0644. Jehovah-Nissi

Jehovah-Nissi

"And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi; (the Lord my banner)" (Exo_17:15).

Exo_17:8-15. Amalek was fighting with Israel in Rephidim. Moses said unto Joshua, "Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek; to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand." Joshua fulfilled Moses’ orders and while he fought, Moses held up his hand and Israel prevailed.

"But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hand’s, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side, and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun."

Thus it was that Joshua overcame Amalek. Moses, however, took no credit to himself, for the wonderful victory. He knew that his uplifted hands, signified only "Jehovah-nissi," the Lord our banner.

We, too, have a conflict. We are wrestling against principalities and powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, and against hosts of wicked spirits in the air. Facing such an array as this, who dares to go forth to the battle in his own strength? Were it not for the fact that the Lord is with us, we would soon be defeated.

When the armies of England wavered in battle, some one cried: "Bulcher is coming with reinforcements." Immediately the tide of battle turned, under the inspiration of Bulcher’s aid, and the armies of England were victorious. And what inspiration should we have, as we hear our Princely Leader say: "All authority is given unto Me in Heaven and on earth. Go, * * and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the age."

Who is there but is thrilled when "Old Glory" is swung to the breeze. What wonderful achievements have been wrought, what victories obtained under the waving stars and stripes. But Christians have another banner–"Jehovah-nissi." Let us rally to our standard. Never let us see His glory dragging in the dust.

"Up rose old Barbara Fritchie, then,

Bowed with her threescore years and ten,

Bravest of all in Frederic Town,

She took up the flag that the men hauled down.

In her little window the staff she set,

To show that one heart was loyal yet.

Up the street came the soldiers’ tread,

Stonewall Jackson riding ahead,

Under his slouched hat, left and right,

He looked–The old flag met his sight.

Halt! The nut-brown ranks stood fast.

Fire! Out broke the rifle blast.

It broke the window with many a gash,

It severed the banner, in seam and sash,

But quick as it fell from its broken staff

Dame Barbara snatched the silken scarf;

She leaned far out of the window sill,

And shook it forth with a royal will.

‘Shoot, if you will, my old grey head

But spare my country’s flag,’ she said."

No one need marvel that Stonewall Jackson is reputed to have said:

"Who touches a hair of that old, grey head,

Dies like a dog–March on, he said."

If Barbara Fritchie held forth the flag she loved, shall any of us, who name the name of Jesus Christ, fail to wave the Blood-stained banner of Calvary’s Cross?

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR