Hor-Hagidgad
“And they removed from Bene-jaakan, and encamped at Hor-hagidgad.”
1
The name of this twenty-eighth encampment has a singular sound; but its signification is not evil. It is a considerable distance from the last station, being about thirty miles. It lies in the desert of Sinai, opposite that mountain, and in the direction of the Red Sea. The Israelites have Canaan, therefore, behind them, and remove ever further from it, as if they should never arrive there.
The first signification of the name of this encampment is that of a martial host. Jacob’s seventh son was called Gad, signifying a troop. His dying father alludes to this name in the blessing bestowed on his sons. Gad and Reuben were the two tribes, which had their inheritance assigned them on this side of Jordan, and engaged, (according to Numb, xxxii. 17.)” to go ready armed before the children of Israel, and
u2 go armed before the Lord to the war,” which promise they also fulfilled.
The church of Jesus Christ is certainly a host, at the head of which is the King of kings, and the Lord of lords. They stand opposed to that other great and numerous host called the world, which has Satan, at its head. The former is the Lord’s portion, the lot of his inheritance. They are many, but all members of one body. They are all God’s peculiar workmanship, created anew in Christ Jesus unto good works. God manifests his glory in them, and they are as a mirror, in which the glory of the Lord reflects itself. The greater part of them are in heaven, but there is still a considerable number on earth, who await a mighty accession.
This part here on earth, is called the church militant, and is justly termed Gidgad, a martial host. This people are a conquered nation. They were the prey of “the strong man armed,” and captives of Satan, but the prey has been taken from the mighty, and the captive has been liberated. For then the mighty Prince of Peace carried on that eternally memorable, and blessed war, in which he marched against the prince of this world, when this roaring lion assaulted the lion of the tribe of Judah. He gave his life as an atoning sacrifice, and now sees the fruit of it. “He spoiled principalities and powers and made a show of them openly.” Thus did he deliver his people from the kingdom of darkness.
This victorious war, by which the whole host is benefited, he carried on for each in particular; for whilst the strong man armed’was keeping his goods in peace, a stronger than he came upon him, and took them away. He conquered, and after his victory his people willingly pay their offerings to him in the beauty of holiness. Thus a portion with the great was divided him, and of the spoil of the strong, because he poured out his soul unto death, and bare .the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
The church of Christ is justly called Gidgad, a martial host; for like Israel, they are destined for war. They are soldiers of Jesus Christ. Their last word is, “I have fought a good fight;” their task, to strive together for the faith once delivered to the saints. I^’ they wish to inherit all things, they must overcome, even as their king overcame, and having done all, must stand and keep the field. Palms are only bestowed on those who have fought and conquered.
True Christians are born for conflict; the Spirit is imparted to them through regeneration, which wars against the flesh, and stands in inviolable opposition to ail sin. But no sooner is this child born in the manger of our hearts, than some Herod or other seeks after its life. The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and these two are contrary, the one to the other.
They are also equipped for the fight, and the church is described, in Solomon’s Song, as “terrible as an army with banners.” “In all these things,” says Paul, “we come off more than conquerors.” How admirably, therefore, must they be armed and accoutred I The weakest of them shall be as David. Every one of them “has his sword upon his thigh, because of fear in the night.” God teaches their hands to war. And whilst thus putting on the whole armour of God, they are strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might; and thus rendered competent to vanquish their enemies.
The war they carry on is a most important one, no carnal, but a spiritual warfare; not with flesh and blood and outward things, which require bodily strength, have Christians to do. The armour as well as the warfare is spiritual; the heart, the inmost soul, is the field of battle, the scene of action, where, without outward noise and invisibly, battles are fought, defeats sustained, and victories won, which are visible to God alone. This war has for its object nothing less than the soul and its salvation, hell and heaven; to reach the latter and escape the former. Its object is the favour of God, the most glorious liberty, or the most degrading bondage, eternal life, or eternal death.
