Re-reward
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A more expansive definition of the rearguard arose during the large-scale struggles between nation-states during World War I and World War II. In this context, a rearguard can be a minor unit of regular or irregular troops that protect the withdrawal of larger numbers of personnel (military or civilian) during a retreat, by:
blocking
defending
delaying
or otherwise interfering with enemy forces in order to gain time for the remainder to regroup or reorganize.
But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: He is their strength in the time of trouble.
Rearguard actions may be undertaken in a number of ways:
defensively, such as by defending strong points or tactically important terrain; or
offensively, by preemptively assaulting with a spoiling attack an enemy, that is preparing offensive operations.
The bible calls the devil the “enemy of our soul”
For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; He hath smitten my life down to the ground; He hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.
Because of this enemy, each and every person needs the strength of the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, protect, warn, strengthen and fight for us in our time of need.
This spiritual battle cannot be fought with weapons of the flesh
And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
I believe this scripture is meaning that satan was desiring to take peter apart metaphorically....meaning in finding ways that he could separate Peter from Jesus or his faith, as he did with Job.
Job passed the test but Peter didn’t actually pass with flying colors…he denied Christ 3 times.
In this, we realize our need for the Holy Spirit or the need for a force of protection or a “Rear Guard” metaphorically
Narrowly defined, a rearguard is a covering detachment that protects the retreating main ground force element (main body), or column, and is charged with executing defensive or retrograde movements between the main body and the enemy to prevent the latter from attacking or interfering with the movement of the main body.
In other words; the Rear Guard was to protect the main body and ensure that all where able to escape with their lives.
this is what Christ did for us in that, he paid our ransom on Calvary that we might have the opportuntiy and hope of glory.
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
The nature of combat in rearguard actions involving combat between armies of nation-states is typically desperate and vicious, and rearguard troops may be called upon to incur heavy casualties or even to sacrifice all of their combat strength and personnel for the benefit of the withdrawing forces.
When Christ paid the price on Calvary, he paid the ultimate....
He incurred all the pain and suffering for our benefit…he became sin for us.
To ensure that we can have eternal life through him and be reconciled back to God…back to the relationship that once was.....and to be joint-heirs with Christ and heirs of the promise.
As the Re-reward protects from behind, it also can act in an offensive manner as well.
Upon the evacuation of thousands of French and British soldiers across the English channel by the members of the Rear Guard during the battle of Dunkirk, this is what Winston Churchill had to say:
“A miracle of deliverance, achieved by valour, by perseverance, by perfect discipline, by faultless service, by resource, by skill, by unconquerable fidelity, is manifest to us all. The enemy was hurled back by the retreating British and French troops. He was so roughly handled that he did not harry their departure seriously. The Royal Air Force engaged the main strength of the German Air Force, and inflicted upon them losses of at least four to one; and the Navy, using nearly 1,000 ships of all kinds, carried over 335,000 men, French and British, out of the jaws of death and shame, to their native land and to the tasks which lie immediately ahead. We must be very careful not to assign to this deliverance the attributes of a victory. Wars are not won by evacuations.”
The idea of the “Rear Guard” is to protect the fighting force whether offensively or in retreat
Offensively: in protection of the fighting force against attacks that may come from behind....from the enemy flanking.
Defensively or in retreat: as in relief to the retreating that all may be saved and brought to safety.....recover in that, the soldiers would live to fight another day.
not from the retreat from the war but rather, a brief retreat from the battle.
The Rear-Guard
Siegfried Sassoon
(Hindenburg Line, April 1917)Groping along the tunnel, step by step,He winked his prying torch with patching glare From side to side, and sniffed the unwholesome air.
Tins, boxes, bottles, shapes and too vague to know; A mirror smashed, the mattress from a bed;And he, exploring fifty feet below The rosy gloom of battle overhead.
Tripping, he grabbed the wall; saw someone lie Humped at his feet, half-hidden by a rug.And stooped to give the sleeper’s arm a tug.“I’m looking for headquarters.” No reply.“God blast your neck!” (For days he’d had no sleep.)“Get up and guide me through this stinking place.”Savage, he kicked a soft, unanswering heap,And flashed his beam across the livid face Terribly glaring up, whose eyes yet wore Agony dying hard of ten days before;And fists of fingers clutched a blackening wound.
Alone he staggered on until he found Dawn's ghost that filtered down a shafted stair To the dazed, muttering creatures underground Who hear the boom of shells in muffled sound.At last, with sweat and horror in his hair,He climbed through darkness to the twilight air,Unloading hell behind him step by step.
