From "Old Glory" to New Glory

We're getting pretty close to the Fourth of July when people grill out, shoot off fireworks, and fly their American flags high in the air. Regardless of how you celebrate it, the flag always means something. To some it represents our country. To others it represents the freedom & independence that we are blessed to have. There are some who see the flag and are reminded of all the lives lost and the price that was paid for that freedom. Either way, "Old Glory" is a representation of a greater thing...a banner over us that represents something meaningful to so many people.

Today's meditation caused me to raise my chin a little higher and walk a little taller. I'm not talking about American pride here, though. I meditated on another name of God, Jehovah-Nissi, which means "God our Banner."

As I mentioned the flag being a banner that represents something meaningful, this name represents something meaningful.  Take a look at these scriptures:

Psalm 60:4

4 You have given a banner to those who fear You, That it may be displayed because of the truth.  

Exodus 17:11-15

11 So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses' hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set. 13 So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. 14 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write this in a book as a memorial and recite it to Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven." 15Moses built an altar and named it The LORD is My Banner ;  

Ezekiel 27:7

7 "Your sail was of fine embroidered linen from Egypt So that it became your distinguishing mark ; Your awning was blue and purple from the coastlands of Elishah.  

Each one of the red words means "a sign." A sign of what? Well, in the first passage, it was a banner of Truth, the second was a banner of victory and faithfulness in battle, and the last one was one that made me squeal and giggle. (If you know me, you know I'm not lying here. I admit it. Hello. My name is Christy Edwards and I squeal and giggle.)

What got me so excited was that the same Hebrew word ("nec" meaning something lifted up, standard, signal, sign) was used for each of these passages and yet in the third passage it is translated as "distinguishing mark" as it talks about fine embroidered linen on a sail of ship. The mark on the sail was "Anything But Typical" so it became what distinguished it from others. As it sailed through the sea, others would see it coming and know that it was different from the other ships.

So, how is that relevant?

If God is our Banner (our sign, standard, or signal), those looking on should recognize a distinguishing mark on our lives. It has nothing to do with our church attendance, clothes, money, societal standing, job, or net worth. How much of God's truth is seen in us? How many battles do we allow Him to help us win? How much of us are we willing to surrender to Him in order for Him to make us different than we could ever be on our own?

Is He YOUR distinguishing mark?