Who is God? Jehovah Nissi...Lord, My Banner

Jehovah Nissi…Lord, My Banner

Song of Solomon 2:4 He has taken me to the banquet hall, and his banner over me is love. (NIV)

 

            The Israelites had just been rescued from the hands of Pharaoh and no sooner had they left Egypt, they had to fight a number of enemies. Many nations had heard how the God of the Israelites had drowned Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea. They knew that this nation was unlike the other nations and that the God of Israel was far greater than their own pagan gods. However, that did not stop the nations from pursuing the Israelites and deeming them as the ultimate threat. Therefore, the Israelites had to fight the Amalekites and they needed the help of the Lord to give them favor to win. Exodus 17:8-9 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.” (NIV)

               The devil loves to attack the people of God because he has a special hatred for anything and anyone of God. Therefore, he wanted to destroy God’s chosen people, but God used Moses’ hand as their covering to defeat their enemy. Exodus 17:11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. (NIV) There was no power in Moses’ hand alone, but it was the power of God that sustained them during this battle. Moses’ hand being lifted up to God was a sign that there was Someone greater than himself with whom Israel could rely upon. That, someone, was Jehovah Nissi…Lord, our Banner. Isaiah 59:19 So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. (KJV)

            How is Jehovah Nissi our Banner? Just as banners in the natural are signs to show what a particular object represents or how outstanding it is, it is the same way with Jehovah Nissi. He raises a standard of excellence for His children and lets the world know that He reigns supreme over all mankind. There is no one like Him, and His standard is one of holiness, righteousness, and victory. Psalm 20:5 We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests. (NIV)

               The children of Israel needed Jehovah Nissi’s help that day in order to win the battle against their enemy.  Moses’ hand signified the banner that God has over all His children which is a banner of protection over those who seek and honor Him. Therefore, Moses built an altar to Jehovah Nissi proclaiming that the Lord was his Banner to whom he lifted up His hands. Exodus 17:15 Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. He said, “For hands were lifted up to the throne of the Lord. The Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation. (NIV)

            Just as a banner in the natural is a source of identification to let the onlooker know what an item, organization, or individual represents, God is the same way. We are representatives of Him because there is no power higher than the Lord. Moses lifted his hands towards the ultimate Power and that was Jehovah Nissi who is our Banner of protection, righteousness, holiness and the standard for which we all are to live. When Israel’s enemies saw Moses' hands lifted, it was a sign to them as well that Israel was not fighting in their own might, but in the name of the Lord.

               We too are to uphold the Banner. Jehovah Nissi is the Standard by which we are to live our lives. His banner over us is a sign to all the world that we are His children and that He loves us with a special love that only a father can give. Let’s remember to let our light shine so that others can see Jehovah Nissi, our Banner in us and not have to speak through a donkey. Part 2 tomorrow.