Introduction: In this chapter, Isaiah 52, God assures Israel that He will redeem them from oppression. He challenges them to awake (verse 1), put on their garments (verse 1), shake themselves from the dust (verse 2), sing together (verse 9), and depart from evil (verse 11). The Lord will soon make them know His name (verse 6). He will make bare His holy arm (verse 10). He will go before Israel and be their rereward (verse 12). Definition: Rereward: is another spelling for rearward and is related to rear guard. Ward is congruent to guard (Acts 12:10When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
See All...). Found six times in scripture: Numbers 10:25And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan set forward, which was the rereward of all the camps throughout their hosts: and over his host was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
See All...; Joshua 6:9And 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.
See All..., 13; 1 Samuel 29:2And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish.
See All...; Isaiah 52:12For 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.
See All..., 58:8
See All.... Acts both as a rear guard and as reserve forces. Application: The promise that the Lord will fight for us does not mean that we do not fight (Deuteronomy 3:21-22 [21] And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, Thine eyes have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto these two kings: so shall the LORD do unto all the kingdoms whither thou passest. [22] Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you.
See All...; 20:1-4
See All...). We are in a warfare (1 Corinthians 9:7Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
See All...; 2 Corinthians 10:4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
See All...; 1 Timothy 1:18This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
See All...). However, we rest assured that the Lord is our rereward.

What God Does / What a Rereward Does:

1. He Guards From Hidden Danger: It protects from attack in the rear Amalek (Deuteronomy 25: 17-19)
2. He Supports in Times of Defeat: It enables an orderly retreat Paul (2 Timothy 4:9-17 [9] Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: [10] For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. [11] Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. [12] And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. [13] The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments. [14] Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: [15] Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words. [16] At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. [17] Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
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3. He Strengthens Our Points of Weakness: It plugs up holes in the line The working of Satan (2 Corinthians 2:10-11 [10] To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; [11] Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
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4. He Restores Us When We Are Weary: It replaces weary frontline troops (Psalm 23:3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
   See All...; Isaiah 41:10Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
   See All...; Galatians 6:9And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
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5. He Turns the Tide of Battle: It gives a push in the heat of the battle (Romans 8:31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
   See All...; 2 Corinthians 2:14Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
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Conclusion: What kind of battle are you in today? The Lord is your rereward. Will you trust in Him?