Lesson #4
Exodus 17:15
While Joshua and the army of Israel fought the Amalekites in the valley
below, Moses stood on the top of Mt. Horeb, which is Mt. Sinai, with his hands stretched
out before the Lord, with his rod in his hands. The symbolism in this picture is full of
instruction. Moses lifted up his hands in prayer to God and held up the rod, which
represented God’s omnipotent power, so that all Israel could see it standing erect,
like an immovable banner upon Mt. Sinai. But when Moses hands got heavy, the rod he held
sagged. When the army of Israel could not see the rod, they wavered and the Amalekites
prevailed against them. Aaron and Hur found a stone and put it under Moses to support him.
Then they stood by Moses and held up his hands until the going down of the sun. Thus,
Israel defeated the Amalekites. We are like those Israelites. At times it seems that our
spiritual warfare will surely end in defeat. Like Moses, we get weary. Our legs are
feeble. Our hands begin to sag. It appears that we will surely fall to the enemy. But,
just when we have no strength, Christ our High Priest, represented by Aaron, and the
Spirit of God, represent by Hur, whose name means liberty, inspire us to lift up our hands
in prayer to God. Fixed upon Christ, our sure Foundation Stone, we again see the Rod of
God, our mighty Savior, exalted and lifted up like a banner before us. "Looking
unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith," we prevail over our enemies.
Our exalted Savior gives us assurance that, when the day of our warfare is over, we shall
win the victory over our enemies. Our great Commander says to us, "Be of good
cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). And by his grace we too shall
overcome the world. At the end of the day, "Moses built an altar, and called the
name of it Jehovah-Nissi" (v. 15), which means, "the Lord our Banner".
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS JEHOVAH-NISSI, THE LORD OUR BANNER. In the
majesty of his person, the efficacy of his work, the merit of his blood, the perfection of
his righteousness, the certainty of his triumph, and the glory of his second advent,
Christ is the Banner of his Church. Under this Banner we fight and prevail. And to this
Banner we rally. In ancient times the banner of a regiment was far more useful than it is
today; but we are still familiar with the symbolism. What a nation’s flag is to its
people, Christ is to his Church. He is Jehovah-Nissi, the Lord our Banner. The banner
is lifted up and displayed as the point of union. Countrymen have many things about
which they have little quarrels. But let an enemy invade the land and every patriot will
rally around the flag. When the chips are down, when liberty and freedom are in danger,
all are one. All have one flag as their point of union. Even so, Christ is the point of
union for all believers. All rally as one around Jehovah-Nissi, the Lord our Banner.
There are many things which separate God’s saints upon this earth. I am very sorry for
that. But conscientious men cannot give up things which they see to be true, even for the
sake of unity. To us, baptism is important. We cannot accept sprinkling and call it
baptism. To us, the elements of the Lord’s Table are important. We must have
unleavened bread and wine, or we cannot call it the Lord’s Table. To us, independence
is important. We cannot submit to any form of ecclesiastical hierarchy. To us, Christian
liberty is important. We cannot be brought again under any yoke of bondage. We cannot, in
good conscience, yield to the judgments of others in any of these points. And these things
distinguish us from many who truly are our brethren. But there is one rallying point
around which all true Christians meet. That rallying point is the person and work of
Christ, whose name is Jehovah-Nissi, the Lord our Banner. When it comes to the person and
work of Christ, all true believers are one, all true believers rally around and lift up
the Banner of the Cross. Those who oppose and fight against the doctrine of Christ, his
eternal Deity, effectual atonement, imputed righteousness, free grace salvation, sovereign
rule over all things, or almighty intercession in heaven, are our enemies. All who uphold
and defend these things are our brethren. In times of war, the banner directs the
battle and encourages the soldiers. Moses held up the rod like a banner before Israel.
The banner both directed and encouraged the army below. Aaron and Hur took great care to
see to it that the banner did not fall to the ground. If it should fall the battle would
be lost. Jehovah-Nissi, Christ our Banner, is the One who directs and encourages us in our
warfare here below. We have no cause of fear. Though Moses grew weary, he never shall. He
who is the same, yesterday, today and forever, will never fail. Child of God, fix your
eyes upon him, and you shall never fail. If you would know the best way to fight, follow
his steps, imitate his every action, mold your life after his example. Look to Christ for
direction (Col. 3:1-3) and encouragement (Heb. 12:1-2), and press on to victory (Phil.
3:7-14). Remember, the banner is always the chief object of attack. The enemy says,
"Take the banner and victory is ours." In our spiritual warfare, the powers of
darkness are always attacking Jehovah-Nissi, Christ Jesus, the Lord our Banner. The fiend
of hell always attacks, but shall never destroy or even shake our glorious Banner. Both by
the teachings of false prophets and in the consciences of weak believers, satan constantly
attacks and seeks to destroy our Banner in five areas: Satan’s constant attacks upon our Banner are ever to be expected, because the banner is the symbol of defiance. As soon as the banner
is lifted up and unfurled in the face of the enemy, it seems to say, "Come on, do the
worst you can. We do not fear your power. We defy you!" When Christ is preached, we
give defiance to the enemies of our Lord. We have no power over satan in ourselves. But
his power has been forever destroyed by the cross of Christ. And we must defiantly hurl
the Banner of his defeat in his face. The more his ministers attack the doctrine of the
cross, the more defiantly we are to wave the Banner of the Cross. And, I assure you,
wherever there is a man who plainly, courageously lifts up the Banner of the Cross,
proclaiming free pardon to sinners through the merit of Christ’s blood and
righteousness, all the powers of hell will oppose him. He will be scorned and derided by
both the religious and the secular world. Yet, the Lord Jesus, Jehovah-Nissi, the Lord our
Banner, will assuredly draw sinners to himself (John 12:32).
