The Bible story behind the painting below
Israel Defeats the Amalekites
‘While the people of Israel were still at Rephidim, the warriors of Amalek attacked them. Moses commanded Joshua, “Choose some men to go out and fight the army of Amalek for us. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, holding the staff of God in my hand.”’
So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle.
(Exodus 17:8-13 NLT)
We ought to be Martha and Mary in one.
We should do much service and have much communion at the same time. For this we need great grace. It is easier to serve than to commune.
Joshua never grew weary in fighting the Amalekites, but Moses, on the top of the mountain in prayer, needed two helpers to sustain his hands.
See to it that sitting at the Saviour’s feet is not neglected, even though it be under the pretext of doing him service.
The first thing for our soul’s health, the first thing for his glory, the first thing for our own usefulness, is to keep ourselves in perpetual communion with the Lord Jesus, and to see that the vital spirituality of our religion is maintained over and above everything else in the world. – C H Spurgeon