good soldiers, we must follow our Banner unquestioningly wherever He leads, knowing that however fierce the fight, He will bring us to victory. He knows just how much we are able to do, and is ready to help the moment we need His aid. Let us fight on bravely then, for “the Lord is our banner.”