When the hour had come…Jesus said to them,
“I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover meal with you…” – Luke 22:14-15
Recently my husband and I have been sharing a weekly “communion” meal together. We use this set-apart time as a way of remembering Jesus’ life and death in the picture of a shared glass of wine, some bread, and a simple meal. It’s a little awkward still, as we try to make it meaningful and special. But it’s always a sweet time to me. During the week I find myself eagerly looking forward to doing it again.
It doesn’t compare, however, to the longing that Jesus has to share a living, breathing communion with us. In Song of Songs 2:4, it says:
He brought me to the banqueting house,
and his banner over me is love. – Song 2:4
In the Hebrew language, “banqueting house” is a rich word. While it can include food, the meaning is actually a place that serves wine! Several translations get it more on point with “house of wine,” and even a “wine bar!” King Solomon certainly had a taste for the extravagant, so it is not surprising that he could have taken his woman, the Shulamite, somewhere special. Somewhere to also communicate to others, “This is the woman I love.”
Human love gives us a picture. It is only natural for someone to want to “wave a flag,” so-to-speak, about a person they love. To a woman especially, it can cause her heart to fall in love with a man when he boldly declares his love for her in a special way. Especially if he doesn’t fully know how she will respond!
Think about this with our King. Remember when the disciples were in the upper room sharing a last Passover meal around a table, how Jesus took a cup of wine and likened it to His blood that would soon be shed for them? The Cross was a cup of suffering for Jesus, but it was also a banner set up, to guide His bride to her place of belonging. Starting with the last supper, all the way to the upper room of Pentecost, there is a sacredness to these places and events where Jesus displayed for all the world to see how much God loves you and me, and the incomprehensible price we are worth.
“His banner over us is love.”
Can you believe it? That we are loved that much? By the eternal King of kings and Lord of lords? No one is ever the same after drinking deeply (i.e. taking into one’s whole being) the truth of God’s love for them.
This is just a brief touch on Song 2:4. Perhaps someone else has something different they see in this verse? If so, you are welcome to do so in the comments. Also, I don’t fully understand how to do a communion meal to honor Jesus for all that He is. I believe it is just one of many ways that we can thank Him, and bring Him close.
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There is much more to the imagery of “banner” that I did not cover here.The Hebrew word is “degel,” and is translated “standard.” They were like huge flags with embroidered emblems on them. Degels are mentioned in stories of Israel traveling in the wilderness, and they helped each tribe from from getting lost, and to know where to sleep for the night.
Numbers 2:2 says, “Everyone of the children of Israel shall camp by his own standard (degel), beside the emblems of his father’s house.”
Some believe these “emblems” on the flags may have been the 12 signs in the ancient Mazzoroth. (See:https://intimatekingdom.com/love-in-the-mazzaroth-6-10)
Whether that is true or not, I don’t know, but it seems certain the sign of the Bride here is LOVE. God IS love, and that is how His people know where to go. That is what the Shulamite is saying here in Song 2:4, “His banner over me is love.” She knew were to go, because she followed her standard. As Jay Ferris used to say, “Follow the look of love. If you don’t see the look of love in someone’s eyes, stay clear.” That is not your camp.