Comments on: Terrible as an Army With Banners

By: Pamela

Pamela — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 18:20:12 +0000

And I’ve missed you! This comment of yours today is so timely. That the Bride would be called an “army with banners” in the Song is increasingly getting more definition. This was beautifully displayed in the movie Braveheart which I just recently watched. There was no war without love. Love for the “bride” was the impetus for the fight for freedom. Freedom for me has become more than just leaving the religious system. That was Egypt, and it is just part of our freedom. But we will die in the wilderness unless we reach for a place to live it out. A place to call home, raise children, and bear fruit. The part that takes revelation, is to see this “place” not as something to reach for by carnal means, but it a place that is in one another, and it expands the more we are relationally unified in Christ.

You hit the nail on the head too, I feel, about love making us a banner. Banners signify a public display – a symbol of unification – that gives evidence that the Bride is more than just a messy, disorganized force. She is a force to be reckoned with, because “His banner over me (US) is love” :-)

And I see that banner flying boldly over you!:)

By: jimpuntney

jimpuntney — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 13:49:07 +0000

“Being truly present in the moment, focusing on the people that are placed in our path; being truly relational in all that we do, i believe, will strengthen us to be a terribly fierce army for His kingdom. It will cause us to grow in depth, in length, in width & height as His Body. And bc of our love for one another, we will be a banner, a beacon in a dark & needy world. So grateful to be on this journey…this assignment with you, Pamela!!”

This expresses our Fathers heart, and as we together live this out, our Love will become a fire, a fire that will provide light and warmth, a fire that will draw others in, into His Love.

By: Shelby Shock Marsh

Shelby Shock Marsh — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 05:39:27 +0000

So glad to finally be getting back to The Song study of yours, ive missed it! Some really great stuff here…first thing that struck me was: “Fear not…they (the strongholds you conquer in faith) will become bread to you“, Num 14:9. A few years ago i heard God say “The fog that you are in is about to become the water that you need.” Until just now, i guess i wasnt familiar w/ Num. 14:9, but see it clearly now (along w/ the revelation of the fog & water) that every hard thing we go thru will in some way serve us. Being beyond dead (kind of reminds me of being more than an overcomer) allows us to keep our spiritual eyes on Jesus & not be concerned w/what we will eat or what we will wear. Being truly present in the moment, focusing on the people that are placed in our path; being truly relational in all that we do, i believe, will strengthen us to be a terribly fierce army for His kingdom. It will cause us to grow in depth, in length, in width & height as His Body. And bc of our love for one another, we will be a banner, a beacon in a dark & needy world. So grateful to be on this journey…this assignment with you, Pamela!!

By: Pamela

Pamela — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 23:35:38 +0000

In reply to Vinny. Thank you so much for sharing this encouraging comment, Vinny. I love your heart and all of the insights expressed here.

By: Vinny

Vinny — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 16:53:13 +0000

WOW ! I ,just like the NIV totally missed this one. :-(
Great and powerful article Pam.
It is amazing how maturity( which can’t be rushed) Gives us much better perspective.
From my vantage point now and knowing His Eternal purpose and who I am in that purpose I see that it was much easier to pick up my sword and rush headlong into battle for the Lord as an individual ( Male machismo and bravado) and swing away at all the windmills I could find, beating the air.
But now seeing things with slightly more mature eyes and seeing this battle as Spiritual I see I must die …….and be vulnerable and stretch my arms out as He did and take the sword and be cleaved opened to an intimacy that is scary for an ego driven man.This battle isn’t an” I ” proposition either. He and His pursuit of us and The WE that we are encourages me to fiercely pursue the Lover of our souls in a way that will risk ALL.
Raise the banners …Lets go !

Another word like virtuous that pours wrong meaning into it is MEEK being a humble, teachable empty handed warrior takes much more courage than fighting a physical battle in a realm that isn’t even real.

:-O Lord help us !

By: jimpuntney

jimpuntney — Fri, 04 Oct 2013 03:26:15 +0000

The Bride has been given keys for the Bridegrooms Kingdom, as we better ‘see’ our role, we better ‘see’ how we are indeed like an advancing army. Our warfare is not with flesh and blood, but evil spirits influencing, and deterring the advancement of this Intimate Kingdom. The forces of evil will strive to thwart this advancement, but we rest in our Lover/Lord and He provides our strength. We must come together as His Body to better advance the beauty of His Kingdom.

Great post Pamela, very thought provoking.

By: Pamela

Pamela — Fri, 04 Oct 2013 00:27:28 +0000

I appreciate your thoughts, Paul, including the insights into the gender issue. Not understanding this would contribute to missing the point of this book. Bless you and thank you!

By: Paul Rodgers

Paul Rodgers — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 22:47:09 +0000

This is very good, Pam. There are many ‘churches’ today, “wandering, not marching, and as children, they (are) being taken care of and handed their manna bread…”. The article you shared did bring to light other means of oppression that the traditional church uses to keep themselves in control and thus, Spiritually immature.
In keeping with your silver thread, a deeper intimacy in the body of Christ will begin to flourish as God continues to expose man’s religion for what it is and reveals the Bridegroom more thoroughly through the participation of “foolish things”. According to today’s church, this foolishness would be women, and because church leaders remain adamant about restraining the their participation in the assembly, they will not experience this blessing. (Half the virgins suddenly realized they had no oil.) Those who are actively aware that there is no separation of men and women in the Spirit will be available to the Counselor within for the preparation of Jesus’ bride. It will happen through the “strong, mighty, and powerful” Proverbs 31 women of God: strong, mighty, and powerful because they have broken free from the chains of oppression, having first been deceived by tradition, and will embrace the full measure of their identity in Christ Jesus.
Right alongside them are the “bold and courageous” men of God: bold and courageous because they have humbled themselves before the Lord and released their own understanding about how church is supposed to function, having first been deceived by tradition. Men and women will finally become united in the Spirit, intimate beyond the mere physical function of Sex (the religious church) and become wholly consummated with the Bridegroom of their faith.
My wife and I have been straining forward on this path for several years now and our perseverance promises to yield nothing less than the fruit of intimacy!

By: Pamela

Pamela — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 18:48:59 +0000

In reply to Joe Simmons. Hi Joe. Your last comment especially jumps out to me.. about faith working by LOVE. What has been amazing me in studying the Song of Songs is seeing that this Bride three times is said to be 'terrible as an army with banners". In context of this book of course, which is about intimate relationship, it's enough to sit up and take notice, and wonder what connection there is then to spiritual warfare. :) It's giving me so much food for thought! As is your comment. Thank you!

By: Pamela

Pamela — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 18:20:40 +0000

In reply to Wayne O'Conner. Haven't read it, but perhaps someday :) No book is being planned, But thank you for your kindness, Wayne.