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ORIGINAL: Bluethread

It appears to me that the standards and banners were created in the wilderness so that everybody would know where they were to be. As anyone who has gone on a camping trip with a large group of people knows, these things are very helpful if not necessary.

A banner then came to represent a community and ones community provides protection. I believes this is why the Psalms to us that Adonai and His love for us are our banner. We are not to gain our security from our community or peers exept as they follow Adonai's ways. Also a banner informs others of the identiy of the community. The Scriptures appear also to tell us that it is Adonai's ways that serve as a banner to the nations. In otherwords, if we are following Adonai's ways we need no banner. If not a banner would be deceptive and therefore violate the ninth commandment.

So, I am a bit undecided regarding banners. If they serve as rallying points or directions, then I guess that they are acceptable. However, if they are meant to reassure us or identify us, I think they could be idols. I say this because, as pointed out above, Adonai and His ways are to reassure and dentify us.