Amalek.
Moses, in calling the sin of Amalek to remembrance, and enjoining destruction of that people, was not speaking "of himself." He but declared the will of God, long before announced, and solemnly recorded in a book (Exodus 17:14). It was not "after the spirit or mission of the Law," as has been well remarked, "to and at overcoming inveterate opposition by love and by attempts at conversion. The Law taught God's hatred of sin and of rebellion against him by enjoining the extinction of the obstinate sinner" ('Speaker's Commentary'). The lessons from the command are these—
I. GOD KEEPS IN REMEMBRANCE INJURIES DONE TO HIS CHURCH AND PEOPLE. (Deuteronomy 25:17.)
II. GOD SPECIALLY REMEMBERS INJURIES TO THE FEEBLE AND AFFLICTED. (Deuteronomy 25:18.) The "fear of God," if nothing else, ought to restrain inhumanities. "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" (Acts 9:4).
III. WRONGS TO THE CHURCH OF GOD WILL NOT PASS UNAVENGED. (Deuteronomy 25:19.) Repentance, as in Paul's case, may reverse the sentence. If the sinner is obstinate, the doom will fall as certainly as in the case of Amalek (2Th2 Thessalonians 1:9).—J.O.