The Banner of Christ in the Fog of War.

This world is an ugly place lately.

In the last 24 hours, I have seen more videos of violence than I care to remember.

Our country is once again embroiled in turmoil.

Closer to home, we are grieving the loss of a dear friend and brother in the Lord.

It is all a little disorienting at times.

Psalm 60 describes that sense of disorientation quite well.

O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses; you have been angry; oh, restore us.  You have made the land to quake; you have torn it open; repair its breaches, for it totters.  You have made your people see hard things; you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger.  You have set up a banner for those who fear you, that they may flee to it from the bow. Selah  That your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by your right hand and answer us! (Psalm 60:1-5 ESV)

David describes his feeling of being rejected.  Everything around him gives him the impression that God has rejected him.  His defenses have been broken.  The land beneath him isn’t stable.  He looks around and sees “hard things,” things that shake his confidence and cause him to grieve.  He is staggering around, disoriented.  David’s enemies shoot arrows from afar, hoping to take advantage of the disorientation.

Where is God in all of this?

David gives us this line, buried in the midst of the chaos and confusion.

“You have set up a banner for those who fear you…”

Picture from Ancient-Origins.net

A banner was more than just a symbol during the time of David.  It was a means of communication.

In an age where you can’t email, text, call, or even use radio for communication, the banner, or a standard was a means of communicating.

The banner David refers to says two things.

First, it says, “I am still here.”  The banner David speaks of is a reminder that God is still present.  Like a flag over a fort, the banner reminds everyone who is still in control.

Second, the banner says, “this is the way.”  In the heat of battle, a raised standard would communicate the direction of advance to soldiers in the fog of war.

Our world is in chaos.  If you don’t feel at least a little disoriented lately, you haven’t been paying attention.

But in the midst of it all, God has His banner with the Name of Christ written upon it, and it tells us, “He is still here,” and “this is the way.”

Keep Safe, be well, and stay encouraged.

Brian

P.S.  Baptist Fellowship will be participating in a memorial parade for Gil Pepin this Sunday, May 31st.  We will gather at Horace Porter School at 1:30 PM and will parade past Penny’s home on Chesbro Bridge Road in Columbia. 

Please feel free to make signs to display our love for Penny and Todd. 

If you would like to bring cards or flowers, we will be collecting them at Porter, and Tracy will deliver them as the last person in the parade as traffic flow cannot stop during the parade.