Message Notes: October 30, 2011 PM
On the outskirts of town, there was a big old pecan tree by the cemetery fence. One day two boys filled up a bucketful of nuts and sat down by the tree, out of sight, and began dividing the nuts. "One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me," said one boy. Several were dropped and rolled down toward the fence.
Another boy came riding along the road on his bicycle. As he passed, he thought he heard voices from inside the cemetery. He slowed down to investigate. Sure enough, he heard, "One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me." He just knew what it was. "Oh my," he shuddered, "it's Satan and St. Peter dividing the souls at the cemetery. He jumped back on his bike and rode off. Just around the bend he met an old man with a cane, hobbling along. "Come here quick," said the boy, "you won't believe what I heard. Satan and St. Peter are down at the cemetery dividing up the souls." The man said, "Beat it, kid, can't you see it's hard for me to walk." When the boy insisted, though, the man hobbled to the cemetery.
Standing by the fence they heard, "One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me..." The old man whispered, "Boy, you've been tellin' the truth. Let's see if we can see the devil himself." Shaking with fear, they peered through the fence, yet were still unable to see anything. The old man and the boy gripped the wrought iron bars of the fence tighter and tighter as they tried to get a glimpse of Satan. At last they heard, "One for you, one for me. And one last one for you. That's all. Now let's go get those nuts by the fence, and we'll be done."
"The Vanguard and the Rear Guard"
Isaiah 52:12 "For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward.
I. The Vanguard -- "...for the LORD will go before you..."
The Church of Christ is continually represented under the figure of an army. How comforting is this text to the believer who recognizes himself as a soldier and the whole church as an army! The Lord shall go before you. He is out front of us. He is at the point leading the way.
He gets there first. God has already seen your trials and troubles for the next year. The Lord Jehovah has gone before you. He has already been to where you are going. He gets there first.
a. We have an infallible guide
Our guide is unerring and never gets lost or turned around or confused!
In shady, green pastures, so rich and so sweet,
God leads His dear children along;
Where the water's cool flow bathes the weary one's feet,
God leads His dear children along.
Sometimes on the mount where the sun shines so bright,
God leads His dear children along;
Sometimes in the valley, in darkest of night,
God leads His dear children along.
Though sorrows befall us and evils oppose,
God leads His dear children along;
Through grace we can conquer, defeat all our foes,
God leads His dear children along.
Away from the mire, and away from the clay,
God leads His dear children along;
Away up in glory, eternity's day,
God leads His dear children along.
Refrain:
Some through the waters, some through the flood,
Some through the fire, but all through the blood;
Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song,
In the night season and all the day long.
b. We have an inscrutable guide
Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
We don't have to know the way because He does! We may not understand the way He is leading us but He does!
c. We have an immutable guide
Our guide is unchangeable, unshakable, unstoppable, unflappable; He never ever fails!
II. The Rear Guard - "...and the God of Israel will be your rereward."
The concept of a "rear guard" was important to the
Israelites. There were soldiers who went before the people, assuring no enemies were waiting ahead. There were also soldiers who followed them, ensuring no enemy could come up on them unawares. The need of a "rear guard" is seen in treachery of the Amalekites, who followed the Israelites in their flight from Egypt.
Deuteronomy 25:17 Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt;
Deuteronomy 25:18 How he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary; and he feared not God."
These treacherous and crafty people took advantage of those who did not keep up with the ranks. Some of them were tired and weary, and could not keep up with the footmen. For this reason, they fell prey to the Amalekites.
The church also facing danger behind; enemies may attack her in her hinder part, "and the God of Israel shall be her rereward." "Rereward" is another spelling for rearward and is related to rear guard. It is found six times in scripture: Numbers 10:25; Joshua 6:9, 13; 1Samuel 29:2; Isaiah 52:12, 58:8. The rereward acts both as a rear guard and as reserve forces. Rereward means to "gather up," that is, to bring up the rear.
We are in a warfare (Ephesians 6). However, we rest assured that the Lord is our rereward. God has your back. Thus, the very graphic image is presented of the people of God sandwiched between Divine provision before and Divine protection behind. He follows behind us to guard us from crafty foes.
The truth of this situation is proclaimed many different ways in Scripture. Jesus is the "author and finisher" of our faith (Heb 12:2). The term "beginning and the end" conveys the same meaning (Rev 21:6). It is also seen in the expression, "the first and the last" (Rev 1:17). He is before us and behind us--leading us and following us.
One of the grand articulations of the truth of the "rereward" is found in the 23rd Psalm. "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever" (v 6). Believe it we have someone covering our back!
a. He is our shield when we are being attacked
Exodus 14:13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
Exodus 14:14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
Exodus 14:15 And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:
Exodus 14:16 But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.
Exodus 14:17 And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
Exodus 14:18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
Exodus 14:19 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
Exodus 14:20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.
b. He is our support when we are discouraged
2 Timothy 4:9 Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:
2 Timothy 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
2 Timothy 4:11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
2 Timothy 4:12 And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.
2 Timothy 4:13 The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.
2 Timothy 4:14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:
2 Timothy 4:15 Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.
2 Timothy 4:16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
2 Timothy 4:17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
c. He is our strength when we are weak
He STRENGTHENS At Our Points of Weakness
He plugs up holes in the line. He send us reinforcements when we need it. Oftentimes someone comes along to encourage us. Do you know who sent them? It was the rear guard!
2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
H.A. Ironside told the story of a poor, dear lady who lived by herself. She was possessed with the fear that two men were following her everywhere she went. She came to see her pastor about it: "Pastor, I have a very serious problem." "What is it?" he asked. She said, "Everywhere I go, two men follow me. When I get on the streetcar, they get on too. When I come home, they are still behind me." The pastor asked if she had reported the problem to the police. "Yes," she said. "But they say they are not there. But I know they are there. They are always there." The pastor, realizing the situation, said to her, "Oh, you are a most blessed woman. Don't you know who these men are?" She said, "No. Do you?" "Oh yes. They are David's friends."
He then read to her from Psalm 23 the words, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life." Then he said, "Those two men are goodness and mercy. And God has sent them to follow you all the days of your life." She said, "Pastor, that's wonderful. And to think all this time, I've been afraid of them." From that time on, she would go to the streetcar and wait for goodness and mercy to get on with her. When she would get home, she'd open the door for "goodness and mercy."
When we look behind us we need to recognize that heaven's sheepdogs, "goodness and mercy" are protecting us every day of our life.
d. He alone supplies our victory
He SUPPLIES ALONE the Victory. He alone turns the battle. We do not fight for the victory but from the victory. It is He that gives a push in the heat of the battle.
(Romans 8:31; 2 Corinthians 2:14).
Conclusion:
When Napoleon retreated from Russia, he left the rear guard action in the hands of Marshal Ray. Months passed; the army had all arrived safely in Paris. The battle was over. In the officer's club one night, some were wondering what had happened to the rear guard. One said they were probably wiped out completely. At that moment the door opened and into the room stepped a gaunt, haggard man. Staring blankly from sunken eyes and wearing the tattered uniform of a French general, he just stood there. "Who are you?" one of the officers finally asked. "I am Marshal Ray."
The officers gasped, stood at once and saluted. Then one man ventured the question, "Marshal, where is the rear guard?"
The Marshal dropped his head as he answered, "I am the rear guard. There are no others."
As Christians we look at the cross and see Jesus Christ. He is our rear guard-there are no others!
The Lord is your rereward. God has got your back?
