When the ark set forward. .. and when it rested.
The march:--
I. This has been the watchword of the church of God in all ages. The people of God in the wilderness were the picture of God’s Church upon earth. We are strangers and foreigners upon the earth. Albeit that they had no habitation except their tents, yet it is true of Israel in the wilderness that they always had an habitation. Do you not remember the song of Moses:--“Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling-place in all generations.” Wherever they were, God was their dwelling-place. This, too, is true of the entire Church; always wandering, yet never far from home; unhoused, yet always in palaces; sometimes destitute, afflicted, tormented, and yet always clothed, always rich, always feasting to the full; deserted, yet not alone; forsaken, yet multiplied; left, yet still abiding with Him that filleth all in all We might carry the parallel out still further, but it is enough to remark that, in another point, the people of God in the wilderness were the picture of the Church of Christ. Wherever they marched, when God went before them, they marched to victory. Even so hath it been with the Church of God in all ages; her march has been that of one who is fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners. Let but her silvery trumpet sound, and the echo shakes the vaults of hell. Let but her warriors unsheath their sword, and their enemies fly before them like the thin clouds before a Biscay gale. Her path is the pathway of a conqueror: her march has been a procession of triumph. Wherever she hath put her foot, the Lord hath given her that land to be her heritage for ever. Now, let me show how this war-cry has really been heard of God and has been fulfilled to all His people. Turn ye to this book, this book of the wars of the Lord. Wherever His Church has gone and He has risen up, have not His enemies been scattered? Methinks, in a spiritual sense, when Luther first bowed his knee, the Church began to chant, “Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered.” When Knox in Scotland upheld the glory of Jesus’ name, was it not once again, “O God arise, let them that hate Thee flee before Thee”? When Whitefield and Wesley, seraphic evangelists of Jesus Christ, went through this land, was not this the very song of Israel, “O God, arise, and let Thine enemies be scattered”? And shall it not be ours to-day? Let but God go forth with our arms; let Him but speak through our ministers; let Him but dwell in our elders; let Him but make the bodies of our Church-members His temples, and His enemies must be scattered, and they must consume away. I can well conceive that such a prayer as this well befits the tongue of a minister who lands as the first herald of the Cross in some barbarian land. Those brave men who risk all for Christ, not counting their lives dear unto them that they might finish their course with joy--methinks when they as pioneers for Christ bear the ark in the midst of the wilderness, they could not breathe a better prayer for themselves, and you and I cannot do better than put it up for them now, “Rise up, Lord, and let Thine enemies be scattered; let them that hate Thee flee before Thee.”
II. Now take the text in its reference to Christ. Ah! methinks the sorrowing Church, when they beheld their Lord dragged by cruel men to judgment, when they heard Him accused and slandered, when they saw Him mocked and spit upon, must have considered the battle to be a defeat. The tears must have stood in their eyes when they saw that He who was to be the Deliverer of Israel could not deliver Himself. Was it not the day of bell’s triumph, the hour of earth’s despair, the moment of heaven’s defeat? No; it was the reverse of all this. That moment when Christ died, He gave the death-blow to all His enemies. Even when the Master was laid in the tomb, and had to sleep there His three days as Jonah in the whale’s belly, if the Church had had faith, they might have come early on the dawn of the first day in the week, and standing outside the tomb, they might have begun to sing, “Rise up, Lord, and let Thine enemies be scattered, and let them that hate Thee flee before Thee.”
III. What message has this text for us, and how may we use it? “Rise up, Lord! O God the Father, rise up! Let Thy purposes be accomplished! O God the Son, rise up; show Thy wounds, and plead before Thy Father’s face, and let Thy blood-bought ones be saved! Rise up, O God the Holy Ghost, with solemn awe, we do invoke Thee! Let those that have resisted Thee give way I Come, Thou, melt Thou the ice; dissolve the granite; let the adamantine heart give way; cut Thou the iron sinew and bow Thou the stiff neck! Rise up, Lord, Father, Son, and Spirit, we can do nothing without Thee; but if Thou wilt arise, Thine enemies shall be scattered, and they that hate Thee shall flee before Thee.” Will you and I go home and pray this prayer by ourselves, fervently laying hold upon the horns of God’s altar? I charge you do not neglect this private duty. Pray for your children, your neighbours, your families, and your friends, and let your prayer be--”Rise up, Lord; rise up, Lord.” Pray for this neighbourhood; pray for the dense darkness of Southwark, and Walworth, and Lambeth. And oh! if you cannot pray for others because your own needs come so strongly before your mind, remember, sinner, all thou needest is by faith to look to Christ, and then thou mayest say, “Rise up, Lord; scatter my doubts; kill my unbelief; drown my sins in Thy blood; let these Thine enemies be scattered; let them that hate Thee flee before Thee.” (C. H. Spurgeon.)
