The Banner Of Holiness

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

A banner was a ensign flag lifted up upon a pole during battles that pointed out who they were.  And often times, the sight of the flag encouraged them to fight with all their might against the enemy.

God has bestowed upon us a banner to those that worship and respect His Word by following it daily.  That banner is called holiness.  It is what distinguishes us from everyone else.  It is the thing that encourages us to strive forward from day to day.  Any doubt disappears of who we belong to when it is applied to our lives. 

The second part of this verse, “that it may be displayed because of the truth”, takes on an interesting meaning when you break it down word by word from the Hebrew.  The word displayed translates: depart, disappear.  The word because: face, surface .  And, the word truth: truth, balanced verity.  Which leads me to think that the doubt that may arise of just who we belong to disappears when someone sees our appearance (face, surface) because of the balance of verify (balance of our devotion to the truth in the Word of God). 

2 Corinthians 6:17 NIRV says, “So come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch anything that is not pure and clean. Then I will receive you.”  Holiness is something that starts in the heart and overflows to the outer appearance.   1 Peter 1:15 says, “ But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation”.  The conversation is translated to mean manner of life.  So basically we should strive to be holy in everything that we do.  Why?  Well, 1 Peter 1:16 gives us a perfectly good reason, “Because it is written , Be ye holy; for I am holy.”  Why should we strive to be holy in ALL that we do?  Because the Bible tells us so.  Like the song says, “Jesus loves me this I know, for the bible tells me so.”  If it is within the pages of the Word of God, then we should heed to what it says.  It is our guidebook for this life on earth.  

People know the difference of those that are truly living for God with all their heart and those that careless walk along that line of separation.  How?  By their appearance and the outward actions.  My desire is to strive harder each day to live a life that is pleasing to Him.  Living a life of holiness like He would have done.  This banner of holiness that He has so graciously given me, I want it to fly high and unfurled (not folded or hidden) in my life.  So, that others may see that I am HIS child.  ♥