Detailed Analysis of the poem “The Rear Guard”
Stanza One
Groping along the tunnel, step by step,
He winked his prying torch with patching glare
From side to side, and sniffed the unwholesome air.
In the first stanza, the poet uses some very interesting techniques. For example, the use of the verb ”groping” connotes an unwanted action. The vision it creates is somebody crawling through the tunnel, but because of the word choice, it has an invasive feel. The use of “unwholesome air” is also quite creative. It is jarring and helps create a feeling of uncertainty like anything could potentially happen.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Stanza Two
Tins, boxes, bottles, shapes and too vague to know;
A mirror smashed, the mattress from a bed;
And he, exploring fifty feet below
The rosy gloom of battle overhead.
This stanza explores the setting. It is chaotic. Readers can immediately tell from the line, “mirror smashed.” The main character has come across some living quarters, as is suggested by the mattress. But, it appears that the area has been under fire. This stanza almost acts as setting the scene for the one that follows it. The listing of objects and context is also quite effective here.
Stanza Three
Tripping, he grabbed the wall; saw someone lie
Humped at his feet, half-hidden by a rug.
And stooped to give the sleeper’s arm a tug.
“I’m looking for headquarters.” No reply.
“God blast your neck!” (For days he’d had no sleep.)
“Get up and guide me through this stinking place.”
Savage, he kicked a soft, unanswering heap,
And flashed his beam across the livid face
Terribly glaring up, whose eyes yet wore
Agony dying hard of ten days before;
And fists of fingers clutched a blackening wound.
There is a pervasive sadness throughout this stanza. It starts off with a glimmer of hope as the soldier encounters another person. It speaks volumes that he presumes that the person might be alive despite being in a room with broken mirrors and lying underneath a rug. When the person doesn’t reply, the soldier gets angry. The speaker of the poem seemingly realizes that this is not a normal response and almost justifies their actions with what is written within the bracket.
The use of “savage” in the seventh line is interesting. In fact, that whole line is interesting. The adjective is probably used to describe the actions of the soldier. While the previous line makes excuses for him, this line does not hold back on how it describes his behavior. The body is described as a “soft, unanswering heap,” which seems to dehumanize the person.
Stanza Four
Alone he staggered on until he found
Dawn’s ghost that filtered down a shafted stair
To the dazed, muttering creatures underground
Who hear the boom of shells in muffled sound.
At last, with sweat and horror in his hair,
He climbed through darkness to the twilight air,
Unloading hell behind him step by step.
In the final stanza, the soldier breaks free of the tunnels. However, it becomes clear that this is not really an escape as they are surrounded by similar levels of horror. In fact, he is described as having “horror in his hair,” which probably describes a mixture of blood, debris, and grime. He is described as unloading hell behind him, which suggests he fires backward but could also suggest he is running away from the horrors he has just witnessed.
I want to read the whole 23rd Psalm:
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
what a promise we have in that scripture.....though we walk amongst the enemy and evil being all around us we shall not fear....for the Lord is with thee.
As the battle rages, we must understand that we can find refuge in him…at times, we can become weary in battle but if we persist, we will reap the benefits.
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Who is the speaker in ‘The Rear-Guard?’
The speaker is someone who has an intimate understanding of the main character’s situation.
They’re an omniscient narrator, meaning that they know what the character is thinking and feeling at all times.
We indeed serve a God that is Omniscient:
A God that knows and understands his creation
Our very thoughts and feeling at all times.
Omniscient is:
having infinite awareness, understanding, and insight
possessed of universal or complete knowledge
An omniscient narrator is a type of voice that guides a reader through a story.
That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies Might serve him without fear,
In holiness and righteousness before him, All the days of our life.
And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord To prepare his ways;
To give knowledge of salvation unto his people By the remission of their sins,
Through the tender mercy of our God; Whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.
An omniscient narrator can look into the minds of all the characters and describe what they’re thinking. The author brings all the characters to life through the use of an omniscient narrator.
The narrator is the only person in the realm of the story who knows everything that’s going on.
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The bible tells us that God knows all things from the beginning to the ending.
Therefor, he is the only one that is qualified to be our “Rear Guard”...
He not only watches and protects us from the enemy behind, but also, from the enemy in front and to the side as well.
The bible says that Christ will never leave or forsake us.
The Intent of the Rear Guard:
The intent of a rearguard action is pretty consistent, regardless of its size. The rearguard hopes to disrupt the enemy, inflict casualties, and buy time for friendly forces to retreat or regroup.
