Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father’s house: far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch.
The terms standard and ensign are similar but arrive at their meanings from two very different paths.
One is individual and the other community
A man was to have his own standard but his father’s house’s ensign. We have an individual responsibility to walk with God, but we are to do it in an organized body of believers.
Both terms refer to an identifying banner or mark
I am free to worship God according to the dictates of my own conscience and I am to do so with others of like faith and practice. There might be, likely will be, bodies of believers that are very similar. I am not to carry their standard, but that of the church God has united me to.
The term standard is military in origin. I ensign is agricultural
I am a soldier of the cross. I am also to sow, water, and reap the fields of our Lord. As a soldier, I defend the doctrines handed down to me. As a husbandman, I labor to bring fruit for my Saviour.
To my readers:
First of all, thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. Secondly, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.
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