Our Banner

If you ever come to my house, you will always see a seasonal flag flying.
There is something about them that always looks so inviting.
Since it is March, a St. Patrick’s Day flag is hanging, with a bright green shamrock.
Last month, it was a pink heart for Valentine’s Day.
I have had many of my flags for years and they are still in good condition.

I do have my favorites.
One flag I really liked was purchased in Lancaster County, PA.
It looked like an Amish quilt.
A storm came up very quickly one day, and I never got a chance to take the flag down.
My Amish quilt flag was torn…and I have never been able to find another one like it.

Even with my many holiday flags, I had never purchased a birthday flag.
When my younger son’s first birthday was approaching, I bought a wonderful flag.
I couldn’t wait to see it hanging there…take him outside…and show him the flag.
I knew he would love seeing the colorful birthday cake and candles.

His birthday is in January and we had a blizzard that year…right before his birthday.
I shoveled many pathways…one shoveled path led right to the flag.
Once there, I saw that the bracket was covered with inches of ice.

Any other day, I would have taken the oh well attitude…but it was his first birthday.
I was determined to hang his flag.

I thought of this on my morning walk.
Our shamrock flag was blowing in the breeze…and it caused me to remember.

That cold day, I literally went outside and lit a taper candle.
I held the small flame far away from the metal bracket; yet close enough to melt the ice.

I was able to hang his flag, and he squealed with delight when he saw CAKE!
It’s ironic, that of all of my five children, he is the one that does NOT like cake.
I make something else that is his favorite, for his birthday.

Then the Tent of Meeting and the camp of the Levites will set out in the same order as they encamp, each in his own place under his standard. (Numbers 2:17)

The Israelites set up camp in the wilderness all around the Tent of Meeting.
It was not a haphazard arrangement.
God prescribed designated places for each tribe to set up their tents.

By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of could by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.
(Exodus 13:21,22)

God is a God of order.
He arranged the twelve tribes around the Tent of Meeting…the Tabernacle.
Three tribes on the north side, three on the south, three on the east, three on the west.
Each tribe was under its own standard.
A standard was a flag with an insignia or color scheme which represented the tribe.

Imagine what that looked like as you did a panoramic view of the desert floor.
The pillar of cloud or fire was above the Tabernacle in the center.
Around, equidistant from each other, were the tents.
Each tribe in their own section…each section under their own flag.

After a battle, when the Amalekites were defeated, Moses built an altar.
He called the altar, The Lord is my Banner. (Exodus 17:15)

The banner waved over each tribe as they camped around the Tabernacle.
The banner represented Christ.

In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to Him, and His place of rest will be glorious. (Isaiah 11:10)

Just as the Israelites were centered  around the Tabernacle, we are centered around Christ.
Jesus Christ…God incarnate…who “tabernacled” with His people.
We encamp around Him…our banner.

He has taken me to the banquet hall, and His banner over me is love. (Song of Songs 2:4)