Spurgeon: July AM
* 07/18/AM
"They shall go hindmost with their standards."
--Numbers 2:31
The camp of Dan brought up the rear when the armies of Israel
were on the march. The Danites occupied the hindmost place ,
but what mattered the position, since they were as truly part of
the host as were the foremost tribes; they followed the same
fiery cloudy pillar, they ate of the same manna, drank of the
same spiritual rock, and journeyed to the same inheritance.
Come, my heart, cheer up, though last and least; it is thy
privilege to be in the army, and to fare as they fare who lead
the van. Some one must be hindmost in honour and esteem, some
one must do menial work for Jesus, and why should not I? In a
poor village, among an ignorant peasantry; or in a back street,
among degraded sinners, I will work on, and "go hindmost with my
standard."
The Danites occupied a very useful place . Stragglers have
to be picked up upon the march, and lost property has to be
gathered from the field. Fiery spirits may dash forward over
untrodden paths to learn fresh truth, and win more souls to
Jesus; but some of a more conservative spirit may be well
engaged in reminding the church of her ancient faith, and
restoring her fainting sons. Every position has its duties, and
the slowly moving children of God will find their peculiar state
one in which they may be eminently a blessing to the whole host.
The rear guard is a place of danger . There are foes behind
us as well as before us. Attacks may come from any quarter. We
read that Amalek fell upon Israel, and slew some of the hindmost
of them. The experienced Christian will find much work for his
weapons in aiding those poor doubting, desponding, wavering,
souls, who are hindmost in faith, knowledge, and joy. These must
not be left unaided, and therefore be it the business of
well-taught saints to bear their standards among the hindmost.
My soul, do thou tenderly watch to help the hindmost this day.