In contending with Amalek there is as great a necessity for praying (ver. 11) as for fighting: one is the complement of the other—as much so as eating and drinking; and one will not suffice without the other, or we may drift either into the dreamy fatalism of the hermit, or else into the barren “perpetual motion” of the sensationalist. Cromwell's maxim about the powder is sound theology; and though his troops were often seen on their knees by their enemies, they found they were not on their knees to them; their enemies never had the advantage of seeing them with their backs turned, anyway. There is no antagonism between prayer and energy, trust, and vigilance: true prayer will lead to energy; true energy will lead to prayerfulness. We should pray as if all depended on God, and fight as if all depended on us.
When Amalek has been conquered, the first thing to be established is naturally an altar. The principle of organized public worship is to be the distinguishing characteristic and most salient feature of the Pilgrim Nation, so Moses calls the altar Jehovah-Nissi, “the Lord my banner.”
For a fighting army always needs a standard, which forms, not only a rallying point and expression of unity, but an inspiring emblem of the Cause for which it is contending, and a public demonstration of the same. There are few evidences of the power of sentiment and symbolism so great as the banner—a mere piece of silk or bunting, with a name or rough figure on it, intrinsically worth only a few shillings; yet warriors will grapple in deadly fray around it, the young ensign's eye glaze in death as, he tries to hold it, and one man after another will spring forward and pour out his heart's blood in its defense. For this reason all that sentiment can do, to invest a banner with every accessory that can awaken and sustain enthusiasm is usually accomplished: sovereigns personally present the regimental flags, while the chief religious dignitaries pronounce their benedictions on them amid circumstances of the utmost pageantry. On Israel's banner is inscribed the august name of JEHOVAH, and it requires no addition of party name, symbol or shibboleth. It is great enough for us all to fight under—so be it that we fight not one another, but Amalek. Nor shall we be allowed either to monopolize it or to rip it into sections (this is an abnormal taste truly, which would prefer a section of a flag to the whole, yet, strange to say, the taste exists). And we can rest assured that, like the battle flag of the old Norse champion, which, though fatal to him that carried it, ultimately led all that followed it to victory, this banner of the Lord shall advance from strength to strength, until it waves on the ramparts of Zion.
The passage that then follows is an adumbration of that time of final triumph. The clouds open and reveal to us a radiant and glorious vision on the MOUNT OF GOD of Moses receiving Zipporah from Jethro the Gentile, while Gershom and Eliezer stand by, and the hosts of the warriors and chiefs surround them, having by the power of God overcome their enemies and reached their (immediate) goal. So the divine Savior shall be revealed in the future with the spiritual Bride who came from the Gentile home; while the upright Gentile of Matt. 25, who is received with a kiss of peace and affection, is allowed to sacrifice, and the Jewish remnant in “two bands” (Gershom and Eliezer) are received there in friendship and safety in the presence of the myriads of the Redeemed, whose conflicts and sufferings are over.
Thus do we see that, however broken and incoherent the divine purposes may seem to be during their development, at some period or other, in time or eternity, they grow naturally and certainly to a denouement which is perfect in beauty and splendor. There is in the classics a vision of vapors rising—heavy and vague—from a great plain; but as the sun shines on them they gradually assume the semblance of a noble city with “cloud-capped towers, solemn temples and gorgeous palaces,” which seems risen from the ground as an exhalation indeed, but an exhalation of glory and magnificence, like “the holy Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God.”
We can as yet see only “through a glass darkly,” and know only “in part.” Let us not judge prematurely of the ways of the Most High; they tend toward a glorious goal. The grand and resplendent consummation of which we have the type shall assuredly come, but we must wait until the solar light from the battlements of heaven shall shine on these seeming earth-clouds. Shall we judge of the building whilst the scaffolding with its litter of ropes and rude timbers encloses the unfinished walls? or of the ship whilst still on the stocks? or of the tapestry whilst it is in a cluster of running threads in the midst of jangling wheels, all driving in contrary directions? How many shapes of ugliness does the clay take as the potter's thumb touches it on the flying wheel before at last it reaches its perfection of symmetry? “We see but dimly through the mists and vapors, Amid these earthly damps; What seem to us but sad funereal tapers May be heaven's distant lamps.” And what seems to us but as a mass of clouds overhead shall soon open and reveal the unutterable glories of the constellations of the accomplished purposes of God, all governed by that supreme Pole-star whom He has appointed as the pivot of “the vast universe of bliss.”
Moreover, the Pole-star is a double star. And what a strange mystery that double star is!—two distinct globes, yet seeming but one by reason of their mingled luster; one sphere of light forever circling round another; each consecrated to the companionship of the other, yet together projecting their combined light far through the darkness of infinite space; each one gleaming with the complementary colors of the other, and together combining a glory of radiance blended into one pure light, which streams out upon a universe teeming with the multiform phases of perennial life. “This is THE GREAT MYSTERY; but I speak concerning Christ and concerning the church.” “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handywork!”