Exodus 17:10: Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought against Amalek, and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

There are two locations in this story, and two groups of people. Down below, in the valley, Joshua and the armies of Israel fight the Amalekites. Up on the top of a hill overlooking the battle stand three men, Moses, Aaron, and Hur, together holding up the rod of the Lord.

As Pastor Sumpter has pointed out, the focus of attention is entirely on the top of the hill. What tactics does Joshua use against the Amalekites? How many chariots does he have? Who has the biggest army? We aren’t told. What we do know is that Moses needs help holding up the banner of Yahweh.

That’s not where our attention generally is. When there’s a battle going on, we think that the real action is down in the valley, where the swords are clashing and where blood is being spilled. We think the action is in the voting booths and halls of Congress and the streets where protesters march. That’s not where the action is. That’s never where the action is. The action is up on the hill.

This becomes even more significant when we reflect a bit on the memorable tableau. Moses sits, and on either side of him stands a man holding up one of his arms. This arrangement – on the one side, on the other side – reminds us of the ark of the covenant, Yahweh’s throne flanked by cherubim. It reminds us of the temple, the Yahweh’s palace, flanked at the doorway by two pillars, Jachin and Boaz. There on top of the hill, in other words, is an emblem of the presence of God, of King Yahweh’s house and His rule.

Every Sunday we ascend to the top of the hill. Every Sunday, we enter into the holy place, where Yahweh sits in His cherub throne. Every Sunday we are where the action is. We do have to go back out to the valley, but the mountaintop is where things happen, where the battle is won, where the world is transformed, where we enjoy the presence of Christ, feasting at His table, glorying in the victory He has already won.