The Battle of Amalek, an Instructive War
Homilist
Exodus 17:13
And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.


I. AS THE RECORD OF A WAR DISTINGUISHED FROM MOST MODERN WARS.

1. It was purely defensive on the Hebrew side.

2. It was Divinely sanctioned on the Hebrew side.

3. It was evidently judicial on the Hebrew side.

II. AS THE RECORD OF A WAR SUGGESTING PRINCIPLES OF GENERAL APPLICATION.

1. The propagating influence of evil. I find the primal cause of this war in the injury which Jacob perpetrated upon his brother Esau (Genesis 27:18, 19). God only knows the influence of one evil act.

2. The Divine liberty allowed to wicked men. Full freedom to work out revengeful passions.

3. The variety of instrumentality by which God works out His designs. The Eternal ever works by means.

4. The dependence of man's progress on his relation to heaven.

5. The importance of transmitting to posterity the agency of God in history (see ver. 14).

III. AS THE RECORD OF A WAR SYMBOLIZING THE MORAL STRUGGLE IN WHICH THE GOOD ARE ENGAGED.

1. That the good have spiritual enemies to contend with.

2. That the victory which the good are to obtain over their enemies depends on the help of others.

3. That whatever may be the amount of help obtained in the struggle, the victory must ever be ascribed to God.

(Homilist.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

WEB: Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.




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