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!

3. Life in the Shadow of God's Wings Psalm 36:7-9

Text:  “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Whom I trust.”

                                                                                                                  Psalm 91:1-2.

Good morning, God-guarded Christian!  You and I have absolute no confidence in our own strength, our own personal abilities; our own wisdom; nor our own human resources.  No.  Our confidence is placed where all genuine Bible-believing Christian confidence should be placed – in the Lord God Jehovah, the Almighty Creator of all things.  Hallelujah!  Under the shadow of His Divine wings, we are Eternally secure!

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them Eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.  My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand.  I and My Father are ONE.”  (John 10:27-30)

The lost reprobate is, sadly, not in this position of Eternal security, and shall never reach such a position in Christ Jesus.  This made Christ sad outside Jerusalem:

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not.  Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.”  (Matthew 23:37-38)

Without necessary shadow, we would burn under the glare of the sun.  Without the protection in the shadow of God’s wings, sinners burn in the Hell-fires of sin.  Oh that men/women would turn to Christ Jesus and be saved, while it is yet the day of God’s Sovereign grace!

“Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him/her return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him/her; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”  (Isaiah 55:6-7)

Verse 7.  “Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings.   Oh, that more of Adam’s race knew the excellency of the Heavenly shelter!  It made Jesus weep to see how they refused it: our tears may well lament the same evil.”  (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 175)

The ‘cursed’, or what we Calvinist theologians term ‘the reprobate’, are those whom have not been ‘elected’, chosen by God the Father in Eternity, to be graciously saved.

Because they are ‘reprobate’, (Eternally rejected by God), they are of course, born under the curse of sin that will never, can never, and shall never ever, be lifted from them.  They are, in fact, ‘the cursed of God’. 
Sadly, humanly speaking, they are doomed, they can never be saved, even if a million Spurgeon-like preachers should witness to them with the most eloquent Scripturally sound sermons ever preached.  Their ears, eyes, and hearts are not open to receive the engrafted Word of God that might otherwise bring faith to them as God’s gift, that they might be saved.  Fact.

The Lord God instructed His prophet, Isaiah, to go to such ‘reprobate people’ and inform them that they had not been chosen of Him in Eternity, hence his message:

“And He (God) said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.  Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.”  (Isaiah 6:9-10)

If YOU are reading this Bible Lesson and are saved – it is because God the Father ‘elected’ you in Eternity to be saved, and granted you faith, in time, to hear with your heart (your inner essence of being) and receive saving faith to believe (trust) in Christ and in His one-time Sacrifice for your sin on Calvary’s Cross.  You believed and were saved because your ARE ‘the elect of God’, as opposed to being Eternally ‘reprobate’, rejected of God.  Salvation is totally, and completely of the Lord God, alone! 

“But I will sacrifice unto Thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed (in the belly of the great fish).  Salvation is of the Lord.”  (Jonah 2:9)

Even plunged down into the sea; further down into the belly of the great fish; even taken by that great fish down, down, down below the mountains of the ocean – Jonah was safe and secure, because Jonah had been ‘elected’, chosen of God to be saved, from way before the earth had ever been Created by His hand. God was in Sovereign control of every aspect of Jonah’s life, and delivered him according to His own grace.

“And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.”  (Jonah 2:10)

Do YOU believe this story, Reader?  I hope so. Because IF you do, it is because God has elected you to receive vital faith which enables you to believe and be saved. If YOU do not believe this piece of Holy Scripture, it is because you are reprobate, rejected of God to receive the faith necessary to believe and receive Christ’s Salvation.

In this world today, there are only Christian believers, and reprobate non-believers!  Christ Jesus is the only way of Eternal Salvation – exclusive of all others!  This is the Gospel truth!  No frills attached.  Believe and be saved.

Verse 9.  “For with Thee is the fountain of life. This verse is made of simple words, but like the first chapter of John’s Gospel, it is very deep.  From the Lord, as from an independent self-sufficient spring, all creature life proceeds, by Him it is sustained, through Him alone can it be perfected.  Life is in the creature, but the fountain of it is only in the Creator.”  (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 176)

Thought: While there is life there is hope – pray for those presently unsaved.

2. The Character of God’s Blessed Psalm 36:5-6

Text:  “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name.  Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgiveth al thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases.” 

Psalm 103:1-3.

