4. The Unending War Between 'Elect' and 'Cursed' Exodus 17:8-16

Text:  “And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the sword.” 

Exodus 17:13.

Good morning, faithfully contending Christian!  Having been charged by the Word of God to ‘...contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints...’, you and I are duty-bound to wage continual Spiritual warfare with Amalek, figuratively speaking, with all those who are Spiritually unregenerate, and living in unregenerate life-styles of gross unbelief and sin. 

The weapons of our warfare are at all times Spiritual weapons – God’s Holy Word, the glorious Gospel of Eternal Salvation in Jesus Christ alone; holy lives lived in the power and restraint of God the Holy Spirit; Christian witness and testimony of the saving grace we have found in Christ and in His full Atonement Sacrifice at Calvary’s Cross.  Reverent and fervent prayer for the souls of others – including our enemies – is another powerful weapon in our Christian armoury, but the Ultimate Victory has already been won by Christ on the Cross and three days after.  Hallelujah!  Glory to the Lamb of God, the risen Christ Jesus!

Our Bible-reading for this week’s devotional study depicts Moses and the children of Israel conducting a great battle with Amalek and his people.  Amalek is a type of the unchristian world of the unregenerate, those who have not been ‘elected’ by God the Father to receive His Eternal Redemption, secured at the Cross by the sinless Blood of His Son, Jesus Christ.  It is the great Almighty Lord God Jehovah Himself Who is our Battle Flag and victorious Banner.

Jehovah-nissi

'Jehovah my banner', the title given by Moses to the altar which he erected on the hill on the top of which he stood with uplifted hands while Israel prevailed over their enemies, the Amalekites.

“And the Lord said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under Heaven. And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi: for He said, Because the Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.” (Exodus 17:14-16)

Thus, true Christianity must always be ‘at war’ with the spirit of unbelief, false religion so-called, and all that would be deemed unchristian in lifestyle and practice.  Not to ‘contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints...’, is to deny the Christ, and capitulate to Satan and the carnal hordes of reprobate souls who are currently waxing more and more militant against the Biblical Christ and His church on earth.

In today’s Spiritual Battle, one cannot be both fish and fowl – we must contend for Bible-based Christian faith!  If the Bible, God’s Word, makes sense, don’t make it nonsense!  Stand up for the Christ Who has suffered and died for you and me!

“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.  But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.”  (2 Timothy 2:15-16)

If the reprobate (the cursed, or rejected of God) are to be contended against militantly with our Spiritual weapons – conversely, the ‘elect’, (the chosen of God) must be treated with great Spiritual and practical support and loving-kindness.

Psalm 36: verse 10. “O continue Thy lovingkindness unto them that know Thee.  Loving-kindness is not merely a subjective notion, it is love in action to those of mutual Bible-based Christian faith and community.  The apostle James admonishes us most forthrightly on our need to be ‘doers of the Word, not hearers only.' (James 1:22) 

It is a time to draw close to others of true Bible-based Christian faith and to show mutual and practical support for each other.  False professors can continue on and do whatever their unregenerate heart desires.  Bible-believing and practicing Christians must seek out our genuine fellowships and make sure all are being encouraged in the Spiritual Battle.  ‘...Two are better than one...’  (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)

Verse 10b: “...And Thy righteousness to the upright in heart.  The worst thing to be feared by the man of God is to be forsaken of Heaven, hence this prayer; but the fear is groundless, hence the peace which faith brings to us.  Learn from this verse, that although a continuance of mercy is guaranteed in the Covenant, we are yet (still) to make it a matter of prayer.  For this good thing will the Lord be enquired of.  (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 177)

Verse 11.  “Let not the foot of pride come against me.  Good men may well be afraid of proud men, for the Serpent’s seed will never cease to bite the heel of the godly.”  (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 177)

The Concluding Doom of the Cursed:  Psalm 36, depicting and directed to ‘the Cursed and the Blessed’, concludes with a grim and terrible truth; a straight and immutable Bible-prophecy of which every Christian believer, and non-Christian infidel should take note and be, both, encouraged in continued faith and sternly warned in continued unbelief.

Verse 12.  “There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.  If you and I are soundly saved by Christ today, our hearts should continually rejoice at the fact of God’s free grace towards us.  If you are determined to live in sin and gross immorality the Lord God shall cast you down into the pit of Hell, from which torment your never-dying soul shall never ever rise again. God’s Word has clearly said it; God’s Word shall perform it without further warning.

For we who, by God’s Sovereign grace, have been plucked as brands from the burning of our sinful lives and redeemed by the precious Blood of Christ Jesus, this message should leave us with no doubt whatever of our great need to reach out to the lost with the Gospel message of Eternal Salvation in Christ. 

Thought:  While it is yet the day of God’s grace, may we succeed in ‘quickening’ the souls of God’s elect people - before that terrible day when the door of God’s saving grace is fast shut, and Hell’s door opened.  Lord, have mercy on the lost!