JEHOVAH NISSI – THE LORD OUR BANNER
JEHOVAH NISSI – THE LORD OUR BANNER IN EXODUS 17 (Click For Chart) – How important is it that we know God’s Names (~ His character, His attributes)? Solomon writes that “The NAME of the LORD is a strong tower. The righteous runs… into it & is safe (Literally “lifted high” = pictures the trial or affliction as still occurring, but of the one who by grace thru faith makes a conscious choice to “run” into [trust, believe] the strong refuge of His Name, as “safe” in but above the storm. PTL!) (Pr 18:10-note) Corollary: If we truly know His character as revealed in His Names, we will be more likely to “run” into His Name. In Ex 17:8-note “Amalek came and fought against Israel at Rephidim (Hebrew = Rests!!).” Note that God in His sovereignty allowed the attack (think about the “attacks” in your life). Prior to this time God had fought ALL the battles, but now He is seeking to teach Israel how to fight the enemy. Sometimes God allows tests/trials in our life that we might learn better how to fight our enemies (the world, the flesh, the devil) “knowing that the testing of our faith produces endurance (“hanging in there” when circumstances are difficult – Not a passive acceptance but strong fortitude [enabled by the Spirit] in the face of opposition or difficulty) (James 1:3-note) Read Exodus 17:8-16 for how God gave Israel victory (note the balance – Man’s RESPONSIBILITY [Our effort] = Ex 17:9-10, 13-note & God’s PROVISION [His power] = Ex 17:11-note). In Ex 17:15-note after the victory Moses gave glory to God by building an altar & worshipping “JEHOVAH NISSI” (The LORD is my Banner). The BANNER (Nissi) is a standard that bears the colors by which a military unit is identified & behind which troops rally. So when Moses said “Jehovah Nissi“, he proclaimed this great Name as a memorial saying in essence “I rally behind Jehovah. It is on Him I will fix MY EYES. It is He Whom I will follow.”
WHERE ARE YOUR EYES FIXED DEAR CHRIST FOLLOWER?…
Are they fixes on the things above or are they fixed on the things that are on this earth? (Col 3:1-2-note, Heb 12:2-note)
It is notable that the phrase “MY EYES” is repeatedly used in the Psalms…
• “MY EYES are continually toward the LORD (my responsibilty), for He will pluck my feet out of the net (God’s power).” (Ps 25:15-Spurgeon’s Note=SN)
• “I will set no worthless (Hebrew = belial –2Cor 6:15) thing before MY EYES; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not fasten (Hebrew = dabaq = stick like glue! Joined together – of man “cleaving” to his wife in Ge 2:24!) its grip on me.” (Ps 101:3 – SN)
• “Open MY EYES (We need the Holy Spirit’s enablement to grasp spiritual truth in the Holy Word), that I may behold wonderful things from Thy law.” (Ps 119:18-SN)
• “Turn away MY EYES from looking at vanity & revive me in Thy ways.” (Ps 119:37-SN)
• “MY EYES fail with longing for Thy Word” (Ps 119:82-SN)
• “MY EYES fail with longing for Thy salvation & for Thy righteous Word.” (Ps 119:123-SN)
• “MY EYES anticipate the night watches, that I may meditate on Thy Word.” (Ps 119:148-SN)
• “MY EYES are toward Thee, O GOD, the Lord. In Thee I take refuge (cp Pr 18:10-note). Do not leave me defenseless.” (Ps 141:8-SN)
• “I Will lift up MY EYES to the mountains. From whence shall my help come? My help comes from the LORD (from Jehovah Nissi), Who made heaven & earth.” (Ps 121:1-2)
Father, I pray that the eyes of our hearts may continually be enlightened, so that we may know what is the HOPE (absolute assurance of future good) of Your calling, what are the riches of the glory of Your inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of Your POWER toward us who believe in Jesus our Rock & our Redeemer, yea, even our Jehovah Nissi.” Amen (Eph 1:18-19-note, Psalm 19:14-note)
Play Blessed Be Your Name
Study the in Depth Chart on Jehovah Nissi – The LORD Our Banner
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