"\"era 1, 2.-God:s ta'he.rt/A1.Ck in the midst of Israel's tent,. I. As TBR fl0Ul\CB or Ol\DE:R. Israel formed an armed encampment, not a mob. The place of each tribe was assigned by God, and thua was not a matter of caprice or i;.artiality on the- part of Moses (ver. M). They were g,-ouped a<.Jcording to their tribeB and families. A post in the rearguard was as honourable ae one in the van, because a matter of· Divine appointment. Yet all "afar off," as a sign of the reverence due to their God, Apply this truth to the tribes, i. e. the visible Churches and denominations of the· Israel of God. This may be illustrated from apostolic days or from modem Church. history. Each has a position, hiatorical, geographical, 'social, assigned by the providence of God. Each tribe had some peculiarities (cf. Gen. xlix.), as each section of the Cb~rch has. And as there were, no doubt, reasons for the position allotted to every family, so the God of ''order" and "peace'' (1 Cor. xiv.) designed that every Church should fill its appointed place(" by its own standard," &c.) and as part of the militant host, stand in orderly relations to himself and to the broth~rho~d. The same- troth extends to individuals, the bounds of their habitation and the sphere of their- service having been fixed by God. IL As A CENTRE OF ..t.TT'RACTION. The doors of the tents probably faced the tabernacle. It was a centre of attraction-I. For guidance, through the high priest., 11Dd Moses, and the symbolic cloud (cf. Ps. xxv. 4, 5, 9, 15). 2. For pardon, through. sacrifice. And God himself is the only hope of a sinful Church (Jer. xiv. 7-9; 2 Cor. v. 18, 19). 3. For purity, through the restraining and elevating influence of a holy God ever present in their midst ( cf. Deut. xxiii. 14 with 2 Cor. vi. 16-vii. 1). III. As A PLEDGE OF SAFETY, both when encamped (ver. 2) or on the march (ver. 17 ). So "God is in the midst" " of the tabernacles of the Most High," the homes, of hie people (cf. Deut. iv. 7, and Rom. viii. 31). He is in our midst as" a lion" to terrify our foes (Hoe. xi. 10; see Acts v. 17-42), as a fire to enlighten end to protect (lea. iv. 5), as "a man of war" to tight for us (Isa. xlix. 25, 26; Numb. :xxiii. 21). This presence of God in our midst should inspire (1) confidence (Deut. xxxiii. 29), (2) reverence (Ps. 1.xlCl'.ix. 7), (3) joy (Ps. cxviii. 15), and should prepare us for the fulfilment of the promise in Rev. xri. 3-7.-P. Ch. ii.-The du;ciplin,eof God's army. As the first chapter discovers the lire of God'e annyJ_so the second discovers the disciplin,e of it. Number is nothing without order and ct.iscipline. A handful of cavalry can scatter a mob. Discipline also prevent1t rivalries. If those about our Lord, in spite of all his teaching, asked, "Who shall be greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" then we may be sure there were many ambitious souls asking in the wilderness, "Who shall be greatest in Iarael?" The discipline set before us in this chapter was particularly related to the tabernacle. In thie connection the discipline may be regarded as intended to secure three things. I. REVEllENCE FOR THE SANCTU..t.RY, They were to pitch the camp far off about th1, tabernacle. There was plenty of a superstitious and idolatrous spirit among the Israelites, but the reverence was wanting that comes from intelligent appreciation. But for a special injunction to the contrary, they would very likely have crowded round the tabernacle, as feeling nothing peculiar about the ark. This lesson of reverence had to be sharply taught again and again, e. g. to tl1e Philistines and the men of Bethshemesh (1 8am. v. and vi.), and to Uzzah (2 Sam. vi.). The fear of God is not only the beginning of wisdom, but also of security and spiritual conquests. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. The Israelites carried about with them something as awful as the mount that burned with fire. So in the Church of Christ there should be a deep habitual reverence for the Almighty. The death of Ananias and Sapphira is a lesson for all age11 as to the danger of forgetting that God is strict to mark iniquity. Confidence is necessary, but in our boldest opproaches there must be the deepest humility. If we waged our spiritual warfare, :with real reverence for the great Trinity above, there would be more success. II. DEFENCE OF THE BANOTU..lBY. It was in the midst, alike in resting and in marching. Travellers in savage countries circle themselves with fire at night, to .i:eep off the wild beasts. So the circling tribes were to be a defence to the tabernacle. The company of Judah marched in front, and Dan brought up the rear. Judah went from honour to honour among the tribes, until the honour culminated in the inn at cm. m.1-51.l THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. 17
Bethlehem. Reuben, though the eldest, wae not put firirt. "Unstable ae water, tho11 ehalt not excel." He could do something, leaning on Judah ; not last, yet not com- petent to be first. But exactly all the reasons why the tribes were arranged thu, and not othertt,i,,e, we cannot tell. Jehovah had the sovereign disposal of the matter; not therefore arbitrary, or without cause. A commander does not give reasons for hia strategy, though some of them may be afterwards discoverable. God has given hi1 people to defend the sanctuary still, to contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints; against the paganism of the old world, and all sorts of corrup- tion in Christendom itself ; against the pride of science transgressing its borders. We have to fight for an open Bible, free to every one caring to read it ; a full Bible, ita truths not minimised or attenuated to suit the fancies of men ; a pure Bible, interpreted in its own light, and not confused with the distortions of later traditions. The Scriptures are our tabernacle, and we must defend them as something solemnly put in our charge. III. PROTECTION FROM THE SANCTUARY. That which we defend protects us. Peter, before the Council, asserted and acted bis right to preach the gospel. "We must obey God rather than men." Defending what was committed to his charge, he also was defended when God delivered him from Herod's prison. The unfaithful are the insecure. When we are searching the Bible to defend it against the attacks of it1 enemies, we are multiplying comforts and defences for our own souls. How many looking for arguments have also found balm and security I The Lord would have Ierael to understand that it was not because they were 600,000, but because he was their Leader, they were strong. Let our protection come from God. Protections of human device are like the experiments in modern naval construction. A defence may be announced perfect1 but some new weapon will make it worthless. The shield of faith alone will quencll all the fiery darts of the wicked one. Compare 1 Cor. xiv. with this chapter, as showing the need both for order and discipline.-Y.