Good morning, ever-thankful Christian!  As soon as your eyes open, or even before they do, each morning – your heart (your inner essence, not the great blood pump!) lifts up thanksgiving and praise to the Lord God Jehovah, Who has utterly and thoroughly blessed sinners such as thee and me.  The primary character of the true, Spiritually regenerate, Bible-believing Christian, is his/her constant thankfulness for the Sovereign grace of a wonderful and merciful Lord God Almighty.  Hallelujah!

Verse 5.  “Thy mercy, O Lord is in the Heavens. When we can measure the Heavens, then shall we bound the mercy of the Lord.  Towards His own servants especially, in the Salvation of the Lord Jesus, He has displayed grace higher than the Heaven of Heavens and wider than the universe.  Oh, that the atheist could but see this, how earnestly would he long to become a servant of Jehovah!”  (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 175)

Verse 5b: “Thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.  Far, far above all comprehension is the truth and faithfulness of God.  He never fails, nor forgets, nor falters, nor forfeits His Word.”  (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 175)

God’s faithfulness to Hell-deserving sinners such as we cannot be fully understood by the human mind of fallen mankind.  It is granted to us by God’s own grace – unmerited favour – it cannot be worked for, nor earned, nor bought.  The Source of God’s faithfulness to us, ‘His people’ whom He has elected to save before time began, is His own great heart of Divine love; and as so, cannot ever be taken from us again.  Praise His gracious and loving Name!  Hallelujah!  What a Saviour Lord God He is!

“The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”  (Jeremiah 31:3)

IF you and I, therefore, are indeed the born again children of such a faithful Lord God – are we not also duty bound to show a similar faithfulness to Him, and to the truth of His Word, in our daily lives? Of course we are!  Our word should also be our bond.

Verse 6.  “Thy righteousness is like the great mountains.  Firm and unmoved, lofty and sublime.  As winds and hurricanes shake not an Alp, so the righteousness of God is never in any degree affected by circumstances; He is always just.  Who can bribe the Judge of all the earth, or who can, by threatening, compel Him to pervert judgement?  Not even to save His elect would the Lord suffer His righteousness to be set aside.  Right across the path of every unholy man who dreams of Heaven stands the towering Andes of Divine righteousness, which no unregenerate sinner can ever climb.”  (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 175)

In the Lord God’s great and Sovereign grace - and all through the full Atonement victory Sacrifice of His dear Son, Jesus Christ, at Calvary’s Cross – He sees fit to impute (put to our account) His impeccable and pure righteousness unto us, and robes us in it.  The precious, sinless Blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, covers all our sin.

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed my with the garments of Salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.”  (Isaiah 61:10)

“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.”  (Psalm 32:1)

Being robed in Christ’s righteous robe of sinless Blood – we too should seek to manifest righteous character, and shun all unholy association with sin and error. 

God’s truth and sound Bible doctrine should always be worth dying for, in order to maintain it.  There is far too much ‘easy-believism’ abounding in this day.

“A.D. 1551. In the year 1551, the wife of Jeronimus Segerson was drowned for the sole reason that she did not believe in infant baptism. The court asked Mrs. Segerson concerning baptism. She replied, “I acknowledge but one baptism, even that which was used by Christ and his disciples, and left to us.” “What do you hold concerning infant baptism?” asked the sheriff. To which she answered, “Nothing but a mere infant baptism, and a human institution.”

“On this the bench stood up and consulted together, after which sentence was pronounced upon her. She was shortly afterwards put in a sack and drowned. Her husband had previously been burned at Antwerp for his faith. In one of his letters he said: “I had rather be tortured ten times every day, and then finally be roasted on a gridiron, than renounce the faith I have confessed.” Others were stretched upon the rack, or suspended by the hands, while heavy weights were attached to their feet. The matron and maiden, the minister and layman, alike suffered the same fate. These were Baptists, and their persecutors were Catholics. The persecutions occurred in Belgium and the Netherlands.” (http://www.baptists.net/history/2011/09/chapter-17-anabaptists-or-baptists/

“In lonesome cell, guarded and strong I lie,

Bound by Christ’s love, His truth to testify,

Though walls be thick, the door no hand unclose,

God is my strength, my solace, and repose.

“In a letter to Jeronius Segerson, written in the prison at Antwerp to his wife, named Lysken, who likewise lay a prisoner there.”  (Treasury of David, page 175)

Thought:  Given that we have such a history, strewn with Christian martyrs of faith, surely it is time to start getting serious about our character in Christ Jesus’ service?