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1. Do not judge until "the last."

2. Men who are overcome should be encouraged.

3. Apply this to beginners in business — in Christian life — in the reformation of bad habits.

4. Apply this to spiritual doubt. Do not too readily describe men as infidels. Even may at last believe.

5. Hope for your children.

(J. Parker, D. D)It may seem, as we look at it spiritually, strange that the fact of being "overcome" by foes should be part of the blessing of God's people. And yet through the darkness to the light is the order everywhere in God's kingdom of nature, providence, and grace; and to be "overcome" is as truly a needed discipline for the soul as to be a triumphant conqueror. The type of nature's strength is not the hot-house plant needing constant care and watchfulness to keep it alive. It is the pine-tree rocked by Norwegian winds which threaten every moment to imperil its existence by uprooting it. Thus, too, it is in the Christian life; and without such dealing the very best of us would be but dwarfs, stunted and crippled, and incapacitated for that warfare with the world, the flesh, and the devil by which we win our way to the kingdom, Nor does the Holy Spirit leave us in any doubt as to this. "A troop shall overcome him" are the words. Not a solitary foe, but many. Sometimes wave upon wave of trial rolls over the soul until we know not what it means. But the cup is measured out. Not one drop is in it beyond what is absolutely needful for the soul's welfare. And the end is the same in every case-to lead us up out of self wholly into God. Nor let us suppose for a moment that it is because of some sin in us that this bitter cup is put into our hands. It may be this indeed, for God will be quit of sin in us at any and every cost. The gravitation of every believer is earthward, and the quick pruning-knife of the Husbandman can never be unused long without the soul suffering damage. The process of restoration may lie in a constant succession of small trials pressing upon the spirit to draw it nearer to God, or in some sharp quick operation of the knife that makes itself felt for years, turning the hair grey, and making the body stoop. But it is not always to get rid of sin in us that these strokes are sent. It may be to mould us more into the likeness of Christ. Every follower of the Lamb must be a cross-bearer. It is the branch that bears fruit which is pierced and purged, and not the unfruitful one. It may be because you are so like Christ you are made to feel the pruning-knife — in order that you may become more like Him. And how blessed the assurance of our God that we "shall overcome at last!" It is not that we shall overcome at the end of life. It is that the issue of every conflict shall be victory. This Divine assurance of the certainty of victory receives its explanation from Romans 8:35-39.

(F. Whitfield, M. A.)

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KJV: Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.

WEB: "A troop will press on Gad, but he will press on their heel.