The Church in motion and at rest
I. The church in motion, the Church militant.
1. This camp composed of Israel, is distinguished from the enemies around it. Though we are in the world, we are not to be of the world; though we are surrounded with Anakims and Canaanites, we are still to maintain the purity of the visible Israel of God, our being upon the march is a circumstance calculated to hinder the ungodly from joining us to a great degree.
2. It is marching through a wilderness of woe to a land of promise. Is their way long? Is their journey weary? Are their trials great? Are their enemies numerous? Do they often halt, and think they are upon the verge of Canaan, and that the next mandate of their Sovereign will be to enter in; and are they disappointed by finding that there are many other halting places, and many a weary journey lying between them and the Canaan of their rest? Yet are they moving toward it--at last the command will be heard by this individual, and the other tribe, to cease their wanderings, and to enter into glorious and eternal rest.
3. It is under the guidance of the Mediator. It is certainly not worse off now than it was then. Christ is our Guide.
4. When His Church moves forward, God rises up on its behalf. Every progressive movement of the Church of Christ, as well as of the individuals who compose it, is, in fact, directed and dictated by the Spirit of God.
5. The movement of the Church ought to be always, and upon the whole, progressive.
6. This progress will and must be attended with the defeat of the Church’s enemies. We can win no ground except we win it from the foe; we cannot advance a single footstep in our onward journey except as we beat our enemies back.
7. The Church’s triumphant march shall end in the complete destruction of all the enemies of God.
II. The church at rest. We have seen it moving forward to that rest, and we have noticed that it sometimes enjoys temporary seasons of refreshment by the way, in different halting-places as it passes through the wilderness; and experiences the Divine protection and direction. But this rest is only tasted here below, and the foretaste of it is but designed to quicken the appetite of the people of God for their rest in glory.
1. As one feature of that rest, we observe, that there the true Israel shall be recognised, and the words shall be heard circulating through the happy host, “Return, O Lord, unto the many thousands of Israel.” There, notwithstanding their multitudes, not one intruder shall be found to have entered in; there nothing shall enter that will destroy or that will even disturb in all God’s holy mountain. However the mixed multitude may accompany us by the way, there must be a separation at the Jordan of death.
2. At that glorious period the Israel of God shall consist of thousands and thousands.
3. They shall then have triumphed gloriously. Enemies no more shall trouble them; the sound of war shall be a sound unheard; there shall be no more conflict with temptation, no more struggles with indwelling sin. Oh, to think of Canaan’s rest only in this point of view! Believer, what a happy, what a heavenly rest it will be! (W. H. Cooper.)
Moses’ prayer
Moses, the mouth of the congregation, lifts up a prayer, both at the removing and at the resting of the ark. Thus their going out and coming in were sanctified by prayer; and it is an example to us to begin and end every day’s journey, and every day’s work with prayer.
1. Here is his prayer when the ark set forward: “Rise up, Lord, and let Thine enemies be scattered” (Numbers 10:35). They were now in a desolate country, but they were marching towards an enemy’s country; and their dependence was upon God for success and victory in their wars, as well as for directions and supply in the wilderness. David used this prayer long after (Psalms 68:1); for he also fought the Lord’s battles. Note--
(1) There are those in the world that are enemies to God, and haters of Him. Secret and open enemies; enemies to His truths, His laws, His ordinances, His people.
(2) The scattering and defeating of God’s enemies is a thing to be earnestly desired and believingly expected by all the Lord’s people. This prayer is a prophecy. Those that persist in rebellion against God are hastening towards their own ruin.
(3) For the scattering and defeating of God’s enemies, there needs no more but God’s arising. When God arose to judgment, the work was soon done (Psalms 76:8-9). “Rise, Lord, as the sun riseth to scatter the shadows of the night.” Christ rising from the dead scattereth His enemies (Psalms 68:18).
