Flee to the Banner
- jacarroll71
- Jul 30, 2015
- 2 min read
Today’s reading: Psalm 59-61; Acts 28:16-31
4 You have set up a banner for those who fear you, that they may flee to it from the bow. Selah 5 That your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by your right hand and answer us! Psalm 60:4-5
23 When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. 24 And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved. Acts 28:23-24
Those who fear God and who are His beloved, show it by fleeing to the banner He has raised, the gospel of Jesus Christ where they find salvation, but dulled hearts do not respond to the message despite its clarity.
David uses a military analogy to faith and salvation. The troops are scattered and about to die. The commander sets up a banner to rally them back. They see the banner and head for it. There they are saved from defeat and the tide of victory is turned in their favor.
Why would a soldier who is in dire straits not flee to the banner raised by his commander?
Paul raised the banner of the gospel among the Jews in Rome. He used their Scriptures in his efforts to convince them. Some believed and some did not. Why not? It was not that Paul had failed to be clear. He diagnosed their condition from the prophet Isaiah. Their hearts were dull, ears nearly deaf, and they closed their eyes. The banner was raised, but they refused to flee to it.
They had their opportunity but they did not grasp it. Paul told them the message had been sent to the Gentiles and they would listen.
The task of God’s believing people is to keep proclaiming the good news of life in Jesus Christ from the Bible, accurately and faithfully, as Paul modeled. Some will believe. Some will not. Do not be discouraged. Stay the course, because to everyone who flees to the banner, God will grant salvation.
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