Our Banner

Our Banner

"Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it
may be displayed because of the truth."—Psalms 60:4.

Most writers upon this Psalm, after having referred the banner to the kingdom of David, say that there is here a reference to the Messiah. We believe there is. Nor is that reference an obscure allusion. In the Lord Jesus we find the clue to the history and the solution of the prophecy. He is the banner—he is the ensign that is lifted up before the people. He is the Jehovah Nissi, "the Lord my banner" whom it is our joy to follow, and around whom it is our delight to rally. We shall not stay to prove this, though we might readily do so. The banner here intended is no other than the Lord Jesus Christ in the majesty of his person—in the efficacy of his merit—in the completeness of his righteousness—in the sureness of his triumph—in the glory of his advent. If you read it, with an eye to him, you have the meaning at once: "Thou hast given Christ as a banner to them that fear thee, to be displayed because of the truth." Now let us consider our Lord Jesus Christ —first, as he is compared to a banner; secondly, by whom he is given; thirdly, to whom he is given; and fourthly, for what purpose.

I. The banner was far more useful, I suppose, in ancient than it is in modern warfare. Times have changed, and we are changed by them. Yet we speak with reverence still of the old flag. There is still some meaning when we say—"The flag that's braved a thousand years the battle and the breeze." The soldier still loves the flag of his country, and the sailor still looks with patriotic pride to the flag that so long floated at England's mast head. Our metaphor, however, rather points to ancient than present usage.

We should notice, first of all, that the banner was lifted up and displayed as the point of union. When a leader was about to gather troops for a war he hoisted his banner, and then every man rallied to the standard. The coming to the standard, the rallying round the banner, was the joining with the Prince, the espousing his cause. In the day of battle, when there was ever a difficulty and a likelihood that the host would be put to flight, the valiant men all fought around the banner. Its defence was of the first and chief consequence. They might leave the baggage for awhile, they might forsake the smaller flags of the divisions, but the great banner, the blood-red banner that with prayer had been consecrated—they must all gather round it and there shed their best blood. Christ, my brethren, is the point of union for all the soldiers of the cross. I know of no other place where all Christians can meet. We cannot all meet—I am sorry that we cannot—at the baptismal stream. There are some who will not be baptised. They persist still in the sin of putting drops of water for the ordained flood, and bringing infants where faith is required. We cannot all meet even around the table of the Eucharist; there are some who put aside their brethren, because they do not see eye to eye with them; and even the table of the Lord's Supper has become sometimes a field of battle. But, we can meet in the person of Christ; all true hearts can meet in the work of Christ. This is a gospel that we all love, if we be Christians, and far hence be those who are not. Hither to thy cross, O Jesus, do we come. The churchman, laden with his many forms and vestments; the Presbyterian, with his stern covenant and his love of those who stained the heather with their blood; the Independent, with his passion for free liberty and the separateness of the churches; the Methodist, with his various intricate forms of church Government, sometimes forms of bondage, but still forms of power; the Baptist, remembering the ancient pedigree and the days in which his fathers were hounded even by Christians themselves, and counted not worthy of that name—they come, they come! Multitudes of opinion divide them; they see not eye to eye; here and there they will have a skirmish for the old landmarks; and rightly so, for we ought to be jealous, as Josiah was, to do that which is right in the sight of the Lord, and neither decline to the right hand nor to the left. But, to the cross! To the cross! To the cross! and then, all weapons of internecine war being cast aside, we are brethren, fellow-comrades in blessed evangelical alliance; we are prepared to suffer and to do for his dear sake. Forward then, Christians, to the point of union! Much as I value thorough reformation in times of peace, little care I for aught beside the cross in the day we defend our coasts, or when the hosts go forth to battle. Is our crusade against the powers of darkness? With the salvation of sinners for my one undivided aim, little care I for anything but the lifting up of my Master's Gospel, and the proclamation of the Word of mercy through his flowing blood.