2. His prayer when the ark rested (Numbers 10:36).
(1) That God would cause His people to rest. So some read it, “Return, O Lord, the many thousands of Israel; return them to their rest again after this fatigue.” Thus it is said, “The Spirit of the Lord caused him to rest “ (Isaiah 63:14). Thus he prays that God would give Israel success and victory abroad, and peace and tranquility at home.
(2) That God Himself would take up His rest among them. So we read it, “Return to the thousands of Israel”; the ten thousand thousand, so the word is. Note--
1. The Church of God is a great body; there are many thousands belonging to God’s Israel.
2. We ought in our prayers to concern ourselves for this body.
3. The welfare and happiness of the Israel of God consists in the remaining presence of God among them. (Matthew Henry, D. D.)
Protection and peace
There are here two prayers for different occasions: one for active life, the other for quiet rest. In both cases they are suitable and blessed.
I. We have God fighting our battles. His enemies are ours, and He will identify our struggles with His:
1. So far as we are going in the way of His commands.
2. So far as our actions are identified with His will. If we are fighting for our own will, our own ambition, our own ideas, we cannot say, “Scatter Thy enemies.”
II. We have God protecting our periods of rest.
1. “He slumbereth not nor sleepeth,” and “to Him the darkness is as the day.”
2. He never wearies nor is tired; hence there is nothing to hinder or prevent His constant care. (Homilist.)
The Church and its enemies
I. The church of God has had enemies in every age. This is accounted for by--
1. The favours they received. God has set His heart upon His people. This creates envy, which soon grows into opposition and mischief.
2. The principles they professed.
3. The expectations they cherished.
II. The enemies of the church are considered the enemies of God.
III. When God rises up to judgment, the destruction of his enemies is easy, terrible, and complete.
IV. The constant abode of God with his church is an object of their supreme desire,
1. Let us learn from this passage the condescension and grace of God, in that He will dwell with us.
2. Let each of us inquire whether we are amongst the many thousands of Israel.
3. What comfort should this give to the Church amidst her many trials.
4. This subject affords to the enemies of the Church a motive for seeking reconciliation with God. (G. Clayton, M. A.)
The true soldier’s convoy
I. God himself hath many enemies.
II. As God hath enemies, so sometimes he sleepeth to all their enmity.
III. Though God sleepeth and they work, yet there is a time when they shall be scattered; and when God ariseth they are scattered.
IV. Our prayers awaken God.
V. When the people of the land go forth to war, God’s people should go forth to prayer. (W. Budge, M. A.)
The rising and the resting prayer
I. The rising prayer. Here is confession, that Israel’s onward path was thronged with foes. It is so still, and so will always be. There is no hour when sword and shield may hang unused. Next Moses feels that his own might is nought; vain are his counsels, powerless is his arm. Therefore to God he flees. “Rise up, Lord.” So now, if God’s right hand be not our help the tide of foes must bear us down. But God is moved by importunities of faith. “Rise up, Lord,” is a cry which brings all heaven to aid. It puts sure victory on the wing. Observe here how the prayer of faith yearns for God’s glory. “Let Thine enemies be scattered.” These enemies hate God. They would impede the progress of His truth. They would extinguish His Word’s light. They would cast down His righteous rule. Can faith sit still and see Him thus dethroned? Oh, no! It agonises with desire that He would vindicate His holy cause uphold His honour, and add trophies to His name. “Rise up, Lord, and let them that hate Thee flee before Thee.”
II. The resting prayer. The going forts would have been ruin except the Lord moved in the front. The rest will be no rest unless the Lord return Prayer called Him to precede their steps. Prayer calls Him to abide around their resting teats. Vast was the multitude. But what are numbers without God? His presence is their power, their peace, their joy, their glory, their strength, their fortress, their shield, and their repose. They know it, and they cry, “Return, O Lord.” (Dean Law.)
Israel’s hymn of rest
I. As we meditate upon these words we are reminded generally of the exercises of evening devotion. We connect this sentence with every individual who formed a part of that mighty host: we fancy that we hear these words whispering from the lips of every one as he enters his tent, and as he folds himself for rest. And then we connect it with the families, the tribes of the people, the groups of kindred, remote and intimate, in that singularly constituted nation, which, you know, consisted of one race--all were brothers by blood. And we connect it, further, with the congregation at large--the sum total of that great multitude that was numbered in the registration, Israel’s Book of Life, as it was called. And so the sentence leads us to think of evening worship in three ways--in the closet, in the family, in the church.