Numbers chapter 10: Rereward
The rearguard (literally “gathering host”) gathered up all that were left behind as the camp marched forward.
the standard of the camp of the children of Dan were the rereward.
Dan was referred to as a lion’s whelp....indicating their strength in battle.
Dan is a lion's whelp; or like one for boldness, strength, and courage; and was verified in Samson, who was of this tribe; who, when a young lion roared against him, the Spirit of the Lord came on him, and he tore it to pieces, Judges 14:5,
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
• The other crucial task of the rearguard was to secure Israel from enemies which pursued them.
• The commander of the rearguard was Ahiezer (“helper”), son of Ammishaddai (“people of the Almighty”);
literally the rearguard chief was “the helper of the people of the Almighty”!
As I mentioned before, the spirit of the Lord not only goes before us, but is also our covering from behind us....
keeping the enemy from blind siding us or flanking us.
And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
Not only did the spirit of God lead them, He also protected them from their enemies behind them.
O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thought afar off.
Thou compassest my path and my lying down, And art acquainted with all my ways.
For there is not a word in my tongue, But, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.
Thou hast beset me behind and before, And laid thine hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain unto it.
Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
Even there shall thy hand lead me, And thy right hand shall hold me.
The spirit of the Lord is our rereward....he is always a help in time of trouble…always before us, behind us and beside us.
O magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt his name together.
I sought the Lord, and he heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.
They looked unto him, and were lightened: And their faces were not ashamed.
This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encampeth Round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
O taste and see that the Lord is good: Blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
O fear the Lord, ye his saints: For there is no want to them that fear him.
The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him..or serve him (speaking of God)
he also delivers us from our enemy.
He protects us and keeps us on all sides.
MAGNIFY means “to enlarge, to make or declare great, to esteem highly and celebrate, to extol, to make conspicuous, to nourish up, to cause to grow”
• Magnifying the Lord doesn’t make HIM bigger, but it makes OUR FAITH in Him much bigger!
It reminds us that we can place all our faith and trust in him....that he not only saved us, but keeps us as well.
O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.
The Lord covers us in many different ways:
The blood of Jesus
The Holy Spirit
The robe of righteousness
In totality: The whole armor of God.
I believe that when we become a child of God....His spirit becomes our Re-reward....
Just like in the battle of Jericho....
And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord.
And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the Lord.
And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns passed on before the Lord, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them.
And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.
So the ark of the Lord compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.
And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord.
And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the Lord, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
I believe that God was telling them that they didn’t need to worry about what was before them behind them or beside them....
If the Spirit of the Lord goes before us…the rereward comes after.
That they had the Ark of the Covenant with them, therefor, the rereward was with them as well.
The Ark signified the spirit of the Lord being with them....therefor if the spirit was with them, the protection and surety of the spirit was as well.
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Rear Guard is in certain regard: the power behind a military advancement against an enemy
Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, And thine health shall spring forth speedily: And thy righteousness shall go before thee; The glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward.
Or shall be thy covering against an unseen enemy.
For ye 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 rereward.
This is saying that we don’t need to be afraid nor leave in fear for the God of Israel shall be thy rereward....He shall protect both in going before us as well as being our protector from an attack that may come from behind.
Rear Guard action is a defensive action undertaken to try to stop something happening or continuing.
In the end, God shall be our:
Deliverer
Savior
Our atonement
King
Our cleansing and purification
Our everything
Not only does our Savior go before us on life’s journey, He also protects behind us.
Like the Shekinah glory cloud to the children of Israel, He is a light to lead by day and a pillar of fire behind us to guard by night.
With an infallible guide going before us and an invincible guard behind us, why should we hesitate to follow Christ?
He both “leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake,” and then also assures me that “goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” (Psalm 23:3,6). HMM
What God Does / What a Rereward Does:
Deuteronomy 25 He Guards From Hidden Danger:
2 Timothy 2:4 He Supports in Times of Defeat:
2 Corinthians 2.10 He Strengthens Our Points of Weakness:
In Psalm, Isaiah and Galatians He Restores Us When We Are Weary:
Romans 8 and 2 Corinthians 2 He Turns the Tide of Battle:
He is truly our Almighty and our protector
Through his spirit he is our Power, might and strength
He shall cover thee with his feathers, And under his wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
A shield:
A Handheld barrier for self defense: Our Self Defense
A buckler:
A Portable shield: He Is With Us Always
A shield surrounding the person: God does not leave us defenseless, He covers us on all sides.
A Large shield protecting the whole body: He is our protection from any and all attacks of the enemy on ALL SIDES.
he is indeed our Rereward or our Rear Guard