Again, the banner, in time of war, was the great guide-star; it was the direction to the soldier. You will remember what special care they took in the day of battle that in case the standard-bearer should fall there might still be some means of guiding the warriors.

"And if my standard-bearer fall, as fall full well he may; For never saw I promise yet of such a deadly fray, Press where ye see my snow-white plume amid the ranks of war, And be your oriflamme to-day the helmet of Navarre."

So to this day the cross is the great guide of the Christian in the day of battle. There is no fear that it shall ever fall; we need not be alarmed that Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever, shall ever fail. Fix your eye upon him, Christian—"looking unto Jesus"—and if you would know which way to fight, fight in his footsteps, imitate his every action, be your life his life, be your death his death. Let it be life by virtue of the death: never need you stop to ask directions; the life of Christ is the Christian's charge. You need not turn to your fellow-believer, and say, "Comrade, what are we to do just now? The smoke of battle gathers and the cries are various; which way shall I go?" Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith, who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God, press forward, saying, "God hath given to me a banner because of the truth." In these two respects, as the central point for rallying, and as the direction to the warrior, Christ is our banner. And the banner, let it be remembered, is always the object of chief attack. The moment the adversary sees it, his object is to strike there. If it be not the most vulnerable point, it shall be at least the point where the adversary's power is most felt. Did they not of old aim their shots at the flagstaff to cut down the banner? Whenever the old Knights of the Red Cross fought the Saracens they always endeavoured to make their steel ring upon the helmet of men whose hand held the crescent, the standard of Mohammed; ever the fight was bloodiest around the standard. Sometimes, when the battle was over, if you walked the field you would see it strewn with legs and arms and mangled bodies everywhere. In one place there would be a heap where they were piled one upon another, a great mountain of flesh and armour, broken bones and smashed skulls, and you would ask, "What is this? How came they here? How trampled they so one upon another, and fought in pools of human blood?" The answer would be, "'Twas there the standard-bearer stood, and first the adversary made a dash and stole the banner, and then fifty knights vowed to redeem it, and they dashed against their foes and took it by storm, and then again hand to hand they fought with the banner between them, first in one hand and then in another, changing ownership each hour. Well, dear friends, Christ Jesus has always been the object of attack. You will remember when justice came forth against the elect it made five rents in the great banner, and those five rents all glorious are in that banner still. Since that day many a shot has sought to riddle, but not one has been able to touch it. Borne aloft first by one hand and then by another, the mighty God of Jacob being the strength of the standard bearers, that flag has bidden defiance to the leaguered hosts of the flesh and the devil; but never has it been trailed in the mire, and never once carried in jeering triumph by the adversary. Blessed are the rents in the banner! for they are the symbol of our victory. Those five wounds in the person of the Saviour are the gates of heaven to us. But, thank God, there are no more wounds to be endured. The person of our Lord is safe. His gospel, too, is an un-wounded gospel, and his mystical body is uninjured. "Not a bone of him shall be broken." Yes; the gospel is unharmed after all the strife of ages. The infidel threatens to rend the gospel to pieces, but it is as glorious as ever; modern scepticism sought to pull it thread from thread, but has not been able so much as to rend a fragment of it. Every now and then fresh adversaries have found out some new methods of induction or declamation, essaying to prove the gospel to be a lie, and Christ an impostor. Have they succeeded? Nay, verily, they all have to fly the field. The good old banner of the Lord Omnipotent, even Christ Jesus, still stands erect above them all. We have had, therefore, three things—the rallying point, the guide-star, the object of attack. And why should the banner be the object of attack but for this very reason, that it is the symbol of defiance. As soon as ever the banner is lifted up, it is, as it were, flapped in the face of the foe. It seems to say to him, "Do your worst—come on! We are not afraid of you—we defy you!" So, when Christ is preached, there is a defiance given to the enemies of the Lord. Every time a sermon is preached in the power of the Spirit, it is as though the shrill clarion woke up the fiends of hell, for every sermon seems to say to them, "Christ is come forth again to deliver his lawful captives out of your power; the King of kings has come to take away your dominions, to wrest from you your stolen treasures, and to proclaim himself your Master." Oh, there is a stern joy that the minister sometimes feels when he thinks of himself as the antagonist of the powers of hell. Martin Luther seems always to have felt it when he said, "Come, let us sing the forty-sixth Psalm, and let the devil do his worst!" Why, that was lifting up his standard—the standard of the cross. If you want to defy the devil, don't go about preaching philosophy; don't sit down and write out fine sermons, with long sentences, three quarters of a mile in extent; don't try and cull fine, smooth phrases that will sound sweetly in people's ears. The devil doesn't care a bit for this; but talk about Christ, preach about the sufferings of a Saviour, tell sinners that there is life in a look at him, and straightway the devil taketh great umbrage. Why, look at many of the ministers in London! They preach in their pulpits from the first of January to the last of December, and nobody finds fault with them, because they will prophesy such smooth things. But let a man preach Christ, let him declaim about the power of Jesus to save, and press home gospel truth with simplicity and boldness, straightway the fiends of darkness will be against you; and, if they cannot bite, they will show that they can howl and bark. There is a defiance, I say, it is God's defiance; his gauntlet thrown down to the confederated powers of darkness, a gauntlet which they dare not take up, for they know what tremendous power for good there is in the uplifting of the cross of Christ. Wave, then, your banner, O ye soldiers of the cross; each in your place and rank keep watch and ward, but wave your banner still; for though the adversary shall be wroth, it is because be knoweth that his time is short when once the cross of Christ is lifted up.

