Today, we see flags and banners used during praise and worship in churches, conferences, and even in mission fields. They serve as a powerful visual expression of worship and a bold declaration of the power and majesty of our God.
While they come in many shapes, colors, and designs, for simplicity, I’ll generalize them into two main styles:
1) Banner-Style Flags
These are usually rectangular or square cloths mounted on a long pole, lifted high above the worshipper’s head and waved side to side—almost like signaling or declaring a truth. They often carry elaborate designs or large printed text and are especially effective in visually proclaiming themes or Scriptures.
2) Prophetic Worship Flags (or Quill Flags)
These come in pairs and may be plain or adorned with symbolic, colorful designs. Cut in various shapes and attached to bendable rods (commonly called quills), they are twirled and waved gracefully, often during contemporary worship sessions.
How Are They Used?
As visual tools of communication in worship, we raise our flags as sons and daughters of the Most High God to declare spiritual truths to both the seen and unseen realms.
With our flags, we declare:
- All that He is—all His Names: YHWH Nissi, Jireh, Rapha, Sabaoth, Shalom, and more.
- His goodness, faithfulness, protection, truth, promises, power, and sovereignty over heaven and earth.
- His salvation and victory through Yeshua (Jesus in Hebrew)—over sin, death, and the power of evil.
- His Kingdom to come, and our anticipation of His future reign.
Just as flags have historically signified allegiance, our worship flags symbolize that we belong to the One True Living God. They rally the congregation into unity—to celebrate and give Him our highest praise. Through these acts, we welcome the King of Glory and invite the Spirit of God to move among us in healing, deliverance, and freedom.
Flags in the Bible
While the modern word flag is not directly mentioned in Scripture, related terms are found throughout the Bible: banners, standards, ensigns, signals, and poles. These terms—translated from Hebrew words like nes, degel, and dagal—refer to something conspicuous, high, and lifted up for a purpose.
“The LORD is My Banner”
The first mention of “banner” (nes) is in Exodus 17:15, where Moses built an altar and named it Jehovah Nissi—“The LORD is my banner.” This was after God intervened and gave Israel victory over the Amalekites, when Moses raised the rod of God in his hands. This name proclaims the Lord as our ultimate protector and defender.
His Banner Over Us is Love
This verse from Song of Songs 2:4—“...His banner (degel) over me was love”—reminds us that our banners also declare our King's deep love for His people.
Awesome as an Army with Banners
“Who is she who looks forth as the morning,
Fair as the moon, clear as the sun,
Awesome as an army with banners?”
— Song of Songs 6:10
“We will rejoice in your salvation,
And in the name of our God we will set up our banners!
May the LORD fulfill all your petitions.”
— Psalm 20:5
These Scriptures metaphorically depict the Church as a glorious army, boldly lifting banners for the LORD.
Whether we wave our flags privately in our homes, petitioning for a breakthrough, or corporately in a worship gathering, we step into the prophetic realm. We declare that our God is our Champion!
– Ann T
Click here to see the collection of flags available at Faithworks
References:
BibleHub – Standards and Banners
Strong’s Hebrew:
5251. נֵס (nes) – Banner, standard, ensign, signal
1714. דֶּגֶל (degel) – Banner, standard
1713. דָּגַל (dagal) – To look, behold, or to banner