The Pulpit Commentary — Numbers — Section 41

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ch. ii.-The muster at Sinai. The children of Israel in the wilderness were 11 divinely-framed fignre or parable of the Church of Christ. Devout readers of the story of the long march from Egypt to Canaan have always been haunted with such an irrepressible feeling of this figurative and spiritual intention, that tracee of it are apparent in the familiar speech of all the Christian nations. Christians everywhere speak of redemption from bondage, the wilderness of this world, the wilderness journey, the heavenly manna, the" Rock of ages cleft for me," the land of promise, Pisgah views of the better land, the dark Jordan, the promised inheritance. The muster at Sinai is a chapter in the long parable ; a chapter as replete as any with in- struction regarding th11 Church of God. I. THE CHURCH IS AN ARMY. The enumeration at Sinai was not an ordinary census.. It took note only of such as were fit to bear arms. These opening chaptera of Numbers are a muster-roll. The Church in this world is the Church militant. Christ is a Man of war (Ps. xiv. 3-5). Every true follower of Christ is called to be a soldier, and to fight a good fight. There is no place in Christ's host either for neutrals or non-combatants (Matt. xii. 30). II. THE CHURCH IS AN ARMY ON THE MARCH. 1. Not settled in permanent quarters. The wilderness was not a place to build cities in or to p!O:nt vineyards. As little is the world a continuing city to Christ's saints. Compare "this tabernacle," 2 Cor. v. 1 ; 2 Pet. i. 14. We are passing travellers here. 2. Marching to an appointed place. In some sense nll men-believers and unbelievers alike-are on the march. Com- pare the Anglo-Saxon prince's comparison of human life to tho flight of the bird out of the dark night, through the lighted hall, and out by the opposite door into the darkness again. God's people are not only passers-by, but "strangers" here, who have in view a country beyond. Their back is toward Egypt, their face toward Canann, and they are on the move from the one to the other. "We nightly pitch our moving tent A day's march nearer home." III. THE CHURCH IS AN ARMY WITH BANNERS. Not a mob, but a marahalled hoat. Observe the order prescribed in this chapter for the encampment and for the mnrch. This iden of the Church has often been nbused to the support of ecclesinsticnl systems for which there ie no warrnnt in the New Testnment. The sort of organised unity proper to the Hebrew Church cannot be transferred to the Church Cntholic. Still the idea is true and vnluable. God is a God of order, and not of confusion. We believe in the communion of eaints. Christiane are not to fight every one for his own hand, or mnrch every one by himseli It is a good and pleasant thing for brethren to come together and keep together. IV. THE CHURCH IS AN ABMY OF WHICH Goo KEEPS A PERFECT ROLL. A good generul would like to know, and Christ does know, every one of his men by name, and they are written in his book. When a soul is born again-born in Zion-the Lord registera the fact (Pe. lxxxvii. 6); and he continually remembers the person's name. "I am poor and needy, yet the Lord thinketh upon me." V. THE CHURCH IS AN ARMY WHIOH HAS THE LOBO FOB ITS EVER-PRESENT LEADEII AND CoMMANDEB. The ark of the covenant led the van on the march, and rested in the midst of the congreg1tion when it encamped. "Go ye into all the world; . . • and, lo, I am with you nlv,e.y."-B,  16 THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. [CB, II. 1-84.