We have not quite exhausted the metaphor yet. The banner was ever a source of consolation to the wounded. There he lies, the good knight; right well has he fought without fear and without reproach; but a chance arrow pierced the joints of his harness, and his life is oozing out from the ghastly wound. There is no one there to unbuckle his helmet or give him a draught of cooling water; his frame is locked up in that hard case of steel, and though he feels the smart he cannot gain the remedy. He hears the cries, the mingled cries, the hoarse shouts of men that rush in fury against their fellows: and he opens his eyes—as yet he has not fainted with his bleeding. Where, think you, does he look? He turns himself round. What is he looking for? For friend? For comrade? No. Should they come to him he would say, "Just lift me up, and let me sit against that tree awhile, and bleed here; but go you to the fight." Where, where is that restless eye searching, and what is the object for which it is looking? Yes, he has it; and the face of the dying man is brightened. He sees the banner still waving, and with his last breath he cries, "On! on! on!" and falls asleep content, because the banner is safe. It has not been cast down. Though he has fallen, yet the banner is secure. Even so every true soldier of the cross rejoices in its triumph. We fall, but Christ does not. We die, but the cause prospers. As I have told you before, when my heart was most sad—sad as it never was before nor since—that sweet text, "Him hath God the Father exalted, and given him a name that is above every name," quite cheered my soul, and set me again in peace and comfort. Is Jesus safe? Then it never matters what becomes of me. Is the banner right? Doth it wave on high? Then the fight is ours still; the adversary hath not won the day. He hath felled one and another, but he himself shall be broken in pieces, for the banner still glares in the sun.

And, lastly, the banner is the emblem of victory. When the fight is done, and the soldier cometh home, what bringeth he? His blood-stained flag. And what is borne highest in the procession as it winds through the streets? It is the flag. They hang it in the minster; high up there in the roof, and where the incense smoketh, and where the song of praise ascendeth, there hangs the banner, honoured and esteemed, borne in conflict and in danger. Now, our Lord Jesus Christ shall be our banner in the last day, when all our foes shall be under our feet. A little while, and he that will come shall come, and will not tarry. A little while, and we shall see Jehovah's banner furled.

"Sheathed his sword; he speaks! 'tis done, And the kingdoms of this world are the kingdoms of his Son."

