七月十八日

要歸本纛作末隊往前行。（民2：31）

發色列的軍兵往前行的時候，但營的人作殿軍。但人作末隊，但次序的前後有什麽關係呢？他們和前哨一樣的都屬一個隊伍；他們也跟著雲柱火柱走，他們也吃同樣的嗎哪，飲于同一個靈磐石，向著同一個目的地前進。

我的心哪！雖然你是最末、最小的，來，快樂吧！你得以在基督的軍隊中已够榮幸，你終必會到達先鋒所到達的地方。在職位和美名方面必定有人居末，耶穌有一些小工作也必定有人去作，那末爲什麽我不去作呢？在窮苦的鄉間，粗俗的農民當中；或者在卑陋的小巷，犯罪作惡的凡夫俗子之中，我也要工作，“要歸本纛作末隊往前行。”但人也居于一個很重要的地位。落後的人，他們要幫扶；遺失的東西，他們得拾取。激進的人或許能多跑一些新路，多學一些新道理，多領一些人歸主；但那些善于保守的人却能使教會持守固有的信仰，幷能挽回發軟弱的人。每一種地位都有它的職任，走在末後的神的兒女也能使全軍蒙福。殿軍處于一種很危險的地位。我們後面也有仇敵，正像我們前面一樣，仇敵不一定攻擊我們什麽地方。亞瑪力曾把居末隊的以色列人殺了一些。

有經驗的基督徒要多用他的兵器幫助那些可憐的、疑惑的、失望的、動搖的、在信心、知識和快樂上居末隊的人。不要撇下什麽人不被幫助，因此多受造就的聖徒應當在末隊高舉大纛。我的心哪！你今天當留心幫助那作末隊的人。

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.