–Isaiah 58:8 NKJV– 8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
In my last blog post I shared about how God is our strength and shield. Not only is God in front of us to protect us but he is also our “rear guard” protecting us from behind us. God has our back; He’s got our six. This past Sunday I ministered at church on the subject of “Fasting for Community.” I briefly discussed in my Sunday message about Isaiah 58:8 so I wanted to expound in this blog post about God as our rear guard. (To hear the full message from Sunday then click on the “Media” button in the Menu bar and you will see the YouTube link).
The name “Rear Guard” is referred to as soldiers who protect another group of soldiers from behind. A rear guard can help prevent sneak attacks from the enemy and protect if the troops on the frontline need to retreat. In ancient battles, 2 warriors would stand back-to-back when surrounded by enemies. Warriors had to learn how to flow in movement with each other to make sure they were protecting each other from all angles.
When I was in basic training with the Army, we were assigned a “battle buddy.” Your battle buddy was with you throughout basic training. You were responsible for each other and had to hold each other accountable. It did not matter if you liked each other or not, you had to learn how to operate as a team. If one got in trouble, you both got in trouble. I was blessed to have a battle buddy who became my brother, someone I got along with and trusted. To this day we both still stay in contact with each other.
Battles in small numbers can be won when there is unity among the troops. In the bible, we read how battles were won when the Israelites trusted God to go before them and to protect behind them. Spiritual battles are won when we trust God to go before us and as our rear guard. Victory is found in God.
Isaiah 52:12 NKJV – 12 For you 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 rear guard.
How awesome is it that God is protecting us on the frontline and also protecting us from behind us! He has your back! He’s got your six! With God as our rear guard we do not have to keep looking over our shoulder in fear of an enemy sneak attack. Be confident in God that He is watching over you.
The next time you are overwhelmed by being surrounded by the enemy, remember that God has surrounded you!
Psalm 125:1-2 NKJV – 1 Those who trust in the Lord Are like Mount Zion, Which cannot be moved, but abides forever. 2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the Lord surrounds His people From this time forth and forever.
Psalm 118:1-7 NKJV – 1 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 2 Let Israel now say, “His mercy endures forever.” 3 Let the house of Aaron now say, “His mercy endures forever.” 4 Let those who fear the Lord now say, “His mercy endures forever.” 5 I called on the Lord in distress; The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place. 6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? 7 The Lord is for me among those who help me; Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me. 8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. 9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. 10 All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I cut them down. 11 They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the Lord I cut them down. 12 They swarmed around me like bees, but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the Lord I cut them down. 13 I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me. 14 The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.