It is a necessary war. As little as Israel could, without war, obtain possession of the land of Canaan, so little can any one, without conflict, reach heaven. If any one refuses to enter into the conflict against the world and sin, God fights against him; and if he be against him, who can be for him? Neutral can none remain; and as no one can possibly serve such opposite masters as God and Satan, he must adhere to one or other of them.
This warfare is tedious, since it begins with our spiritual birth, and ceases only with our exit from this scene of conflict. It is not indeed always equally violent; the “evil day” mentioned by Paul, (Ephes. vi. 13.) does not always continue; but it may reappear any pioment. Hence it is necessary for a Christian “to pray without ceasing,” and to watch thereunto with all perseverance and supplication in spirit. But there are also seasons of repose, when no further exertion is required; and the warrior enjoys a rest from his fatigues.
The conflict of Christians is arduous, both on account of their weakness and the nature of their foes. The warriors themselves are weak, so weak that they could not stand of themselves a moment. There is even something in them that sides with their opponents, and seeks to procure them the victory, which renders it doubly dangerous. The foes are bold, so that the chief of them even ventured to attack the Son of God himself. They are so powerful, that they have overthrown the greatest saints, and hence are compared to lions. If Adam was overcome, how are others to stand? They are as subtle as serpents, and equally poisonous. They attack every thing, chastity, patience, humility, love, &c. They do not spare even historical faith, but seek first of all to shake our confidence and hope. One man they try to overthrow by holding up his sins to his view; another by presenting to him the mirror of his virtues; one through lust, another through fear; some through frivolity, and others through excessive sorrow. If the conflict be difficult, the decision to undertake it is not easy. Who gladly abandons every thing to follow Christ, who immediately presents us with a cross? Who, unless in case of extremity, can bear the less of an eye, a hand, or a foot?
Still it is a “good fight.” Happy he who enters upon it I he will never repent of it! It ends well, and all must run with patience the race set before them. Should some single rencontre prove unsuccessful, or some battle be lost, all is not therefore lost. Wounds heal again, fractures are reduced, losses are replaced.
We have a glorious leader, needful assistance, and at last a glorious prize. In reality, we have only to do with foes that have been long overcome.
For it is, lastly, a supernatural warfare, no strength or wisdom of our own is requisite for it; on the contrary, we shall be the more competent to it, the more thoroughly our souls are emptied of every hope of that nature. We fall more seldom on account of our weakness than on account of our supposed strength. We ought indeed to strive against every sin; particularly against those to which we are the most easily incited; Mnweariedly, even when we cannot immediately act the master over them as we could wish; seriously, that we may be heartily in earnest to gain the victory, the entire extirpation of all that is evil, and perfect restoration to the image of God; but we must also strive courageously, as those who have, in the Lord, righteousness and strength, and come off more than conquerors in him; as those who are hastening to certain conquest and a glorious crown.
Hence the church of Jesus Christ is justly called a martial host; and how much Israel was so, evidenced itself on their entrance into Canaan, where they had to do with giants, compared with whom they were but as grasshoppers, and yet they overcame.
