This morning I read Psalm 60, written by David during a chaotic and fearful time of war and invasion. David gives us a picture of a land in fractures, of desperation, and of staggering. But he writes this about the Lord: “But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner. . .”
The banner! The Lord as our banner refers to a name of God given by Moses in Exodus 17. In translation, it’s a beautiful word: it means that God is our rallying point, our signal to show us where to gather, and our place to know we are under the protection and leadership of a Great King. God raises a banner over us. We might look up to this banner instead of at our surroundings. We might look up to the leadership of the Lord who gathers us all under this banner. And Who is the banner? It’s Jesus–the Root of Jesse as described in Isaiah 11 who will “stand as a banner”–who now and in the future gathers everyone under His good and powerful leadership. God literally raises our banner of Jesus on the cross.
This is the banner we need and the rallying cry of our hearts. I think carefully about how the Psalm ends as David prays to God these words: Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless. With God we will gain the victory. . .