Morning By Morning #200

The men assigned to the camp of Dan…
set out last, under their standards.

Numbers 2:31

From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

When the armies of Israel were on the march, “the camp of Dan” brought up the rear. Although their placement was the farthest back in the ranks, it made no difference, for they were just as much a part of Israel as were the tribes up front. They followed the same pillars of cloud and fire, ate the same manna, drank from the same spiritual rock, and journeyed to the same inheritance.

Thus, my heart, cheer up! Though I may be last and least, I am privileged to be in God’s army and am as nourished as those who lead the troop. After all, someone must be last in honor and esteem. Someone must do menial work for Jesus. Why shouldn’t I? Whether I serve in a poor country village among the uneducated lower class, or in a back street of the city among the vilest sinners, I will work on, “set[ting] out last, under [my] standards.”

The tribe of Dan actually occupied a very useful place. Stragglers from other tribes had to be helped along and lost possessions had to be gathered from the field. Those with fiery spirits may rush headlong over unexplored paths to learn more truth and win more souls for Jesus, while those with a more reserved spirit will still be well employed, reminding the church of her ancient doctrines and renewing those whose faith has faltered. Every position has its duties, and even the slower-moving children of God will discover their unique role is one that will be a profound blessing to the entire multitude.

The rear guard is a place of danger, for there are enemies behind us as well as ahead of us, and attacks may come from any direction. For example, Amalek attacked Israel and “smote the hindmost” (Deut. 25:18 KJV), killing some of them. The more experienced Christian can always find many ways to employ his weapons in helping the poor, doubting, depressed, and wavering souls who are hindmost in their faith, knowledge, and joy. They must not be left unaided; thus, it becomes the role of some of the more mature saints to carry the banners of the rear guard.

My soul, are you tenderly watching to help those who find themselves stationed at the rear today?

From the pen of Jim Reimann:

If you have been a believer for many years and are one of the “up-front” Christians, beware—“Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought” (Rom. 12:3). Remember,

God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be…Those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor…God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it…that its parts should have equal concern for each other.

1 Corinthians 12:18, 22 – 25

And,

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

Romans 12:4 – 5