The Lord, my Banner, the Lord my Victory

"Then the Lord said to Moses, 'write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.' Moses built an altar and called 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.'" (Ex. 17:15-16)

As long as Moses held his arms up holding the rod that God had given him, the Israelites prevailed in the battle.  Moses was holding up the banner of God that brought them victory.  He was carrying a symbol of God's presence.

In Moses day, a banner wasn't necessarily a flag, it was a bare pole with a bright and shining ornament that would glitter in the sun when held high in the air.

The word for banner actually means "to glisten, a pole or ensign, a standard or a miracle."  The banner or "standard" represented God's cause.  It was a symbol of His deliverance and mighty salvation that caused His people to be victors over their enemies.

"Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God" (Ephesians 6:11-17).

God did not tell us to fight in our own armor.  He gave us His armor.  If we'll wear it and stand in it, He will put us over.  He's the Lord, our Banner.

"Raise a banner on a bare hilltop, shout to them, beckon to them; beckon to them to enter the gates of the nobles.  I have commanded my holy ones; I have summoned my warriors to carry out my wrath  -  those who rejoice in my triumph.  Listen, a noise on the mountains, like that of a great multitude.  Listen, an uproar among the kingdoms, like nations massing together!  The Lord Almighty is mustering an army for war.  I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins.  I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless" (Isaiah 13:2-4,11).

We're not fighting battles in our own strength, we're in His strength.  When we rely on Him as our Banner, we overcome.

"Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle against your enemies.  Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them.  For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory" Deuteronomy 20:3-4).

"The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.  What can man do to me?" (Psalm 118:6)

These scriptures are saying I've already won because I have Jehovah Nissi on my side.  He is my victorious one.  The rod in Moses' hand was much more than a symbol.  Moses named one of his altars after the rod.  He called it Jehovah Nissi, Exodus 17:15.

The rod spoken of in Isaiah 11:1, 10 is Jesus.

"And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.........And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek; and his rest shall be glorious."

The word used for pole, on which the serpent that Moses was instructed to have the people look on in the wilderness, is banner.  Jesus was lifted up on the banner  -  the Cross (John 3:14).  Thhe Cross is not a sign of defeat, but a sign of victory.  The Cross of Christ is our banner, our strength, which He has already won.

"And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:6).

".....If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)

"In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (Romans 8:37).

Jesus is my Banner.  I go from strength to strength, from faith to faith, and from glory to glory in Him.
 

When a lamb dies, the shepherd removes the lamb's skin and places it upon an orphan lamb.  Then the mother lamb, who has lost her baby, smells her baby's skin on the orphaned lamb.  Because of the skin that is draped over him, she'll adopt and raise that baby as her own.

It's the same way with Jesus' righteousness.  When He died, He clothes me with a robe of His Own right standing with God Almighty.  It's a garment that smells like Jesus.  When the Father looks at me, He sees me clothed in Jesus.

Jesus is my Banner of victory!