Ebenezer.

When you hear the word Ebenezer what is the first thought that comes to mind? Is it Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens the CHRISTmas carol? That is my first thought and it is probably the same for most people. This word however, is mentioned in the book of First Samuel.  Samuel was a prophet for Israel and he was also the last judge. Israel then began to be ruled by kings instead of judges.

In chapter seven of first Samuel the Philistines are gathering together to do battle with

Israel, as they were the enemies of Israel. God radically intervened with a loud thunder and the Philistines were confused and were driven back and defeated by Israel. Samuel then erected a stone and set it up and called the stone Ebenezer. The word Ebenezer means stone of help. Samuel said after he set up the stone, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”

What a great declaration of giving God the glory for the victory without the presumption that what God had done for them in the past, He would continue to do the same thing in the future. The same holds true for us; we can’t make the assumption that because we have resisted this temptation today, we will confidently resist it tomorrow. 1 Cor 10:12 states, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fail.” We must continually rely upon the Lord for all victories in our lives.

Israel had moved away from God many times and they started serving idols and neglected what God required of them. There were many times that God actually gave the enemies of Israel the victory because of their disobedience to Him. The Ebenezer was a reminder that God gave them the victory. It was also to cause them to have an attitude of gratefulness to God and an encouragement to continue to obey Him and to trust in Him for leading them to victory.

It is crucial to remember God’s goodness to us in the past, which will cause us to continue to cling to Him in the future. There is a great hymn entitled, Come thou fount of every blessing. The second stanza goes like this. “Here I raise mine Ebenezer hither by Thine
help I’ve come. And I hope by Thy good pleasure safely to arrive at home. Jesus sought me when a stranger wandering from the fold of God. He to rescue me from danger interposed His precious blood.”

May we all set up our Ebenezer.

Pastor Marty