SEE HIS
BANNERS GO!
“In the name of God we will set up our banners.” Psalm 20:5
In response to inquiries regarding the history and meaning of religious banners, the Banner Boosters are beginning a monthly series on this subject that we hope the congregation may find of interest.
Worship services are a special time when we are sit down together and listen to God speak to us from His Word, and He is spoken to in hymns and prayers. A banner prepared for the season or a special occasion may help focus attention and leave a mental picture of these spiritual treasures. But many a worshipful moment may happen outside our church walls when we least expect them. It could be while we are driving and God unfurls His banners for us: a rainbow’s perfect arch; wisps of evening clouds blushing at a fiery setting sun; roadside wildflowers in colors so glorious we have to stop and photograph them; waves of gold in a field of ripening grain; a cotton field ready for harvest so white and vast it looks like a blanket of snow; autumn leaves reflected in mountain lakes – these are a few of the inspirations the Lord gives banner makers as He constantly declares that all beauty is a gift of His boundless grace and love for His people.
During the last couple of decades, interest in banners has enjoyed a revival. As a result, many may be surprised to discover that banners are not a twentieth-century invention; in fact, they are mentioned repeatedly in Scripture. A closer look at how God’s Old and New Testament people used banners can help us understand how we can make them a meaningful part of our gathering and worshiping today.
Banners Identify Us
The earliest Biblical mention of banners occurs in Number 1 and 2, where God tells the children of Israel to camp in tribal groups around the tabernacle and to erect banners or standards to identify their clans. Scholars who have studied Jewish tradition suggest that the colors of the tribal banners may have corresponded to the colors of the tribal stones represented in the priest’s ephod (an embroidered garment believed to be like an apron with shoulder straps worn by Hebrew priests in ancient Israel). You may read more about this in Exodus 28:15-21.
Banners Call Us to Gather and Proclaim the Truth
The Scriptures tell us in several places that banners, or “ensigns”, were raised to gather or assemble the people. A raised banner served to announce that something significant was about to happen. Those of you who have been to a Synod Assembly will remember the opening processional in which the Bishop’s banner always leads the way announcing the official opening of the Assembly. Many banners are used at the Assemblies as gathering points.
In Isaiah 11:10-12 we read, “The Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the people; the nations will rally to him… He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles in Israel….” In Jeremiah 50:2 a banner is lifted to announce the downfall of Babylon; and in Isaiah 62:10-12 a banner is raised “for the nations. The Lord has made proclamation to the ends of the earth:…’See, your Savior comes!”
This is the first section of the purposes of banners. The second part will be answers to questions and interesting facts:
· The first liturgical season of the year is Advent. We will begin with it.
· The color for Advent banners is blue. Did you know that blue is traditionally Mary’s color? You often see her robed in light blue in Christmas pageants. The dark blue backgrounds on many of our Advent banners represent the darkest of night for many reasons, i.e. the shepherds are out in the fields watching their sheep at night when the angels appear to them, the Wise Men see a bright star at night, the world is in darkness waiting for a Savior to come, Mary & Joseph cannot find accommodation for the night, etc. Can you think of more reasons for the blue being associated with Advent? Some churches still use purple or violet rather blue for this season to represent the coming of the King and for penitence as we repent to start out a new church year.
As you can tell, everything about a banner is well thought out because they are in the category known as Worship Arts which includes such things as the paraments (linens on the altar and pulpit), stained glass windows, candelabra, carvings anywhere in the sanctuary, the kneeling cushions, tapestries and other decorative religious objects like the altar cross. All these objects must point us to Christ in a coordinated, not distracting way. They should help us to pray and enhance our worship just as the music and spoken word do. Is there one of the banners in our collection that has ever “spoken to your soul” or helped you to focus on the theme for that service? If so, we would enjoy hearing your story. We are beginning a new banner that has interesting source and pattern so be watching for a dedication this fall!
Next month we will talk about how banners guide us in our spiritual battles, keep the truth before us and discuss the seasonal Christmas banners and use of the color gold.
Respectfully Submitted by your Banner Boosters. Questions/comments to:
brazosblue@hot.rr.com (Cheryl Brandt)
