He brought me to the banqueting house, and His banner over me was love.
The Christian’s position of privilege
It is a great thing to be a Christian. It is a great thing in view of the personal change wrought in him who sustains this character. He was once lost, he now is found. It is a great thing, too, in view of the change which it brings over a man’s relations to others, as well as that which it produces in his personal character. Once he lived for time, now he lives for eternity. Once he served Satan, now he serves God. Once, if his earthly possessions had been wrested from him he would have exclaimed, “Ye have taken away my gods, and what is there more?”--now, with St. Paul, he can endure the loss of all things, and account it a gain, that he may win Christ and be found in Him. Once the grave bounded all his prospects, and death was dreaded as the extinguisher of all his hopes; now he can look death calmly in the face, and go down to the grave with a hope full of immortality.
I. The action, of which all the Christian’s experience of his privilege is raised. “He brought me.” The agent referred to is God our Saviour. Salvation, in all its effectual influences, be longs to Him. Each truly converted soul, when telling how it was led to Christ, will feel constrained to look up to God with adoring gratitude and say, “He brought me.” “He brought me, by Divine foreknowledge and sovereign choice, before the foundations of the world were laid. “He brought me” through His Spirit, working with me in due season, to make His own call effectual. “He brought me” by ordering and controlling all the outward circumstances of my condition so as to favour this blessed result of His purpose. “He brought me” by His preventing grace so working in my soul, that I should have a desire to know and love Him, and then, co-operating with that desire, in such a way as to bring it to good effect. “He brought me” by sweetly subduing my stubborn will,--taking away all the natural enmity of my heart to Him, and sending the sprat of adoption into my soul whereby I cry Abba Father.
II. The position in which this experience is realized. “Hebrought me into the banqueting house.” There are two ideas which we seem naturally to associate with the thought of a monarch’s banqueting house.
1. It is a place where choice delicacies may be expected. It is not common fare, which the ,guests admitted to such a place look for. The richest and the rarest things that wealth can purchase, or skill prepare, are provided for such a banqueting hall. The products of every clime, the luxuries of every land are put in requisition there. And these are but faint figures of those spiritual good things with which Jesus regales the souls of His people in the banquet house of salvation.
2. It is a place where special favours are dispensed, and confidential communications made; and, on this account too, the language of the text applies to the believer’s condition of privilege in Christ. The treasury of heaven is put at the disposal of the believer in Jesus. He is fully assured that “God will supply all his need from the riches of His grace in Christ.”
III. The circumstances of the believer in occupying this position. “His banner over me was love.”
1. When a prince, a governor, or monarch unfurls his banner over a fortress or citadel, he means thereby to declare his determination to protect that place. As that flag waves in the breeze, it proclaims significantly, that all the power and resources of him whom it represents are pledged for the defence and safeguard of that fortress. And this is what Jesus means when He unfurls His banner of love over the believing soul. All the resources of omnipotence--all the perfections of an infinite God are enlisted for the safety of that soul.
2. The material of a banner, and the mottoes, or emblems upon it, are expressive of the thoughts and intentions of Him whom the banner represents. A white banner bespeaks a desire for peace. A red flag shows a determination to shed blood; a black flag is the signal that no quarter is to be expected. And then the military nations of the earth, whose lust has been for war and conquest, have generally adopted emblems expressive of their character. Thus the eagle was the emblem Imperial Rome bore on her conquering standards. But the Captain of our salvation has a banner woven out of the precious fabric of love, and the dove is the symbol which that banner bears. His thoughts towards His people are thoughts of peace; and love, unspeakable, everlasting, and past finding out, runs through all His purposes concerning them.
3. The banner of his country is to the true patriot an object of honourable regard, and of intense affection. And so, while the wise man glories in his wisdom, the rich man in his riches, and the mighty man in his might, the language of the Christian is: “God forbid that I should glory, save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (R. Newton, D. D.)
Christ’s banqueting house for His spouse
1. Jesus Christ hath from the beginning of the world entertained His Church with various dispensations of providence, and doth so entertain every true believing soul.
