We Will Set Up Our Banners - Psalm 20:5

5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfil all thy petitions.

Psalm 20:5

When an army defeats its enemies, it has been customary that a flag (or “banner”) be hung

on the enemy’s field as a sign of victory in battle. No doubt, most of us have seen the flag being raised that was photographed by Joe Rosenthal on February 23, 1945. The portrait is known as The Raising of the Flag on Iwo Jima. This photo captured five brave men as they were raising “Old Glory” after a hard battle. Sadly, three of the five men were killed shortly after the flag was raised. No foreign country has been able to raise its flag on American soil, for which we are grateful to God.

We are reminded in vs 1 and 2, that the troubles of war often break out. We are also reminded that “God” is our best defense. Vs 3-4 speak of godly people pleading with God through prayer and penitence and seeking the will of God to be done.

Their faith in God is carried on in vs 6: they were His people and He would hear their prayers. The Psalmist says in vs 7, the greatest trust of God’s people is not in the abilities of their armies, but in the greatness of their God.

In vs 8, God blesses Israel with another victory as the enemy falls, and they are able to enjoy their freedom and security. In vs 9, the Lord is said to be the “King of His people, Israel”.

In vs 5, this nation rejoiced because of another great victory. The banners are raised in the celebration, and the Lord isn’t forgotten for what He has done!

This Flag Day, let us praise God for our past victories, and be thankful that the “Red, White and Blue” is still flying over the land of the free and the home of the brave. May we be reminded that the prayers of the American people have been heard in our past wars, and that we must continue to be the nation of “In God We Trust”.