Jehovah Nissi
The Significance of the Name
The Names through which God has revealed himself are glass panes revealing His very nature. Jehovah Nissi (more properly Yahweh-Nissi) means “the Lord is our banner” in Hebrew.
Jehovah Nissi appears in Exodus 17:15 - only once in the entire Bible! What was the context? The Israelites had escaped the bondage of Egypt and fought their first battle against the Amalekites, the descendants of Esau. That itself is an entire study.
As the battle raged, Moses stood on a hilltop with arms and the “rod of God” held high. So long as Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed. As Moses grew weary and lowered his hands, the Amalekites gained the upper hand. Then Aaron, his brother, and a man named Hur held up Moses’ arms until sundown and Israel defeated the Amalekites (Exodus 17:12-13). The battle was not won by Israel’s military might but by God’s intervention.
After the battle, Moses built an altar to the Lord and called it Jehovah Nissi, the Lord is my Banner. Moses recognized that God brought the victory; God sustained his people.
What a Banner Signifies
What is a banner? Think about it. It means excitement. It means a proclamation of victory or pride or belonging. It’s a statement. An identity. In battle, it represented a flag under which a soldier marched. Banners adorn parades. They announce who you are and what you are. They are held and raised to celebrate, honor, and commemorate. Banners are visible for all to see. They are an invitation, a gathering call to all around.
The Hebrew word for “banner” is degel. It signifies a military standard or flag. It conveyed the name of a nation, king, or army in battle.
Moses named his altar Jehovah Nissi to commemorate deliverance and victory. He declared through the Spirit of God the nature of God. God is our Banner, our victory, our Sustainer.
His Banner Over Me Today is Love
Today, our glorious banner is Jesus Christ. Redeemer. Lover of our soul. He is our identity, our declaration to the world. For we died and our lives are hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3). It is no longer we who live, but Christ lives in us. (Galatians 2:20)
The Song of Solomon is a rich, intimate portrait of Christ, our Redeemer-Messiah, and his bride, the Church. It is both literal and metaphorical.
Song of Solomon 2:4 states “He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.” The phrase “banqueting house” literally means “house of wine” in the Hebrew (byith hayain). It was a place of feasting, usually wedding feasts. This is a picture of celebration, victory. No more striving. The battle is won. Christ has his bride. The military banner is now replaced by a declaration, an emblazoned pronouncement of Love!
Jehovah Nissi, the Lord My Banner, is now the One who declares Love! Love! His banner over me and you proclaims loudly: “I Love You!”
Conclusion: Love is our Banner
Today our banner has one word: Love. The very word God used to define his essence. 1 John 4:8 proclaims “God is love.” (Anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.)
We no longer wander in the wilderness. We have hope, direction, and identity. Yes, we are still in battle, but the weapons of our warfare are not flesh and blood.
Think of Love. God’s ways are so unintuitive, so different than the ways of man. The love of God is the victory in life and over death.
Love comprises God’s two greatest commands: Love God with all of you and love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:36-40). All the law and the prophets’ writings hang on these two commandments.
Let us transmit God’s essence (how he defines himself), Love, to others in this great walk of salvation. Let us hold high God’s banner of love.
God bless you!
- by Richard Mahon from Transformation Church, Middletown NY
rmahon@cmrlaw.com