七月十八日
要归本纛作末队往前行。（民2：31）
发色列的军兵往前行的时候，但营的人作殿军。但人作末队，但次序的前后有什麽关系呢？他们和前哨一样的都属一个队伍；他们也跟着云柱火柱走，他们也吃同样的吗哪，饮于同一个灵磐石，向着同一个目的地前进。
我的心哪！虽然你是最末、最小的，来，快乐吧！你得以在基督的军队中已够荣幸，你终必会到达先锋所到达的地方。在职位和美名方面必定有人居末，耶稣有一些小工作也必定有人去作，那末爲什麽我不去作呢？在穷苦的乡间，粗俗的农民当中；或者在卑陋的小巷，犯罪作恶的凡夫俗子之中，我也要工作，“要归本纛作末队往前行。”但人也居于一个很重要的地位。落后的人，他们要帮扶；遗失的东西，他们得拾取。激进的人或许能多跑一些新路，多学一些新道理，多领一些人归主；但那些善于保守的人却能使教会持守固有的信仰，幷能挽回发软弱的人。每一种地位都有它的职任，走在末后的神的儿女也能使全军蒙福。殿军处于一种很危险的地位。我们后面也有仇敌，正像我们前面一样，仇敌不一定攻击我们什麽地方。亚玛力曾把居末队的以色列人杀了一些。
有经验的基督徒要多用他的兵器帮助那些可怜的、疑惑的、失望的、动摇的、在信心、知识和快乐上居末队的人。不要撇下什麽人不被帮助，因此多受造就的圣徒应当在末队高举大纛。我的心哪！你今天当留心帮助那作末队的人。
July 18
“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.
