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.
Charles Spurgeon
Wings of the Wind 
This is a beautiful thought today. Thank you for sharing Chris. It’s true… the Lord needs His people everywhere.
You’re welcome, Elizabeth, and I’m glad this was meaningful to you. I felt the same way when I read it. The Lord certain does need His people everywhere.
Thanks, Chris, for this wise and inspirational passage from Spurgeon. Every believer has a valuable duty and purpose in the journey to our heavenly home.
You’re welcome, Tom, and thank you for this comment. As you stated, God has given each of us a purpose. God’s definition of importance is different than many humans understand it:
“So the last shall be first, and the first last…”
I love this! It’s so true, Chris. Thank you for sharing. Very encouraging.
I’m glad you this encouraged you Cathy. Thank you for your kind comment and I hope you have a great weekend!
Amen 🙏 God’s kingdom is not built on prominence but on faithfulness.
That is so true, Willie. Thank you for your comment and I hope you have a great weekend!
So interesting! (feel a bit bad for life’s stragglers (as one of them!) we should always pause to pick them up!!) Thanks for sharing, Linda 🙂
You’re welcome, Linda. We should, indeed, always pause to pick them up. There is always a huge need for people to take on the roll that this particular tribe performed. I appreciate your comment and I hope you have a great day!😊
Thank you! keep smiling my friend! 🙂
You’re welcome!😊
What a beautiful and deeply encouraging devotional reflection! 🙏📖
I was especially moved by its central message—that every place in God’s service has equal value. Whether we lead from the front or quietly serve from the rear, we all follow the same Lord, receive the same grace, and journey toward the same eternal hope. That is both humbling and comforting.
The image of the rear guard caring for the weary, the doubting, and those who have fallen behind is especially powerful. It reminds us that true Christian leadership is not only about advancing boldly but also about lifting others with patience, compassion, and steadfast faith.
I’m glad this encouraged you as it did me, Vijay! You have written an excellent summary of it here and your point about equal value is a primary theme.
Charles Spurgeon had a way with words as do you, Vijay. I liked all of your comment but this stood out to me:
“It reminds us that true Christian leadership is not only about advancing boldly but also about lifting others with patience, compassion, and steadfast faith.”
In my studies, I find that Jesus continually displays examples of these things you have mentioned. His Sermon on the Mount is another expression of these traits.
Thank you for this reply. I hope you have a wonderful day!
This is a great and very insightful post Chris, thank you for sharing 🙏
You’re welcome, Irene, and thank you for your kind words and for sharing your thoughts. 🙏
This is great, Chris. Reminds me of how the body of Christ has members ( when Paul compared Christ’s body to actual body parts) that seem insignificant. But are actually just, if not more, valuable. Thanks
You’re welcome, Sue, and thank you for your comment. Mr. Spurgeon has done it again. He takes this historic information and sees a broader picture than most would. Now that you mention it, it is very much like the way the body parts are all described as connected together, each with its own responsibilities and blessings.
Thank you for stopping by Sue and I hope you have a great day!
“But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.”
1 Corinthians 12:24b,25
Yes!
😊
Thank you for sharing this, Chris. What especially stayed with me was that Spurgeon gives this work to the “experienced Christian” and the “well-taught saints.” Maturity is not shown only by how far someone has advanced, but sometimes by the willingness to carry the standard back among the doubting, desponding, and wavering.
That standard seems important too. It tells those at the rear that they have not been abandoned and still belong to the same host, following the same pillar toward the same inheritance. There is something deeply Christlike in using strength not to gain a more honored position, but to remain visible beside those who are struggling to continue.