His Banner Over You Is Love

Our anchor Scripture this morning is from the Song of Solomon:

"He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love."—Song of Solomon 2:4 (KJV)

This verse immediately brings to mind a picture of abundance—a feast with every good thing set before us. Think of your favourite banquet, where there is more than enough for everyone to enjoy.

God says He has brought us to such a place—a place of provision, blessing, and enjoyment.

Then comes the beautiful declaration:

"His banner over me was love."

Picture a banner stretched over your head that says, "I love this woman. I love this man. I love this child," as you enjoy the feast.

Everything beneath that banner is covered by His love. Every provision, every act of care, every protection, every answered prayer, and every quiet mercy flows from His love for us.

For this, we must thank Him.

At Sunday school, we sang a song that still makes me smile today.

The song said that if my whole body were made of nothing but mouths, they still would not be enough to praise God.

As a child, I thought that was hilarious—a body made entirely of mouths! Even in the era of AI, it is difficult to imagine.

But as an adult, I understand exactly what the songwriter was trying to say.

No matter how much we thank God, it is never enough for all He has done.

David captures that same thought when he writes:

"Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation."—Psalm 68:19 (KJV)

Notice David's words: He daily loads us with benefits.

A load suggests abundance—the same kind of banquet abundance we saw earlier.

Every single day God surrounds us with countless expressions of His goodness, care, provision, and protection.

As I reflected on this verse, I began to ask myself, What are these daily benefits?

Some are obvious because we prayed for them or longed for them.

A sick child becomes well.

A child comes home with a good report from school.

A friend recovers from a sickness.

Money unexpectedly comes our way.

A prayer is answered.

A new job.

A promotion.

Good news.

These are wonderful blessings.

But what about the benefits we never even notice?

The ones quietly happening while we go about our day.

The ones we have come to call "normal."

And the ones God lovingly keeps from us altogether, so that we never even know they were there.

Come with me. Let's look at some of these hidden benefits.

• Did you wake up this morning?

  
  

• Did your heart beat faithfully while you slept?

  
  

• Can you breathe without difficulty?

  
  

• Can you get out of bed and walk?

  
  

• Can you eat and drink without difficulty?

  
  

• Were you able to use the toilet without difficulty today?

  
  

• Did you arrive safely where you needed to go today?

  
  

• Have you been spared a trip to the hospital today?

  
  

• Do you have a roof over your head?

  
  

• Is there food waiting for you today?

  
  

• Can you still see the beauty around you and hear the birds sing?

  
  

• Did someone smile at you today?

  
  

• Did you speak with someone you love?

  
  

• Are your children safely home?

  
  

• Is there a bed waiting for you tonight?

  
  

If your answer to these questions is yes, then you have indeed been loaded with benefits.

Perhaps the songwriter knew exactly what he was talking about.

One mouth is not enough.

Even if our whole bodies were made of mouths, they still would not be enough to thank God for everything He has done—including the things He quietly protected us from and the countless mercies we never even noticed.

So let this Friday bring joy and laughter to your heart, for His banner over you is love.

Like David, remind yourself of the load of benefits God has given you.

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits."—Psalm 103:2 (KJV)

Count every blessing His love has brought into your life—His protection, His care, His provision, and His shielding from troubles seen and unseen.

Count the blessings you can see.

Count the worries that never became reality.

Count the ordinary gifts you have come to take for granted.

Remember His benefits.

And as the old hymn says, count them one by one.

I hope you are surprised by how long your list becomes.

Reflection'

As you go about your day, pause and thank the God who does wonders beyond what you can see.

Ask yourself:

• What are the benefits God has given me today?

  
  

• Which blessings have I stopped noticing because they have become ordinary?

  
  

• How can I make it a daily practice to thank God for the gifts He so lovingly provides?

  
  

May your heart rejoice today, knowing that His banner over you is love.

Happy Friday