He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. — Song of Solomon 2:4
There is something special to me about the American flag. While many have tried to make it controversial in recent years, there is something about seeing that flag wave high. It’s a symbol of identification, where people can look and see that they are indeed in the United States, identify Americans abroad, or see key interests for Americans abroad.
When I look at the US flag, I see an amazing and free nation. While many have tried to destroy that nation, it has stood the test of time by the grace of God. It is a nation where many thousands have paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we might enjoy the freedoms that we have today.
More than just being a flag, the American flag is the banner for our US military overseas. As they are stationed or engaged in combat, they are easily able to identify that flag and they realize that those around that flag are Americans just like them. It identifies people working for the same mission, the same cause, and those who you will protect at all costs.
The Song of Solomon describes a banner in verse 4. It is described as a banner that was put over someone, just like a banner that those soldiers may hang over their camp or barracks. It’s a banner where God identifies us as His. It says specifically, that banner is love.
Some have tried to suggest this is the banner of those who love Him, but that’s not the case in this verse. The love that the writer refers to is God’s love towards us. When God looks at us, He sees a banner over us that indicates the love that He has for us.
We are not given any indication of what that banner looks like, how it’s placed over us, or exactly what God sees other than love. I can’t help but believe that it has a strong resemblance to blood, like the blood that Jesus shed on the cross. It was the ultimate sacrifice of love, where He shed His blood that we might experience salvation and forgiveness of sin.
Each and every time that God looks at us, He sees the blood of Jesus Christ. He sees that banner of love that He has placed over us. It does not mean that we are perfect and it does not mean that we will not face judgment for wrongdoing. It means that we are one of His, one for which the ultimate price was paid.
It is amazing to know that the God of Heaven, that holds the entire universe in place, even pays attention to us. More than that, He has placed a banner of love over us that easily identifies us as one of His!
