When entering a tourney or jousting contest, a knight would often approach a fair maiden sitting in the crowd and ask to fight in her honor. The maiden would tie a token of her favor onto the knight’s lance, typically a ribbon, scarf, or one of her false sleeves (sometimes a brasserie or undergarment). The lady would use her family colors or embroider her own special wording or symbol of her devotion. The knight would tuck the token someplace safe, usually under his breastplate near his heart, before lowering his lance and barreling forward on his steed to unseat his opponent and win the maiden’s approval.
A knight who fights for his lady’s honor becomes her champion. Many historical romances have used the trope of a knight in shining armor, and for me, it never gets old. However, during the Middle Ages, Anglo-Norman law stated that a fight of arms would establish guilt or innocence of a crime, and those who couldn’t fight for themselves, the lame, weak, infirmed, or the elderly, could name a champion to fight in their stead.
We, too, have a champion, and His record is undefeated. He walked into the arena and picked us out of the crowd. He chose us, even though we are sinful, weak, and broken, and He asked to carry our honor. Deuteronomy 20:4 states, “For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”
Jesus fought our battle and conquered death. He continues to wage a spiritual war against our enemies and will soon return in His glory to finish them off. All we must do is ask Him to be our champion—allow Him into our hearts to fight for us.
We show Him a token of our favor, not by ribbons, scarves, or offerings, but by our faith. We may be the underdog, but because God champions us, we can stand tall and face our giants, knowing victory is the Lord’s.
“They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 1:19.
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