JEHOVAH NISSI: THE LORD IS MY BANNER

“And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner.” ~ Exodus 17:15

REFERENCE: Exodus 17:8-16

The newly formed state of Israel suffered  an unprovoked assault by their avowed enemy – Amalek. They planned to cut them off from becoming a nation so that the name, Israel, may be remembered no more. (Psalm 83:4). In their wickedness, they attacked Israel from the rear, where the tired, defenseless (children and the aged), and worn were (Deuteronomy 25:17-18).

Israel was never disadvantaged in battle, although newly freed slaves, were few in number, and with no standing army. God was with them to protect and defend them in pillars of cloud and fire. Moses asked Joshua to choose men to fight with Amalek while he went up the hill with Aaron and Hur. With hands stretched out, he lifted the rod of God while Joshua fought in the valley. Joshua gained victory while Moses’ hands were up, and setbacks while they were down. Eventually, however, Moses’ hands were steadied by Aaron, and Hur and Joshua won the battle.

Afterward, Moses raised an altar and called its name, JEHOVAH NISSI – The Lord is My Banner. A banner is a flag hanging on a pole. Victors hang flags over a conquered territory; they are used to celebrate champions and heroes of war and are brands that identify a group. Banners memorialize significant events, pointing to who made them possible. The Hebrew word for banner, ‘nês,’ is used for the pole (nês) that Moses hung a bronze serpent on, which any Israelite bitten by a snake looked at and was healed (Numbers 21:8-9). Thus, Jehovah Nissi means there is a flag flying over our lives bearing the image and name of our God as the Champion who gives us victory in battle. It says we belong to the winning team! Jehovah Nissi is with us, waving His banner (flag) over us when we feel alone, outnumbered, and tired. Under that flag, we are safe from all satanic snake bites, and we say to the world, “We are products of God’s power to deliver from strong enemies.” A Banner is also known as a standard. When the enemy comes in like a flood, Jehovah Nissi will lift up a standard against him, saying, “Don’t come here, this one is in My camp; I will fight for this one, this one is for victory.”

That day, Moses realized that although they had a great battle strategy of ‘faith and works,’ their victory came from Jehovah Nissi – the God who reigns in victory. When you declare Jehovah Nissi (The LORD is my banner), you are recalling, celebrating, and thanking God for past victories. You are saying you belong to the Lord’s camp, and He’s the Captain of the army. You are declaring to satanic serpents that you have their antidote in Christ and the assurance of victory in present battles. Jehovah Nissi has you covered, “His banner over you is love.”

TODAY’S THOUGHT:

ADDITIONAL TEXTS: Psalm 60:4-5, Song of Solomon 2:4 & Isaiah 59:19

PRAYERS:

Jehovah Nissi, I thank You for victories won in the past, and the assurance of victory in my present circumstances. I belong to Your camp and will never be alone or outnumbered, in the name of Jesus. I declare that I am under the banner of Jehovah Nissi; so, the enemy cannot, and will not prevail against me, in Jesus’ name. Amen.