Let us now consider, also, the signification of the first syllable of the name of this encampment, called Hor. It means, first, something noble, excellent, and superior. Hence, by the addition of this word, this martial host is designated as partaking of these qualities. It has elsewhere inferior appellations, such as a worm, a poor flock, ‘a wretched or miserable person. But here the people of God have a noble and illus-I trious title. And this by right. They are noble on account of their birth. They are born of God, and consequently of divine descent. They are therefore children of God. Even according to the flesh, they are nearly related to him, for as they possess flesh and blood, so the Son of God likewise took part of the same. With all their lowliness”, Christians possess something of nobility on account of their almost incredible dignity. They are called the bride of the Lamb, priests, and kings. And they have not merely the title of this, but they possess and enjoy all the privileges connected with these appellations. They are the objects of so great a love of the Son of God, that he declares, “as the Father loveth me, even so love I you.” As priests they have liberty of access to God, as well as under obligation to offer up daily their old man to him. As kings they reign, and every thing must be of service to them, even death itself. They are noble on account of their state, being righteous, holy, and beloved. So righteous, that they can challenge every one, and ask, “Who is he that condemneth?” So holy, that there is no spot in them. So dear, that the Lord’s bowels melt over them. They are a temple of God, in which he walks and dwells, and he himself is a wall of fire round about them. Their state is so sublime, that as saints they shall judge the world, and even angels. What privileges also do they enjoy, when all things must work together for their good! The cloudy pillar of the righteousness of Christ covers them daily, as birds do their brood. The pillar of fire prepares a way for them. What noble sentiments dwell within them, seeing that they are spiritually-minded! they delight in the law of God, and
u3 serve it with their minds. They seek that which is above; not earthly things. They love God, and are ready for his sake to avoid, suffer, and renounce every thing, and prove this when called to it, by their actions. Christians are also noble on account of their riches, which are so considerable, that our Lord himself says, “Thou art rich.” (Rev. ii. 9.) ‘’ Ye are enriched in all things,” writes Paul to the Corinthians, and even says, “all things are yours.” And these riches are beyond the reach of earthly mutability, they never fade away. They bear indeed this treasure in earthen vessels, but “when Christ their life shall appear, they shall also appear with him in glory.” Finally, they possess a power by which all things are possible to him that believeth. It is in vain to make war upon them, for they come off more than conquerors. No one has reason to say, “I am weak.”
Now let every one judge, whether this martial host does not justly bear the name of noble and illustrious. Yet still they deserve these appellations only on account of their head, and their connection with him. Without him, they would only be like a headless trunk, hateful to the sight, and dead. The glory of their head reflects itself in them, and what they are, is solely the result of their adherence to their head. Let us also seek to manifest ourselves as a true Hor-gidgad, an illustrious host.
But this noble armament marches under the restraint of the divine commands and guidance. They have taken Jesus’ yoke upon them, and bear his burden. They do not give the reins to their’desires, but crucify the flesh with its aiFections and lusts. They walk not on a broad, but a narrow way, a way which becomes
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increasingly narrow, and are under strict discipline, which admits of no infraction. They call upon him as their Father, who, without respect of person, judges of every man’s work, and pass the time of their sojourning here in fear. To them it is said, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Where this is not the case, the individual does not belong to this noble army, and only they that have walked uprightly attain to peace. They have all sworn, and wuU perform it, that they will keep his statutes.
Another interpretation of the word Hor, is a hole, or narrow cavity; and no one enters into the kingdom of God, except through a strait gate, where every thing must be left behind. Self-will, self-confidence, our own wisdom, and the entire old man must be brought as a sacrifice. This gate is low, and it is necessary to stoop down in order to pass through it. We must become increasingly humble, until we are at length nothing, and Christ in us is all.
The word Hor has also a third signification, and means a basket, or vessel. “We have this treasure,” says Paul, “in earthen vessels.” We are ourselves such vessels, and are empty, unless the Lord deposits in them his grace and gifts. We ought also to be empty, that the oil of divine grace may pour itself into us, and imitate the children of Israel, who went out every morning with an empty vessel to gather manna.
Finally, the word may also mean nets. In this sense the church and its head, by means of his servants, cast a great net into the sea of this world to catch men. They themselves are happily caught
u4 in this net, are united and kept in it, and will at length be drawn to the shores of eternal peace. The church continues to cast the gospel-net, for the purpose of catching men, and is particularly occupied at present in fishing for the heathen. For a while it may labour in vain; but soon the net will burst with the quantity caught, and they will draw an abundance to land. Let every one take heed, that he is not thrown away as a worthless fish; but that the angels at last may gather us out of it as good, into vessels.