‘And His Banner….Over Me….Is Love!’

“ He brought me to the banqueting house, and His banner over me was love.” Songs of Solomon 2:4

There seems to be so many ‘Banners’ in this world we live in. When we go to make a purchase we will often seek out the ‘well known label’ first. Whether it’s the ‘banner’ we have on our cars identifying our preference, to the coffee we choose, it is a choice that reflects to others who we are. Whether we like it or not, you can’t get away from it. I get a lot of heat for buying my one cup of coffee at 7/11. And yet that says something about me doesn’t it? In this Scripture today, we see that there is a ‘banner’ over me that is not founded on prestige or notoriety, instead it is reachable for anyone. “and His banner over me is love”

Jesus Christ was called the Rose of Sharon, which at that time was where people went if they wanted a really good sweet smelling rose. What a thought that Jesus of course is typified in this book; Songs of Solomon. He has called the church His Bride and has prepared her to be holy and blameless before His Father. The picture here spiritually is for those redeemed souls that have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. As He has rescued us from the defeat of the enemy, He brings us to a banquet feast and seats us under a banner that bears His Name, Love. The Bible teaches us that there will be a literal day coming when we, who are called by His Name will be caught up in the air at the time of the Rapture of the church where we will be seated at a great banquet feast.

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16

“ He brought me to the banqueting house, and His banner over me was love” Songs of Solomon 2:4

Two things I see in this passage:

1. “He brought me the banqueting house” Jesus Christ Only is the only One who can invite and seat you under this banner of love. He, Jesus made the way for us at the Cross, and the basis for that way was His love. He said that “No greater love has a man than this, that He lay down His life for a friend” John 15:13

2. “And His Banner over me was love” Jesus said that ““If you love me, obey My command, love one another as I have loved you” John 15:12 If we want to be under this banner of love, we have to begin with loving one another the way He loves us. God is saying that this kind of love is available right now because of Jesus in us, and if we are abiding in Him, we already have the capacity to love others. We need to ask God to compel us to love in a way that is all about the other person with no qualifications and not about us, or the way we think others need to love us back.

The whole picture is that when we choose to have this banner over us, it will be easily identifiable because we are loving with the love that is in us in Christ Jesus. If we can focus on just this one thing, allowing Jesus to fill us with His love that it will be seen as a banner over our lives. What do others see when hear you, and see the expression on your faces? If it’s a smile, and love, expecting zero in return, we are wearing this banner of love. Christ Jesus will be seen, and your life will be filled with all that love gives out.

In Matthew 25 Jesus alludes to preparation for the return of the bridegroom to pick up his bride, and to be ready, to be have her lamp filled and ready to go and meet Him.

“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. Matthew 25:1-13

So, we need to be filled with this love, that our lamps would shine so brightly that there would be no doubt, what the banner says, that it is the very name of Jesus. Help us as Paul alluded to even ‘put on’ this banner, that others would see it, identify it ans be welcomed to come and ask and share of this never-ending supply of God’s love of which we, and this world are so desperately in need of.