WHO HAS GOT YOUR BACK?
Isaiah 52:12
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 church has its infallible guide - PROVISION, “For the Lord will go before you." See Psalm 23:5. He who goes before, like a shepherd before the flock, providing pasture for them. The Lord shall go before you. He is out front of us. He is at the point leading the way.
Jonathan, my son in Iraq leads— he is at the point. He told me he likes this cause 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.
However, the church also facing danger behind; enemies may attack her in her hinder part, "and the God of Israel shall be her rereward." - invincible guard - PROTECTION.
“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.
GOT YOUR BACK
I am a caring mother.
My son has gone to war.
My mind is filled with worries
that I have never known before.
Each day I try to keep my thoughts
from turning dreadfully black.
I may be scared, but I am proud.
My son has got your back.
I am a strong and loving wife,
with a husband soon to go.
There are times I’m terrified
in a way most never know.
I bite my lip and force a smile
as I watch my husband pack.
My heart may break, but I am proud.
My husband’s got your back.
I am a small and precious child.
My Dad’s been sent to fight.
The only place I’ll see his face,
is in my dreams at night.
He will be gone too many days
for my young mind to track.
I may be sad, but I am proud.
My daddy’s got your back.
I am a U.S. soldier.
Serving proudly, standing tall.
I fight for freedom, yours and mine
by answering this call.
I do my job while knowing,
the thanks it sometimes lacks.
Say a prayer that I’ll come home.
It’s me who has got your back.
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 (Deut 25:17-18). 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.
With this in mind, our text states, "the God of Israel will be your rereward," or rear guard.
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!
I. He SHIELDS (shelters) From Hidden Danger
He protects from attacks in the rear. He is watching our back.
Onward Christian Soldiers we are to march, but who is watching our back.
See Exodus 14:13-20.
Simply put rear guard covers the rear. You trust
them not to let anyone sneak up on you from the rear.
II. He SUPPORTS In Times of Defeat
He supports us when we are defeated Paul (2 Timothy 4:9-17).
III. 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!
See II Corinthians 12:9.
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.
IV. He SUSTAINS (restores) When We Are Weary.
He restores weary front-line troops (Psalm 23:3; Isaiah 41:10)
The best of us must admit there are times when our pace is too slow, and we have become "tired and weary." How is it that the devil did not overcome you in such times? What enabled you to recover and be strong again? It was the "rereward," the "rear guard" that kept you safe from the enemy.
A. Consistently following us
How long will "goodness and mercy" follow us? They will follow us all the days of our life! "All the days" speak of all the kind of days that will come.
How variable are the days - days of sunshine or days or shadows. Yet, it matters not if there are Spring, Summer, Autumn, or Winter days, God will be following us. What do the days ahead have in store for us? That we do not know, but there will never come a day throughout all the future in impart we shall not have God watching our rear.
B. Persistently Following Us
V. 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?