The banner is also the great source of consolation to every wounded soldier. Those Israelites who laid on the
battlefield in Rephidim, wounded and hurting, looked up to Mt. Sinai to see if the rod was
still held high by Moses. When they saw that banner lifted high and unshaken, they knew
that the cause was yet safe, and they took comfort. Though they were hurting, the cause
for which they were willing to die was safe. That gave them great comfort. Even so, every
believer finds his heart’s consolation in Christ Jesus. The soldiers of the cross
have no greater joy than seeing the Banner under which they live and die lifted up. We
rejoice in our Savior’s triumph. We fall, but Christ does not. We go down to the
grave and depart in peace, knowing that the cause of Christ prospers still.
The banner is the symbol of victory too. When the soldiers come home from war, having thoroughly defeated the enemy, as they march through the streets celebrating their victory, leading the procession is the flag, the banner under which and for which they have fought. That banner is now the symbol of their victory. Even so, in that last great day, when our enemies are all subdued beneath our feet, the Lord Jesus Christ shall be our Banner still. This is one name among many, by which we shall celebrate our Redeemer’s praise throughout eternity. He is and shall forever be, Jehovah-Nissi - the Lord our Banner!
CHRIST IS A BANNER TO THEM THAT FEAR HIM Read Psalm 60:4 with
Exodus 17:15. Together they teach us three things about our Lord Jesus Christ, whose name
is Jehovah-Nissi. First, Christ was given to us as our Banner by God our Father.
He gave his dear Son to be our Banner of salvation in old eternity. From everlasting,
before ever the earth was, he gave Christ to be our Mediator and Substitute, Messiah,
King, Lord, and Savior. When the fullness of time was come, God gave his Son in the manger
at Bethlehem to be our Banner. "The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us"
(John 1:14). Christ was given upon the cross when God our Father gave his dear Son to die
in our place upon the cursed tree, "the Just for the unjust, that he might bring
us to God." Christ is the Banner of grace given by God the Father to his people
upon this earth. The Lord Jesus Christ is given to every believer as a Banner of
salvation, love, grace, mercy, and eternal life when he believes the gospel (Song 2:4).
Christ is the Banner given to every gospel preacher when he is called of God to preach the
gospel. All of God’s preachers have the same message. They all wave the same Banner.
We are sent of God to preach Jesus Christ and him crucified. God has committed this
glorious Banner to our care. We dare not lay it down for a moment (I Cor. 1:17-23; 9:16;
Gal. 6:14).
Second, Christ is given as a Banner to them that fear God. He is
not given to all men. God has a chosen people to whom he will give his Son, over whom he
shall display the Banner of his love. Those people are known in time by the character that
is created in them by the grace of God. The character by which they are known is this:
They fear God. Only those who fear God are allowed to carry this Banner. Only those who
fear God can carry this banner. It is the fear of God in his people that gives them the
courage to carry his Banner. The fear of man is cowardly; but the fear of God is the
mother of courage and boldness. If you fear God, if you know, worship, and trust the
living God, this Banner has been given to you. Wherever you go, take your Banner with you.
Never be ashamed of your colors.
Third, God has given Christ to us as a Banner
to be displayed "because of the Truth." In order to display a banner,
you have to take it out of its case and unfold it. I cannot urge you strongly enough to
make it your daily business to study the Scriptures. Open the Book of God. It is the case
in which Jehovah-Nissi is held. If you would display him to others, you must take the
Banner out of the Case yourself. Let nothing keep you from personally studying the Word of
God. To display the Banner, it must be lifted up. If we would display the Banner, we must
carry it into the world. But, no matter how we lift it up, no matter how diligently we
carry it into the world, the Banner will never be displayed to anyone unless there is a
wind to blow it. We must ever seek God the Holy Spirit, by prayer and supplication, that
he may, like a heavenly wind blow across the people before whom we lift up Christ our
Banner. If he will but blow with life giving power, men and women will see and rally round
Jehovah-Nissi - the Lord our Banner.
WHY IS CHRIST GIVEN TO BE OUR BANNER? Isaiah gave a word of
prophecy concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. "In that day there shall
be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign (A Standard-Bearer or A Banner)
of the people; to it shall the gathering of the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be
glorious" (Isa. 11:10). Christ Jesus has been given for a Banner for this
purpose, that God’s elect scattered throughout the world might be gathered unto him
(see verse 12 and Gen. 49:10). We are to lift high Jehovah-Nissi, Christ our Banner,
and call upon sinners to come to him,. as sheep to the shepherd (John 10::28; Song
1:7-8), as doves to their window (Isa. 40:8; Ps. 116:7), as children to their father (I
John 1:1-3), and as chicks to the hen (Matt. 23:37). All who come to Christ in true
repentance and faith shall find rest in him. And his rest will be glorious. We also have
this word of assurance: There is a day coming in which all the hosts of God’s
elect shall be gathered unto him (II Thess. 2:1). When Isaiah said, "his rest
shall be glorious," it could be translated, "His rest shall be glory."
Believers find rest in Christ in this world from all their fears; and there is a rest yet
to come in glory beyond our highest imagination (Heb. 4:9). Ever fix your eyes upon
Jehovah-Nissi - the Lord our Banner. Set your heart upon Christ your Banner. Be
courageous. Carry your Banner with you wherever you go. And live in this confidence: JEHOVAH-NISSI
- THE LORD OUR BANNER, shall be our Banner forever. Always stay close to him (Ps.
20:5).