Issue 1535 – Ebenezer – August 27, 2024

This morning, I want to look at Ebenezer—not Scrooge,  Dickens’ immortal villain turned good guy from A Christmas Carol, but Ebenezer as a biblical stone.

Having not grown up as a Christian or with a knowledge of the Bible, I had never heard the name Ebenezer outside the Scrooge context until I started to read the Word.

Ebenezer is a Hebrew word that appears only in the book of 1 Samuel. It means, “Thus far, the Lord has helped me.”

The people of Israel had turned to the gods of their neighbors, and Samuel called them to repentance,

And Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” So the people of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and they served the Lord only. 1 Samuel 7:3-4

Samuel intercedes on their behalf with prayer, fasting, and an offering.

Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.” So they gathered at Mizpah and drew water and poured it out before the Lord and fasted on that day and said there, “We have sinned against the Lord.”  And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah.  1 Samuel 7:5-6

The Philistines choose to attack.

 Now when the Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the people of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines. 1 Samuel 7:7

At the request of the Hebrew people, Samuel continues to intercede with offerings to the Lord.

And the people of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us, that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” So Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. And Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him.  1 Samuel 7:8-9

The Lord supernaturally intervenes, and the Philistines are defeated.

As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel. But the Lord thundered with a mighty sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were defeated before Israel. And the men of Israel went out from Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and struck them, as far as below Beth-car. 1 Samuel 7:10-11

In response, Samuel sets up a memorial stone, his Ebenezer, his stone of help.

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the Lord has helped us.” So, the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of Israel. And the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 1 Samuel 7:12-13

Victory came to Israel, and the Ebenezer stone was erected as a memorial to God’s help. Throughout Samuel’s lifetime, the Lord’s hand was against the Philistines. The help carried on far beyond the memorial. The actual stone of help was not the memorial but the power of God Himself. He is our rock and our refuge.

In those days, the priest interceded. Today, all believers are priests; we can go to God directly. In addition, Jesus intercedes for us, and the Holy Spirit helps us pray.

Prayer, fasting, and putting God first are not a “guaranteed formula” that will get you whatever you want from God. However, they are a solid model to base our petitions on. They are always a good place to start.

God is sovereign, and He sees the whole picture. He knows what is best and works accordingly. This time, He allowed Israel victory. At other times, when the people walked in rebellion, He allowed them to be overrun. 

Even when He allowed their defeat, the Lord remembered His covenant promises and kept a remnant. His hand is the only way the nation of Israel could still exist.

He will not forget His promises to you. It will not always be easy or how you think it ought to be, but it will be God’s way, and His way will always be the best. 

He will remain your rock and foundation no matter what life throws your way. He cannot be moved, nor can He be undermined. Stand firm on the Stone that helps.

Until next time, walk closely with the Lord and trust. Thus far, the Lord has helped you and will continue to do so.

Be blessed

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

Kevin

Gleanings From The Word

Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)

Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the English Standard Version (ESV)

© K.F. “Kevin” Corbin 2024 – Used by permission – All rights reserved.