Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Oct/80

Contributor - Henry Van Essen

Title - "His Banner Over Me was Love"

Topic - Funeral

"Some weeks ago I attended a funeral where my husband preached the sermon. That in itself is nothing unusual, but so often I'm amazed how God speaks to us through His Word, no matter under what circumstances. On request, the scripture passage used for the funeral, was the same as used for the wedding some 30 years ago. Yes, the same scripture - the same text - for wedding and funeral." E. V. E.

In joy and in sorrow, whether we are young or old, God is our comfort. In the quietness of that late summer day, I went home very peacefully, ana very much assured. My heart was singing the song that young and old knows,

"Jesus is the rock of my salvation, His banner over me is love." And I thanked Him that I also, may go under His banner of Love.

"I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. As a lily among brambles, so is my love among maidens. As an apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among young men. With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. Song of Solomon 2:1 - 4

These words, "his banner over me was love", are spoken by the bride of a prince. She is not of royal blood, - she is a country girl, burned dark by the sun because of her work in the field. She calls herself a rose of Sharon, or, what is a better translation, a wild flower in Sharon; thousands of which covered the fields. And now, unexpectantly, a very handsome prince has found her and chosen her as his bride. She knows that there are many other girls, prettier, more cultured than she is, but when she walks with her prince, she is not afraid. When he brings her into the royal banquet hall with all the royal and important guests, she may be shy, but not afraid, - for as she says, his- banner over me was love.

A banner is a piece of cloth fastened to a shaft. That banner would tell in war to which lord the troops belonged. By the banner the enemy could tell how courageous the troops would be, and how they had to rate the enemy.

Now, says the bride, as I walked into the banquet hall with my prince, and the competition looked at us, they saw the banner over me, floating above me was, as it were, a piece of cloth saying: I love her. The bride did not have to fear that her prince would leave her for someone else, because he genuinely and wholeheartedly loved her. She need not fear, she could relax and look anyone calmly in the eye, for she knew that all efforts to separate her from her prince would fail because of his love for her.

But there is a further meaning in these words from the bible. At various times, the Lord God and the Lord Jesus Christ, are called husband and bridegroom in the scriptures, husband of a people, - bridegroom of the bride, the body of believers, the Church.

Those who have witnessed the time of illness of John, will know that there was calmness and peace which humanly speaking, seemed beyond understanding. Some of us were privileged to learn the secret of that calmness. The secret was, that John met each day in the knowledge and assurance that Christ's banner over him was love. He could face any enemy who would try to separate him from this assurance.

John was not a perfect man, nobody is, but he had accepted the invitation of the Lord to become his forever. No doubt there are various matters that accusers could present against John, - so be it. Our foremost accuser is Satan himself, who will first try to get us go against the Lord, and then turns around and accuses us before God's throne. Another enemy is our conscience, which accuses and excuses us. But neither John's sins nor the powers of darkness could take his peace away, - not even the last enemy, death itself could ruffle him, for God's banner over him was love.

John was like so many of us, one of the millions of ordinary flowers in the field of the world, yet chosen by God. Those are big words, but the banner of God is love, God himself paid for all John's wrongdoings on the cross of Golgotha, - wiped out all uncleanness, - accepted him in the beloved.

The banner of God is the cross. There is room for all of us, even right now. We need not wait till the final weeks. This banner of love is also waiting for each member of the family. Only that banner will give them the peace and the courage to go on, as they face life so wounded. But you must know: You may walk with the same One who carried your husband, your father and grandfather through. Also for you it can be true: His banner over me is love!

Then you will have peace through tears, courage amidst emptiness, and life in spite of death. [the name has been changed Ed.]

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