Jehovah Nissi - LORD our Banner (15th Jan 2012)

Scripture reading: Exodus: 17:8~16

8. The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.

9. Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands."

10. So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill.

11. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.

12. When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up--one on one side, one on the other--so that his hands remained steady till sunset.

13. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

14. Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven."

15. Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner.

16. He said, "For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD. The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation."

 

 

Sermon: Jehovah Nissi - LORD our Banner

When we watch TV Drama, there are a main character and surely an character who has a play a bad role against the main character. In order to be higher of programme rating, the main character must be playing roles very well, moreover the villains' roles should be so open and real. Most dramas got this structure of contents. This show a part of our lives. So many people love dramas; they laugh at watching drama, sometimes cry by dramas. In my case, I sometimes identify myself with the main character of dramas. I am deeply in dramas. Particularly the worst-fated relationship between them seems like my stories. Not only I but also others are crazy about watching dramas. The worst-fated relationship makes us cry bitter tears. on the other hand, the better-fated relationship makes us be blessed. Both relationship, the worst-fated and better-fated one are crucially standing on our lives.

Now the Israelites are walking in the desert after exodus from Egypt. In the desert, they met the worst-fated and the better-fated one. The better one is the relationship with Jethro, the priest of Midian and father-in-law of Moses in the next chapter of today text, chapter 18. The worst one is the relationship of the Amalekites. By the relationship of the Amalekites, I hope we have strength and grace from God.

Who is the Amalekites? Today text shows the battle between the Israelites and the Amalekites. Shown as verse 8, "The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim." When we imagine the scene, we could come to mind the scene of a movie "Lord of Rings". With loud shouting, in one side there is the Israelite army, in other side there is the Amalekite army. Then they would fight each other.

However, this battle is not fair. The Amalekites attack is one-sidely sudden assault. They attacked the Israelites who were very tired by the journey of desert. As Deuternomy 25:17~18; "Remember what the Amalekites did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt. When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and cut off all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God."

This means the Amalekites suddenly attack the lsraelites who are exhausted by hunger, tiredness, hot sunshines, lack of water in the tough way of desert. The exact object of attack was "all who were lagging behind". That is to say, they were the old, and children to walk very hard. By the fact, we can know the Amalekites are very sordid and nasty. Also, not only being nasty but also ignoring God is very important. They were not afraid of God. How is it? The Jerovah God made the Israelites exodus from the great Egypt. The great and the most powerful Egypt let the slaves go by the commands and miracles of God. This means God is much more powerful than the kingdom of Egypt. Nevertheless, they had no fear on God, rather ignored God.

Indeed, the Amalekites did not know about God? Because they did not know God, they were not afraid of Him? In the point, there is a shocking fact. the Amalekites knew God by their ancestors. They are the offsprings of Esau. Following Genesis 36:16, a grandson of Esau is Amalek. Amalek‘s descendents was called as the Amalekites. Surely they knew who God was, and their ancestors served Him. However, they were not afraid of Him and suddenly attacked the weak of Israelites. In the beginning of this battle, they became bogged down with the swamp of ill-fated relationship in a long history.

Therefore, this battle was very unique to procedure. Joshua led soldiers against the Amalekites under hills. At the same times, Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of hills. Shown as vers. 11, 12 and 13, While Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning. But while he lower his hands, the Amalekites were winning, So, Aron and Hur helped him to hold up his hands in right and left side. Finally the Israelites army which Joshua led got the victory! Actually, the victory or defeat belonged to God. By the actions of Moses, Aron and Hur, both Israelites and Amalekites knew about it very well.

After the battle, Moses present the victory was from God, Read togther verse 15 to 16.

15. Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner.

16. He said, "For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD. The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation."

"The Lord is my Banner is in Hebrew, Yahweh or Jehovah Nissi!

The "banner" would be the battle-s tandard, a pole, perhaps with an eye-catching cloth upon it. The Bronze Serpent was raised on this sort of pole. The altar is built to commemorate the battle, and what this episode reveals about the nature and character of Jehovah.

The Lord is our "battle-standard" because we look to him. Moses had stood above the fray, and his hands rose and fell (presumably holding the Rod of God), until Aaron and Hur sat Moses, and upheld his arms to keep them up. The dry stick wasn't so impressive, but what it represented to the men fighting in the dells below was glorious. This was God's battle, not theirs. Moses, and his rod were pointing the fighters (in his Mediatorial role) to the Cloud that ever accompanied them.

Moreover, God promised to the Israelites "whenever the Amalekites attacks you, I will fight against them instead of you from generation to generation." Shown as Numbers 24:20, Balaam saw Amalek and uttered his oracle: "Amalek was first among the nations, but he will come to ruin at last." This promise came true. In 1Samuel 15, we can see The King Saul exterminated the Amalekites. And then the rest of Amalekite lived in Persia. At that time, they damage to the Jews, however the Queen Esther saved her people, then they were perfectly disappeared on the earth. God achieved his words upon the Israelites.

Now let us believe on God, Jehovah Nissi! He is my Lord, my banner! To be honest, we meet the ill-fated friends, families, people, and circumstances. We can not handle these in our lives. Spiritually thinking, we have been attacked by Satan. He is not ceasing and very tempting. How can we overcome all these? We have God, Jehovah Nissi! We have to do one thing! Just rely on Him. We just need a strong faith and pray like Moses who held up his hands. Then our Lord, God Almighty set us free and gave us daily victories in our lives.

Let us pray!

Dear God Almighty Jehovah nissi! we believe in your victory. Like Moese, Aron and Hur, please make us strong with faithful pray on you. In Jesus name we pray Amen.