2. Though all these dispensations be proper means in relation to the great end of the soul’s salvation, and profitable to the Church and the soul in reference to that end; yet, some are more sweet and pleasant than others, and so more fitly compared to Christ’s banquet.
3. The dispensation of the Gospel to the Church in general, and the enlightening, quickening, strengthening, consolatory influences of the Spirit of grace to patient souls, may be fitly compared to a banqueting, house or to a house of wine.
4. As Christ did of old entertain some of His people s souls, under the darker dispensations of the covenant of grace, with these refreshing dispensations, which were like a banquet of wine to them; so under the latter and more full dispensation of the Gospel, He doth still entertain some of His people’s souls with these gladdening dispensations.
5. It is Christ, and Christ alone, that can bring the soul into the house of wine. (John Collinges, D. D.)
His banner over me was love.
How Christ’s banner over a believing soul is love
1. The love of Christ is that which distinguishes the soul of a believer front another soul, and the Church of God from other companies.
(1) Let this be rooted in your hearts, that you may not glory in any other differences and distinctions.
(2) Let Christ have all the praise, and let it be our business to labour to be thus distinguished from others.
2. The exalting of Christ’s love directs and invites every soul whither to go (Joh_3:14-15; Joh_12:32).
3. The Church of God and the believing soul should move as the love of God doth guide them. All our actions are of no worth that flow not from this principle.
4. The love of Christ is that which unites the Churches of God and particular believers both unto Christ and unto one another.
5. The love of Christ is a sign of His protection to His people.
6. The love of Christ displayed to the world signifies His victory over His enemies, yea and the Church’s, and every true believing soul’s victory.
7. The love of Christ to His people is that which should make His Church and true believers terrible to all His and their enemies. (John Collinges, D. D.)
Christ’s banner over His Church
1. The use of banners, standards, or ensigns, is to gather and keep persons together: thus Christ Himself was lifted up on the cross, and is now lifted up in the Gospel, as an ensign to gather souls unto Him: and so His love, being displayed in the preaching of the Gospel, has a power and efficacy in it to draw souls after Him; for as a fruit and effect of everlasting love, “with loving kindness He draws them: and in the same way and manner Christ here drew the Church unto Himself and held her fast; and constrained her to keep close to Him, and follow hard after Him; see 2Co_5:14.
2. A banner displayed, or a standard set up, is an indication of war; it is to prepare for it and to animate to it (Jer_51:12; Jer_51:27), the Church of Christ here on earth is militant, and therefore in Son_6:4, is represented as formidable and terrible as an army with banners: she has many enemies to engage with, as sin, Satan, and the world, and yet has the greatest encouragement to fight, for she is bannered under the Lord of hosts.
3. A banner displayed is also a sign of victory; sometimes when a town, city, or castle is taken, the flag is hung out as an indication of it; see Jer_50:2. Christ has gotten the victory over all His and our enemies.
4. A banner is for protection and defence; hence Moses built an altar, and called it Jehovah nissi, that is, The Lord is my banner; because the Lord had been on the side of him and the people of Israel, and defended them from the Amalekites.
5. It is to direct soldiers where to stand, when to march, and whom to follow; see Num_1:52; Num_2:2, which may teach us, who are enlisted in Christ’s service, not to fly from our colours, but adhere closely to Christ and His Gospel, His cause and interest, His Church and people, and to follow Him, the Standard-bearer, wherever He goes; and nothing can more strongly engage us to do so than love, which is the motto of His banner; this first drew us to Him, this animates us in His service, and keeps us close to His person and interest.
6. It is to distinguish one band from another (Num_2:2). As one band has one motto upon its banner or ensign, by which it is distinguished from another, so the motto on Christ’s banner is “love,” by which His band or company is distinguished from all others. The allusion may be to the names of generals being inscribed on the banners of their armies; so Vespasian’s name was inscribed on the banners throughout his armies. (John Gill, D. D.)
