Jehovah-Nissi - The Lord Our Banner
Exodus 17:15 – “And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi.”
In the First Battle of Bull Run in the Civil War, Gen. Thomas Jonathan Jackson was leading the Virginia troops of the Confederacy. When both the right and left flanks of the Confederate Army fell back, Jackson’s troops held firm. General Barnard S. Bee rallied his disorganized men by instructing them to look at General Jackson. "There stands Jackson like a stone wall! Rally behind the Virginians!" They did so, and the Confederacy won a decisive and surprising victory at the outset of the war, dashing the Union's hopes for a quick victory. And Thomas Jonathan Jackson was thereafter known as Stonewall Jackson. That day, he was the "banner" for the Confederate troops. Although shots were flying all around them, they saw Jackson, standing before them, as impregnable as a stone wall, and rallied behind him.
In the same way that Jackson was a “banner” for the Confederate troops, something for them to look to and rally behind, so the Lord Jesus Christ is our “banner” – our Jehovah Nissi – the Lord our banner. Let’s look at the context of this verse. Beginning in verse 8, Israel is attacked by the Amalekites, the sons of Amalek, a descendant of Esau. Now there was no love lost between Israel and these distant cousins, perhaps because Esau had sold Jacob his birthright for a pot of pea soup. According to Deuteronomy 25:17-19, as Israel was coming out of Egypt, the Amalekites attacked them from behind, picking off the weaker stragglers. Do you have any enemies that like to attack when you’re down and out – or when your back is turned – or when you least expect it? The old devil, our adversary, attacks in just such a manner.
Well, here in our passage, Israel turned and fought the Amalekites. They were led by Joshua, their great, young general. Moses sat up on a hill and looked down on the battle with his arms uplifted with his rod outstretched as an ensign, a banner, if you will. When the soldiers looked up and saw God’s man there with his arms lifted up, they prevailed against the enemy. But when they looked up and saw that his arms were tired and not lifted up, the enemy prevailed. It was here that Aaron and Hur sat Moses on a stone and stood on either side of him and held his arms up for him. Oh, don’t we need more in our churches who will stand with the pastor and lift his hands up instead of stabbing him in the back with their daggers of malicious talk and gainsaying spirits. But with the help of these men, Moses was able to keep his arms uplifted, and Israel won a great victory over the Amalekites that day. And there Moses built an altar unto the Lord called it Jehovah Nissi, recognizing that it was not he who was the banner of inspiration but God himself.
So Christ is our “banner” – our standard – our inspiration as we fight the Amalekites of our warfare. Paul commands us in Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” He is our inspiration; He is our strength. What Amalekites do we face each day? We face the world, the flesh and the devil every day of our lives, and our Jehovah Nissi, the Lord our banner, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is there to help us win the victory. If we’ll look to Him – seek His face daily – follow His guidance – let Him fight for us – give ourselves totally over to His control – live every day for Him, we will defeat all the Amalekites that come at us.
Quote - "The devil trembles when he sees, the weakest Christian on his knees." – Dr. Harold Sightler
