Before Us and Behind Us, With Us and In Us
As an army travels, its battle standard goes before them. But when the commander prepares to retreat, he places the standard where his troops are to gather. At the battle standard, we find refuge from the battle. Our Yahweh Nissi, the Lord our Banner, keeps us safe through trials.
The Name of Yahweh is a strong tower. The righteous run to it and are safe [set on high.] Proverbs 18:10
The Bible is full of battle imagery. Why? Because this life is a spiritual battle. Yahweh Nissi only appears once (Exodus 17:15), but נֵס (nes) occurs 20 times in the Old Testament. It’s translated standard, banner, ensign, or pole.
Time and again, the prophesies of Isaiah and Jeremiah declare Yahweh’s promises to his chosen people. He is Israel’s standard, and he will never abandon them.
If you have not yet gotten a copy of Ann Spangler’s book, Praying the Names of God for 52 Weeks, I encourage you to get it and study with me this year. This week, one of the passages she references is Numbers 21. The people are complaining, AGAIN, and God sends serpents among them. Many died. BUT . . .
Yahweh said to Moses, “Make a snake, and put it on a pole [nes]. Anyone who is bitten can look at it and live. Numbers 21:8
Snakes often signify sin in the Bible. We’ve all been poisoned by sin. But Jesus was lifted up on a pole to be our salvation. We look to him and live.
According to legend, Saint Patrick rid Ireland of snakes. The following prayer, a perfect picture of Christ as our banner, is attributed to him. May it be our prayer, as well.
“Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.”―
