I Samuel 7
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I Samuel 7:10-13, While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites. The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Kar. Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer,] saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” So the Philistines were subdued and they stopped invading Israel’s territory. Throughout Samuel’s lifetime, the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines.
In this chapter, we see the Ark of the Covenant being taken to its proper place and the whole of Israel repenting before the Lord. Under Samuel's leadership, the Hebrew people put away their false gods and turned back to the one true God. As a sign of repentance, Samuel called the people to gather at a place called Mizpah, where he sacrificed a lamb as an offering to the Lord. The Philistines heard about this, all of Israel gathering together, and they decide this would be a good time to attack. In response, Samuel pleads to God on behalf of the Israelites. God takes care of things and the Philistines are easily defeated. Samuel places a stone, called an Ebenezer, to mark the significant event when God interceded on behalf of the Israelites.
In Hebrew, the word Ebenezer actually means stone of help. The purpose of an Ebenezer, as we see in I Samuel, is to remember what God has done for his people. When I read this passage, I was reminded of one of my favorite hymns, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, which was written by Robert Robinson in 1758. In one of the verses, we sing, "Here I raise my Ebenezer, Here by Thy great help I've come, And I hope by Thy good pleasure, Safely to arrive at home." Robinson grew up in a difficult home. After his father's death, his mother sent him to London to learn a trade but he fell in with a bad crowd. But God's hand was at work. Robinson is led one night to a gathering in which George Whitefield preached and Robert Robinson gave his life to Jesus Christ. At age 23, Robinson begins to pastor a Methodist Chapel and writes the hymn. To him, raising an Ebenezer meant very intentionally remembering the good work God had done in him, pulling him out of a terrible situation and demonstrating his power and grace.
Think of the good works that God has done in your life. How has God demonstrated his power and grace? I'm wondering if we all might go get a large stone and raise an Ebenezer as a way to remember what God has done.
Let's pray...Lord Jesus, We thank you for how you intervene in such powerful ways in our lives. You truly are a miracle worker. Help us see and remember your amazing works. In Your Name, Amen.