LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL
By Pastor Mensa Otabil
 
Wednesday 20th May 2026

THE LORD IS MY BANNER

Scripture Reading: Exodus 17
 
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.” And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner; Exodus 17:14-15
 
Jehovah (YHWH)-Nissi – the Lord my banner, is the name that Moses called on when he built an altar celebrating Israel’s God-given victory over the Amalekites.
 
The Amalekites were the first nation to attack Israel after they left Egypt. The Israelites were a young and untested nation. They did not have an army and did not have any experience in combat.
 
In those days, nations fought under a banner. The banner was also called the standard. Usually, a nation’s banner would be an image of its gods – the national god or the god of war. Today, a nation’s banner will be its national flag and anthem.
 
Israel did not have a banner when they fought against the Amalekites. The only thing they knew was the name of the Lord who had delivered them.
 
While Joshua led the fighting forces in the valley, Moses sent up a hill and lifted his hands, as in a prayer or blessing, over Israel. Moses soon realized that whenever his hands were lifted, Israel prevailed; and when he lowered his hands, the Amalekites prevailed. With that realization, Moses sat on a rock on the mountain and had Aaron and Hur hold up his hands.
 
After Israel won the battle, Moses established the Lord as Israel’s banner – Jehovah Nissi. This meant that they would now fight in the name of the Lord.
 
The Lord is still our banner in warfare. We go out in His name and return in His name. When we lift our hands in prayer to Him, we affirm that the Lord is our banner and that He fights for us. When the Lord is with us, we can rest and trust in His help as we face the battles of life.
 
Go out and win with the Lord as your banner.

Prayer: 

Heavenly Father, you are my banner in times of war. Lift up your hand over me and grant me your victory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.