Deuteronomy 25:17-19 (ESV Strong's)
“Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you came out of Egypt,
how he attacked you on the way when you were faint and weary, and cut off your tail, those who were lagging behind you, and he did not fear God.
Therefore when the Lord your God has given you rest from all your enemies around you, in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven; you shall not forget.
Truth: Those who do not fear God put themselves as the enemy of God.
The New Testament is clear that God wants us to love our enemies. Romans 12 states that if our enemy is thirsty we are to get them a tall glass of cold water. Jesus stated the same thing in the Gospels. So, what are the above verses telling us about this nation of Amalek? These were the people who, when the nation of Israel was coming out of their captivity in Egypt, not only did not assist them in their journey, the above verses tell us they attacked the stragglers and those weary in the back of the pack. This nation not only attacked the weakest of the Israelites, they also did not "fear God." This is a nation that had collectively decided to reject God and His grace and mercy. They would be a constant source of problems for the nation of Israel throughout its history. Note the following from one commentary:
The Amalekites remained an inveterate enemy of Israel for many years after the settlement (cf. Judg. 3:13; 6:3–5, 33; 7:12; 10:12). Saul failed to eliminate the threat (1 Sam. 15; 28:18), and they were still pillaging in David’s day (1 Sam. 30). They seem to have finally disappeared in Hezekiah’s time (1 Chron. 4:43).
God does want us to love "our" enemies. We ought to seek their welfare as much as they allow us to do so. But, God wants us to be obedient in the treatment of "His" enemies. Those who He identifies through His Word.
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