II. We are led to penetrate into that which forms the meaning, and essence, and spirit of the exercises of praise and prayer, at eventide, and at all times. We are brought immediately by prayer into the presence of God; we come into immediate contact and communion with His gracious Spirit! “Rise up, O Lord; let Thine enemies be scattered.” There is significancy in that expression, “Rise up, O Lord!” And so there is in this other expression, equally figurative--“Return, O Lord.” “Rise up, O Lord!” “Return, O Lord.” Now, such expressions are properly explained as indicating, not an absolute fact in God’s dealings, but in the perception and apprehension of God by man: not a Divine dispensation, but a human consciousness. God did not leave Israel in the day’s march, no, not for an instant. We speak sometimes of the returning sunrise, and we speak sometimes of the returning sunset: but the fact is, that we return to them, and not they to us. The fact is, that it is the earth that is turning, and it is the sun that remains the same. And as it is with the sun, so it is with regard to God. Absolute change in us produces relative change in Him. As we cease to think of Him, apparently He leaves us; as we return to Him in thought, desire, and purpose, He seems to return to us in actual presence. The process is ever taking place in the history of spiritual consciousness. God and man meet when man prays to God as the day is over. God and His people hold communion as the shades of evening close in upon us at our evening devotions.
III. The text suggests to us the thought of the peacefulness, and the security, and the joy of those to whom god thus returns.
IV. We turn to this evening hymn again, and we observe that it is very large-hearted--it is thoroughly Catholic. Here Moses takes up into that great heart of his the interests of all Israel--“the many thousands of Israel.” Earnestly should we pray for ourselves, and with equal earnestness should we identify ourselves with the interests of others, and pray for them. An individual consciousness of moral individuality will be as a growing tree; it will be rooted in the heart, but up will it grow, and out will the branches shoot in this direction, and in that. The heart will be as a fountain, and there will come ever forth the bubbling waters, but they will flow, flow, flow, on and on, in irrigating streams, that will reach a thousand hearts. So let us throw thorough catholicity into our devotion.
V. Last of all, we think of this hymn as what may be called the evening hymn of life. The last night will come, and we shall lie down to sleep in the grave! and oh! how beautiful then to be able, by faith, to lift up our hearts to heaven and say, “Return, O Lord, return unto me! I will return unto Thee! At the end of my life-long journey, my weary spirit would find rest in Thee! Receive me to Thyself.” And while this prayer is offered by us on our own behalf, we are to take heed of the whole Israel of God, and pray, as we are passing out of time into eternity, that the love and care which we have so richly enjoyed, may be vouchsafed to those who follow us. (J. Stoughton.)
“Return, O Lord,” &c.
I. The subjects of this prayer. “Israel.” What the thousands of Israel are not doing for themselves let us do for them. Let us make increasing prayers at the throne of Divine grace, that the veil may be taken away from their hearts, that, under the covenant of the blessed gospel, they may realise the promise of the Spirit unto the Churches(Revelation 2:17). The thousands of Israel, tracing back their history, who were they? Looking at their present condition, what are they? And making castings into the future, what shall they be?
1. Who were they? They were the nation chosen from all the families of the earth, set apart (like the one day in seven) for the peculiar manifestation of the Divine attributes and glories.
2. Looking at their present condition, what are they? After struggling through persecutions, the fiercest and most appalling, after being the one common curse and hissing of nations, divided amongst themselves by deadly antipathies, after their long and many trackings of tears and of blood, through all countries and lands, what are they now? Still shorn of their glories; still a by-word and a mockery; still the dispersed, the wandering, and the outcast.
3. But in our castings into the future, what shall they be?
II. The nature of this prayer. Moses beheld the awful state of the people, as described in the first verse of the next chapter; and therefore he prayed to the Lord. And now the cloud of the Lord is before the Israelites; and now in the midst of them is the ark of the new covenant: and yet, as described in that verse, they are filled with sinful complaining, and the fire of the Lord is burning amongst them and consuming them; the just judgments of God are upon their heads because of their unbelief, and pride, and obduracy; and they are sinking beneath the fierceness of His anger. In this their condition it is the great business of Christ’s Church to pray over them, that the Lord “return to the many thousands of Israel”--that by the manifestation of His Holy Spirit He show them the darkness of their natural minds--that by the strength of His Spirit He bring down their arrogancy to the dust--that by the penetrating influence of His Spirit He open a way into their hearts, that they may receive Christ as the power of God and the wisdom of God unto salvation. (T. J. Judkin.).