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

He brings me to the banquet hall, and everyone can see how much he loves me. (TLB)

I have many fond memories of Sunday School; the teachers, the Bible stories told with pictorial aids or simple illustrations, and those everlasting songs we sing. They are usually scriptures in song; written with lyrics straight from the Holy Bible. One of the hot favourites of the children is this one from Song of Solomon 2:4 and 2:16:

My Beloved is mine and I am His
His banner over me is love...

He brings me to the banqueting table
His banner over me is love...

Recently, I am faced with many difficult situations at home. My dad was diagnosed with lung cancer, and the doctor could not do anything about it. The tumour has spread to other parts of his body and his bones. My mum had a heart attack, and survived! Three of her heart vessels were blocked. At this time when I am writing this article, she is in the operation ward. I, myself, had a leg ligament tear at the ankle area. With all these, it was almost impossible to sing, "O give thanks to the Lord for His love endures forever."

I tried to sing and worship but I was hitting at the ceiling wall. My musical notes were all falling down on me. It was at this time that I felt a song coming from within. It was deep calling unto deep (Psalm 42:7). I felt that the Lord is singing over me. When I had no more songs to sing, the Lord took over. His Spirit within me began to sing! "You are My beloved...You are Mine...and I am yours...My banner over you is love." I felt His warmth again. His love just melts away all the worries, all the questions, all the burdens, and all the pain. The Lord is singing over me in love. When all else fails, His love never fails!

I was led to check the meaning of "banner." From Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, a banner is described as a flag, ensign, streamer, or emblem attached to the end of a standard. Banners served as rallying points for military, national, or religious purposes. Four large banner-bearing standards (one on each of the four sides of the tabernacle of meeting) were used by the twelve tribes of Israel during their wilderness journeys (Num. 1:52; 2:2-3). A smaller standard, or banner, was used by each separate tribe (Num. 2:2,34).

The most common use of banners was for military campaigns. A large signal-flag usually was erected on a hill or other high place; it served as a signal for the war-trumpets to be blown (Is. 5:26; 18:3; Jer. 4:6). When the Israelites fought the Amalekites at Rephidim, Moses held up his hand, thus becoming a living banner symbolising God's presence to help His people win the victory (Ex. 17:8-16). After the battle, Moses built an altar and called it "Jehovah-nissi" (Ex. 17:15), (KJV; The Lord Is My Banner). A living banner lifting up hands to declare God's presence and victory over the enemies of our soul. Jehovah-nissi - The Lord is my banner! Whom shall I fear? Of whom shall I be afraid?

A banner usually carries a message. His banner over me is love. God is loudly proclaiming and boldly declaring His love to me. "For God so loved the world....He gave..." He declared His love:

• On a SILENT night
• To a POOR couple
• And then to some UNKNOWN shepherds
• At a LITTLE town called Bethlehem,
• The LEAST of all the princes of Judah,
• Away in a LOWLY manger
• For there was NO ROOM for Him...

He is declaring His love to those who are poor, those who are broken-hearted, those who are in captives, those who are blind and those who are bruised (Luke 4:18-19). His proclamation is loud and clear; it is also deep calling unto deep. Only the Spirit can overcome the layers of pains and hurts, and reach unto the hurting soul deep within. No friends, no relatives and no doctors can do a better job than Jesus, the Lover of our soul!

He is proudly demonstrating His love, and His message is in BOLD! The cross! The crown of thorns! The hammer! The whip! The bruises! The pain! The agony! The rejection! The scorn! The shame! The blood! The love! Jesus didn't come down from the cross! He never came down! He went all the way to prove His love to us! He never stopped loving us! He has never forsaken us! He guards us like a hen over her chicks; like a Watchman over Israel. "He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep" (Psalm 121:3-4).

I am writing this not to show how much God loves me and me only...I am writing this to tell you that God loves you too. You are also His beloved! He is also yours! He is also wanting to sing over you in joy and in love. He is calling you to come deeper! When we live on the surface, we are only aware of external circumstances. We respond to them as though they are all of reality. But God is more real than us! Before us, He is! After we were gone, He is still around! When we respond to the reality of our external forces, we become torn apart. Our personality, our view of life and our spirit become bruised and out of focus! When we respond to the reality of God within us, be still and know that He is God, love, joy and peace will be restored! Because Jesus lives within us, we live!

I am enjoying Christ this very moment - everything at the externals have not changed - but everything in the internals have changed! I know that my Redeemer lives and He shall stand victoriously at the latter day upon the earth (Job 19:25). I have read the end of the Book - He wins!

<Note: This article was written on 11 June 1998, 10.45 am.>