I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek.
Lessons
1. Jehovah’s victories over His Church’s enemies He giveth in charge to be recorded.
2. Writing and tradition are both God’s ways of recording His works for future ages.
3. God’s book is the best record of His mighty works done for His Church.
4. A memorial would God have kept by the records of God’s works to men.
5. God hath irreconcilable displeasure against some enemies above the rest.
6. Blotting out of the names of such enemies will God make, who would blot out the name of His Church. (G. Hughes, B. D.)
Destruction of Amalek
I. It is probable that from this time Moses began to keep a journal of striking and useful occurrences. Great men have frequently done the same for intellectual, and good men for religious, purposes.
II. Whatever may be said of the particular mode, the thing itself is of importance. If we are to be affected with transactions and feelings, they must be in some way secured and retained.
III. A reason is assigned for the recording and rehearsing of this transaction in a dreadful menace. The threatening was executed partially by Saul; but fully by David.
IV. The scriptures cannot be broken. Whatever improbabilities appear--whatever difficulties stand in the way--whatever delays intervene--God’s counsels of old are faithfulness and truth; not a lot of His Word shall fail. (W. Jay.)
Use of history
Lucius Lucullus, being appointed captain-general over the Roman forces against Mithridates, had not great experience or knowledge in war, but only what he had gotten by reading history, yet proved a discreet and valiant commander, and vanquished at that time two of the greatest princes in the East. Thus it is that history is, and may be, the director of meanest men in any of their actions, how others have behaved themselves upon several occasions, and what hath followed thereupon; it is a trusty counsellor of state, by whose advice and direction a commonwealth may be framed, governed, reformed, and preserved, an army may be ordered, enemies vanquished, and victory obtained. In it, as in a glass, we see and behold God’s providence guiding and ruling the world, and men’s actions which arrive often at unexpected events, and even sometimes reach unto such ends as are quite contrary to the actor’s intentions; it is a punisher of vice, presenting aged folly green and fresh to posterity; not suffering sin to die, much less to be buried in oblivion; it is also a rewarder of virtue, reserving worthy deeds for imitation; a good work, though it die in doing, is a reward to itself, yet that some dull natures might be stirred up the more, and all benefited by seeing gracious steps before them, this only is exempted by a firm decree from the stroke of death, to live in history. (J. Crompton.)