Morning “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.

 

Evening “Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path.” / Joel 2:8

 Locusts always keep their rank, and although their number is legion, they do

not crowd upon each other, so as to throw their columns into confusion. This

remarkable fact in natural history shows how thoroughly the Lord has infused

the spirit of order into his universe, since the smallest animate creatures

are as much controlled by it as are the rolling spheres or the seraphic

messengers. It would be wise for believers to be ruled by the same influence

in all their spiritual life. In their Christian graces no one virtue should

usurp the sphere of another, or eat out the vitals of the rest for its own

support. Affection must not smother honesty, courage must not elbow weakness

out of the field, modesty must not jostle energy, and patience must not

slaughter resolution. So also with our duties, one must not interfere with

another; public usefulness must not injure private piety; church work must not

push family worship into a corner. It is ill to offer God one duty stained

with the blood of another. Each thing is beautiful in its season, but not

otherwise. It was to the Pharisee that Jesus said, “This ought ye to have

done, and not to have left the other undone.” The same rule applies to our

personal position, we must take care to know our place, take it, and keep to

it. We must minister as the Spirit has given us ability, and not intrude upon

our fellow servant’s domain. Our Lord Jesus taught us not to covet the high

places, but to be willing to be the least among the brethren. Far from us be

an envious, ambitious spirit, let us feel the force of the Master’s command,

and do as he bids us, keeping rank with the rest of the host. To-night let us

see whether we are keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace, and

let our prayer be that, in all the churches of the Lord Jesus, peace and order

may prevail.