His Banner Over Me Is Love

We used to take our youth group to an outdoor music festival every spring.  It was a big deal--2 days and nights with a group of teenagers and a handful of adults.  Before we could enjoy the festivities, we would set up our campsite, which was "base" for the weekend.  The kids knew to come back to our spot to check in, eat, and sleep.  We tried to pick an area that would be visible and easily accessible.  (And near the port-a-potties, if possible.  Although that had it's down side. 😩)  We also had a base set up near the stages, with chairs and blankets and snacks.  It was a lot of work, a lot of fun, and we made a lot of wonderful memories.  

As a "vertically challenged" person, I lost my people more than my fair share of times.  What seemed like a pretty extensive settlement when you were sitting in it was easily lost in the crowd for someone like me--someone so close to the ground.  The last year we were there, a wonderful trend started popping up around the campground.  Youth groups had banners or large flags made, and the leaders would plant it at their base.  It would fly high over their designated area, and it made it much easier to weave your way through the crowd and find your people.  (I had big plans to have a banner the next year, but sad news--the festival was  canceled.)  

I was reminded of this when I was reading Psalm 60.  These verses are the opposite of a fun, festival atmosphere.  It starts with "O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses; you have been angry; oh, restore us.  You have made the land to quake; you have torn it open; repairs its breaches, for it totters."  (vs 1 and 2)  This sounds familiar, as our country falls into what feels like turmoil.  But God doesn't want us to stagger through the "crowd" in confusion, and He doesn't want us to get lost.  "You have set up a banner for those who fear you, that they may flee to it from the bow."  (vs 4)

He didn't just raise the banner, He IS the banner.  In Exodus 17, Moses built an altar to God, specifically calling Him by His Name Jehovah-Nissi—“The Lord is my Banner", after God gave the Israelites victory in battle.  In John 3:14-15, Jesus declares Himself to be the banner: "It is necessary for the Son of Man to be lifted up--and everyone who looks up to Him, trusting and expectant, will gain a real life, eternal life."  (The Message) 

If the youth group didn't know what their particular group's flag looked like, it would mean nothing to them if they were lost.  They could look up all day, but nothing would look familiar.  By studying God's Word, we are becoming familiar with our Banner.  We are looking up to His death, (high and lifted up on the cross); we are trusting in His resurrection (our faith is nothing if Christ is not risen); and we are looking expectantly for rescue and deliverance from death and to Him (eternal life).That is the truth of the gospel.  Jesus declares Himself our banner and in the very next verse He says—“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but will have eternal life.”  If you get lost and discouraged as you try to navigate chaos, look up and ahead for the Banner and join His people gathered under it.  Even the short people can find Him.  ❤️