Banner Year

Sitting on the front porch with Howard this morning reading our Bibles, I raised my eyes to see an American flag waving across the prairie from a house that wasn't visible over the hill. It cheered my heart to see this symbol of liberty for "The land of the free and the home of the brave."
Sadly, many people today don't respect our flag.

In the Bible, a flag is called a banner. "He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love," Solomon 2:4. Sometimes it is called a standard, a symbol of strength and protection. A familiar example of that is Isaiah 59:19, "So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him."

When my husband was in the Army, their battalion leader carried a banner with their company name on it when they paraded or marched. It identified them and was an emblem of pride to their group. Howard was regularly chosen to carry our country's flag for parades. He recalls the command, "Eyes, right!" when the flag was lowered sharply to a 90 degree angle to hang smartly in front of the General.

I have read the story of Francis Scott Key, who wrote the lines to what would later be known as "The Star-Spangled Banner". A lawyer and a poet, he found himself on a ship which gave him the view of the battle on shore. As he watched the fire-storm and the bursting bombs lighting up the night sky, he was able to see Old Glory still flying. He jotted down verses that would become the beloved anthem.

Although our country was founded as a Christian nation, there are many non-believers and scoffers today. We must remember that Christ is our standard bearer. I think of the words of a song we used to sing that goes, "Love is a flag flown high o'er the castle of my heart, for the King is in residence there." It used to be the custom that when the king or ruler was at home, their flag would be flown above the castle. May the words be true for all!