And then Jesus, high above us all, shall be exalted, and through the streets of the holy city the acclamations shall ring, "Hosanna, Hosanna, blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord."

II. Let us turn to our second point for a moment. It is this: Who gave us the banner? By whom given? Soldiers often esteem the colours for the sake of the person who first bestowed them. You and I ought to esteem the gospel of our precious Christ for the sake of God who gave him to us. "Thou hast given a banner." God gave us the banner in old eternity. Christ was given by the eternal Father, from everlasting, or ever the earth was, to his elect people, to be the Messiah of God, the Saviour of the world. He was given in the manger, when the word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. He was given upon the cross, when the Father bestowed every drop of the Son's blood, and every nerve of his body, and every power of his soul, to bleed and die, the just for the unjust, to bring us to God. "Thou hast given us a banner." That banner was given to. each one of us in the day of our conversion. Christ became from that time forth, our glory and our boast. And he is given to some of us, especially, when we are called to the ministry, or when the Holy Spirit's guidance puts us upon any extraordinary work for Christ. Then is the banner in a direct and especial manner committed to our care. I know there are some here who have had this banner given them to carry it in the midst of the Sunday-school. Some of you have it. A dear sister here has it. A beloved brother has it to bear it in the midst of many of this congregation. The young men of our College, of our evening classes, and many others of you have that banner, that you may bear it in the streets, that you may lift up the name of Jesus in the causeways, and in the places of assembly. And, in a certain measure, shall all of you have that banner given to you, that in your sphere of duty you may talk of Jesus, and lift up his dear name.

Now, inasmuch as God himself gives the banner, with what reverence should we look upon it, with what ardour should we cluster round it, with what zeal should we defend it, with what enthusiasm should we follow it, with what faith and confidence should we rush even into death itself for its defence!

III. Ask again, to whom is this banner given? The text says, "Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee." Not to all men. God has a chosen people. These chosen people are known in due time by their outward character. That outward grace-wrought character is this, they fear God. Now, they that fear God are the only persons that ought to carry the banner. Shall the banner be put in the drunkard's hands? Shall the great truth of Christ be left to those who live in sin? Oh, it is a wretched thing when men come into the pulpit to preach who have never known and felt the power of the Gospel themselves. Time was, but times are changed somewhat, when in multitudes of our parish pulpits men whose characters were unhallowed preached to others what they never practised themselves. To such the banner ought not to be given. Men must fear God, or else they are not worthy to bear it. Moreover, none but these can bear it. What they bear is not the banner; it is but an imitation of it. It is not Christ they preach; it is a diluted thing that is not the gospel of Jesus. They cannot proclaim it to others till they know it themselves. It is given to them that fear God, because they will have courage to bear it. Fear is often the mother of courage. To fear God makes a man brave. To fear man is cowardly, I grant; but to fear God with humble awe and holy reverence is such a noble passion that I would we were more and more full thereof, blending, as it were, the fear of Isaac with the faith of Abraham. To fear God will make the weakest of us play the man, and the most craven of us become heroes for the Lord our God. Now, inasmuch as this banner is given to those that fear God, if you fear God it is given to you. I do not know in what capacity you are to bear it, but I do know there is somewhere or other where you have to carry it. Mother, let the banner wave in your household. Merchant, let your banner be fixed upon your house of business. Let it be unfurled and fly at your masthead, O sailor. Bear your banner, O soldier, in your regiment. Yours is a stern duty, for alas, the Christian soldier hath a path of trial that few men have trodden. God make you faithful, and may you be honoured as the good soldiers of Jesus Christ. Some of you are poor, and work hard in the midst of many artisans who fear not God. Take your banner with you. Never be ashamed of your colours. You cannot be long in a workshop before your companions will pull their colours out. They will soon begin talking to you about their sinful pleasures, their amusements, perhaps their infidel principles. Take your banner out likewise. Tell them that it is a game two can play at; never allow a man to show his banner without your showing yours.

