His Banner Is Love
Song of Solomon 2v3-9
His Banner Is Love
Introduction
Continue to see the bride extolling the glory of her husband to be.
1. The Banner v3-6
Banners are identifying flags or streamers attached to the end of a standard. Throughout history they have served three main purposes: to identify a group, to claim possession of a space or territory and to lend festivity to a celebration. Banners are rallying points, physically and/or emotionally. The Bible contains fewer than a dozen direct references to banners, and the context is almost entirely military. More often than not the banner of victory is ascribed to God. The earliest example is Exodus 17:15, where Moses celebrates the victory of the Amalekites by building an altar, calling the name of it “the Lord is my banner” and saying, “a hand upon the banner of the Lord” (RSV). In the Psalms too it is God who sets up a banner for his people (Ps 60:4), who for their part ascribe their triumph to God by setting up banners “in the name of our God” (Ps 20:5). Jeremiah’s prediction of Babylon’s destruction is prefaced by the statement, “Declare among the nations and proclaim, set up a banner and proclaim, conceal it not” (Jer 50:2 RSV), along the lines of a warrior boldly planting a banner as a sign of taking possession. The remaining instances of the word banner are in the Song of Songs. In the Shulamite woman’s picture of Solomon’s taking her into the court harem, the climactic note of triumph is that “he brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love” (Song 2:4). Here the banner is an image of both festivity or celebration and claiming possession. In a courtly and military world, one of the supreme images of exhilaration is the sight of an army advancing with its banners unfurled. This supplies the emotional context for the lover’s declaration that his beloved’s beauty is as “terrible as an army with banners” (Song 6:4, 10).[1]
Numbers 1:52
52 The Israelites are to set up their tents by divisions, each man in his own camp under his own standard.[2]
Numbers 2:2,3,10,17,18,25,31,34
2 “The Israelites are to camp round the Tent of Meeting some distance from it, each man under his standard with the banners of his family.”
3 On the east, towards the sunrise, the divisions of the camp of Judah are to encamp under their standard. The leader of the people of Judah is Nahshon son of Amminadab.10 On the south will be the divisions of the camp of Reuben under their standard. The leader of the people of Reuben is Elizur son of Shedeur.17 Then the Tent of Meeting and the camp of the Levites will set out in the middle of the camps. They will set out in the same order as they encamp, each in his own place under his standard.
18 On the west will be the divisions of the camp of Ephraim under their standard. The leader of the people of Ephraim is Elishama son of Ammihud.25 On the north will be the divisions of the camp of Dan, under their standard. The leader of the people of Dan is Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.31 All the men assigned to the camp of Dan number 157,600. They will set out last, under their standards.
34 So the Israelites did everything the Lord commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each with his clan and family.[3]
Numbers 10:14,18,22,25
14 The divisions of the camp of Judah went first, under their standard. Nahshon son of Amminadab was in command.18 The divisions of the camp of Reuben went next, under their standard. Elizur son of Shedeur was in command.22 The divisions of the camp of Ephraim went next, under their standard. Elishama son of Ammihud was in command.25 Finally, as the rear guard for all the units, the divisions of the camp of Dan set out, under their standard. Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai was in command.[4]
a. Resting v3
Apple—generic including the golden citron, pomegranate, and orange apple (Pr 25:11). He combines the shadow and fragrance of the citron with the sweetness of the orange and pomegranate fruit. The foliage is perpetual; throughout the year a succession of blossoms, fruit, and perfume [5]
b. Feasting v4
c. Strengthening v5
“Sick of love—the highest degree of sensible enjoyment that can be attained here. It may be at an early or late stage of experience. Paul (2Co 12:7). In the last sickness of J. Welch. he was overheard saying, “Lord, hold thine hand, it is enough; thy servant is a clay vessel, and can hold no more” [Fleming, Fulfilling of the Scriptures]. In most cases this intensity of joy is reserved for the heavenly banquet. Historically, Israel had it, when the Lord’s glory filled the tabernacle. and afterwards the temple. so that the priests could not stand to minister: so in the Christian Church on Pentecost. The bride addresses Christ mainly, though in her rapture she uses the plural, “Stay (ye) me,” speaking generally. So far from asking the withdrawal of the manifestations which had overpowered her, she asks for more: so “fainteth for” (Ps 84:2): also Peter. on the mount of transfiguration (Lu 9:33), “Let us make … not knowing what he said.”[6]
d. Embracing v6
His banner … love—After having rescued us from the enemy, our victorious captain (Heb 2:10) seats us at the banquet under a banner inscribed with His name, “love” (1Jn 4:8). His love conquered us to Himself; this banner rallies round us the forces of Omnipotence, as our protection; it marks to what country we belong, heaven, the abode of love, and in what we most glory, the cross of Jesus Christ, through which we triumph (Ro 8:37; 1Co 15:57; Rev 3:21). Compare with “over me,” “underneath are the everlasting arms” (De 33:27).[7]
Hebrews 2:10
10 In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.[8]
1 John 4:8
8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.[9]
Romans 8:37
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.[10]
1 Corinthians 15:57
57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.[11]
Revelation 3:21
21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.[12]
2. Warning v7
Song of Solomon 3:5
5 Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you
by the gazelles and by the does of the field:
Do not arouse or awaken love
until it so desires.[13]
Song of Solomon 8:4
4 Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you:
Do not arouse or awaken love
until it so desires.[14]
“More naturally, the verse is a warning of the woman to other women who may look on the relationship and want to experience something similar; she is, in essence, telling them not to force it. Wait for love to blossom don’t hurry it. In a sense, then, the daughters of Jerusalem are surrogates for the reader. We too are to learn the same lesson don’t try to stimulate it artificially. After all, in the preceding verses we have seen that love takes its toll on the woman. She warns the others not to arouse love until they are ready to meet its rigors, both physical and emotional. Love is not a passing fling but rather a demanding and exhausting relationship.” Tremper Longman III– Song of Songs – William B Eerdmans 2001
3. Here He Comes v8-9
a. Leaping v8-9a
b. Looking v9b
Conclusion
Find perfect rest under the banner of Christ’s love.
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[1]Ryken, Leland; Wilhoit, James C.; Longman III, Tremper, Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, (Downers Grove, Ill: InterVarsity Press) 2000, c1998.
[2]The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984.
[3]The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984.
[4]The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984.
[5]Jamieson, Robert; Fausset, A.R.; and Brown, David, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) 1998.
[6]Jamieson, Robert; Fausset, A.R.; and Brown, David, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) 1998.
[7]Jamieson, Robert; Fausset, A.R.; and Brown, David, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) 1998.
[8]The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984.
[9]The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984.
[10]The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984.
[11]The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984.
[12]The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984.
[13]The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984.
[14]The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984.