Countdown to Sunday

Numbers 2:31 "So the total of all the troops on Dan's side of the camp is 157,600. These three tribes will be last, marching under their banners whenever the Israelites travel." NLT

"They shall go hindmost with their standards." KJV

The camp of Dan brought up the rear when the armies of Israel were on the march. The Danites occupied the last place. 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.

Someone must be last. Someone must do the cleanup. Someone in honour and esteem, must do menial work for Jesus, and why should that not be you and I? Whether its in a poor village, among an ignorant, poor, or diseased; or in a back street, among degraded sinners, God calls us as His followers to work on, and "go hindmost with my standard."[KJV]

The Danites position in the march was a very valuable one. Stragglers had to be picked up upon the march, and lost property has to be gathered from the field. Fiery, zealous soldiers may preach fresh and powerful truth and win more souls to Christ; but the quiet and the more conservative believers remind the church of her ancient faith, and restoring the weak and the backslidden. Every position in the army has its effective and important duties, and the slowly moving ones are a great blessing to the whole.

The rear guard is a place of danger. There are enemies behind us as well as before us. Attacks may come from any place. We read that Amalek fell upon Israel, and slew some of the back (hindmost)of the march. The experienced Christian will find much work for his weapons in aiding those poor doubting, desponding, wavering, souls, who are lacking in faith, knowledge, and joy. These must not be neglected, and therefore be it the business of veteran believers to bear their standards among those in the "hindmost."

"My soul, do thou tenderly watch to help the hindmost this day."

Have a great weekend!

-Pastor