Thank God For His Word

“Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.” (Ps 60:4 AV)

During summer camp, each troop had their flag.  Wherever the troop went as a group, the flag went with them.  There were two times in the day the different troops assembles together.  Before breakfast for the raising of the American Flag, and at after the evening meal for the lowering of the flag.  Each troop had their separate area wherein the assembled.  You could find that area by the troop’s flag that was displayed.  Roll call was done at each assembly.  If there were any scouts missing, a search party would immediately be dispatched and the entire camp would remain assembled until a report came back that the missing scout or scouts were found.  There was a large bell that was centrally located.  If at any time we heard that bell, no matter where we were, we would assemble at the parade grounds.  That flag was our identity.  That flag was individually designed for our troops.  Each patrol might also have their own flag.  Again, individually designed by the patrol that created it.  The flag existed because the troop existed.  The patrol flag was flown because the patrol was real and present.  If there were no troop or patrol, there would be no need for a flag.  The existence determined the flag, not the other way around.

In our passage, truth exists and is the cause for the banner.  The banner does not determine the truth.  The banner exists because truth came first.  Without truth, there would be no ideas of what the banner should look like.  What ensigns should appear?  What design should grace its face?  What of the colors, the size, the material?  All have meaning and point to the cause for the banner.  The truth existed.  The banner was given to display that truth.  The banner God gave to Israel was two-fold.  Each tribe had their banner.  Each one assembled at their designated places while camping in the wilderness.  But David is speaking of something greater than a tribal flag.  The tribal flag may exhibit the truth of tribes, inheritance, and tasks assigned, but truth did not end there.  The national identity and tribal heritage were a very small part of who and what they were.  The truth to which our writer refers is eternal truth.  The banner is the banner of the scriptures.

We seldom stop as think of how amazing the word of God truly is.  For the LORD to use seventy different men over four thousand years to write 66 books of the Bible without contradiction and with unfathomable unity is a miracle in and of itself.  But to preserve it for six thousand years, translate it perfectly from Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic into many other languages is beyond comprehension.  Truth existed before Moses penned the first words of the Pentateuch.  In eternity past, the words of Revelation already existed.  This banner of the word of God does not determine truth.  The word of God declares it.  The word of God is the single manifestation of God’s special revelation that no other source can claim.  The truth was known and settled in the infinite mind of God long before the material universe came into existence.  The banner states the truth.  The banner proclaims the truth.  The banner explains the truth.  The banner is the perfect reflection and declaration of the truth.  But the truth was always there.  Praise the LORD for His wonderful word sent to man that we might fear and know Him!  Praise God for His miraculous word!