Deuteronomy 25:13-19; Deuteronomy 26:1-11
Amongst all the humiliating experiences in the wilderness there is still one more which Israel had to remember, and we with Israel. Amalek had benefited in a cowardly manner from the tiredness of the people by attacking the weak and the stragglers. Let us pay attention to this! The devil hardly dare attack Christians who walk with confidence and assurance [close to the Ark]. In contrast the stragglers are ideal prey for him. We know what happened to Peter who followed Jesus afar off (Luke 22:54).
Ch. 26 takes us into the land again. Nevertheless the past is not forgotten. The Israelite, blessed in his harvest, coming to the place chosen by the LORD, had to recall both his wretched beginnings and the divine power which had rescued him in order to bring him into the good land. Then, as proof of his God’s goodness, he had to set before Him the fruit from his basket and to prostrate himself with his heart full of joy and gratitude. This is a beautiful illustration of the worship of the redeemed coming to remember their glorious salvation, offering to God "the fruit of the lips giving thanks to his name" (Hebrews 13:15) and saying to the Lord with adoration: "All manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved" (Song of Solomon 7:13).