Don't do it ostentatiously; do it humbly, but do it earnestly and sincerely. Remember your banner is one that you never need be ashamed of; the best of men have fought under it; nay, he who was God as well as man hath his own name written on the escutcheon. Surely, then, you need not be ashamed to wave it any where and everywhere. You can think bravely; now be great in act as you have been in thought!

"Presence of mind and courage in distress Are more than armies to procure success."

IV. And, indeed, this was our last question—what was this banner given to us for? Our text is very explicit. It was given to us to be "displayed because of the truth." It was to be displayed. In order to display a banner, you must take it out of its case. Members of this congregation, brethren in the church, I pray you study the Scriptures much. I would not have men attempt to preach unless they have some power. To go forth without some study would be like a man attempting to do execution with a gun that had much powder in it and no shot. Do unfurl the banner; to this end husband well your time. Young men, save your spare hours to study the Bible. Steal them from your sleep if you cannot get them anyhow else. Sunday-school teachers; be diligent in your preparations for your classes. Get your banner out of the case. It is of little service lifting it up in the midst of the ranks without its being unfurled. See that ye know the holy art of unfurling it. Practise it; study it; be well acquainted with him who is the wisdom of God and the power of God. And after the flag is unfurled, it needs to be lifted up. So, in order to display Christ, you must lift him up. Lift him up with a clear voice as one that has something to say that he would have men hear. Speak of him boldly as one who is not ashamed of his message. Speak affectionately, speak passionately, speak with your whole soul, let your whole heart be in every word you say, for this it is to lift up the banner. But besides lifting up the banner you must carry it, for it is the business of the standard-bearer not merely to hold it in one place, but to bear it here and there if the plan of battle shall change. So bear Christ to the poor lodging-houses, to the workhouses, to the prisons, if you can get admittance, to the back streets, to the dark slums, to the cellars, to the solitary attic, to the crowded rooms, to the highways and the byeways; and you especially who are private Christians, and not preachers, bear it from house to house. We had a complaint the other day that some of you had been going from house to house to try and talk to others about their souls; you had entrenched upon the parochial bounds of the authorised gamekeeper. I pray you entrench again. What is my parish? The whole world is my parish; let the whole world be your parish likewise. What does it matter to us if the world be parcelled out amongst men who probably do little or nothing. Let us do all we can. No man hath any right to say to me, "Visit in such and such a district, not here—this is my ground." Who gave it to you? Who gave him lordship of the world or any portion of it? "The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof." The earth is your field, and no matter upon whose district, territory, or parish. Let me encourage you that love the Saviour. You have the pure gospel; go and spread it.

Let nothing confine you, or limit your labours, except your strength and your time. Still, after all, if we carry the gospel, and lift up the banner, it will never be displayed even then, unless there is wind to blow it. A banner would only hang like a dead flag upon the staff if there were no wind. Now, we cannot produce the wind to expand the banner, but we can invoke heavenly aid. Prayer becomes a prophecy when ye say, "Awake, O heavenly wind, and blow, and let this banner be displayed." The Holy Spirit is that gracious wind who shall make the truth apparent in the hearts of those who hear it. Display the banner, talk of Christ, live Christ, proclaim Christ everywhere. He is given to you for this very purpose. Therefore, let not your light be hid or put under a bushel. "Ye are the light of the world. Let your light shine before men." Let the old flag be held up by fresh hands. Go ye forth in new times, with new resolves, and may ye have constant renewings as new opportunities open before you.

Oh, but are there not some of you who could not bear this banner? Let me invite such to come and take shelter under it. My Master's banner, wherever it goes, gives liberty. Under the banner of Old England there never breathes a slave. They tread our country, they breathe our air, and their shackles fall. Beneath the banner of Christ no slave can live. Do but look up to Jesus, relying upon his suffering in your stead, and bearing your sins in your place and room, and forthwith you shall have acceptance in the Beloved, and the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your heart and mind through Jesus Christ. So may God enlist you beneath his banner to his glory. Amen.