Samuel then took a large stone and placed it between the towns of Mizpah
and Jeshanah. He named it Ebenezer (which means “the stone of help”), for he
said, “Up to this point, the lord has helped us!” (1 Samuel 7:12; NLT)
Threatened by attack from the
neighboring Philistines, the Israelites – who spent twenty years in a
“fearful movement toward God” after the last devastating Philistinian attack (1
Sam 7:2) – begged Samuel to pray for them.
“Pray with all your might! Pray to
God, our God, that he’ll save us.” (1 Sam. 7:8)
Samuel prayed “fervently,” and as he
was praying, the Philistinians crossed the border... and God scattered them, bringing victory to
the Israelites as they chased their enemy out of town. Samuel then raised the
Ebenezer.
Ebenezer comes from eben ha-ezer,* Hebrew meaning “stone of help.” Samuel raises the
Ebenezer where God brought the Israelites victory, as a reminder that he saved
them from the Philistinians.
In most of my translations of the
bible this verse ends with some form of, “God has helped us so far.” The
Ebenezer serves as a reminder not only that God has helped us up to now, but
that, as long as we give our lives to him, God will continue to help us.
I’m a fan of Ebenezers. Though my
reminders aren’t typically rocks, I am big on symbolic things that correspond with events in my life, especially when and where God has done major work
in me. Things to commemorate experiences, to help me remember them. And I need
help remembering!
So whether it is a tattoo on my
foot, a ring on my finger, or a coin in my pocket, I cherish my Ebenezers. If I
find myself in a place where I am threatened with doubt, I can look at any of
these things and remember what God has done for me. I can remember that God has
helped me this far, and he’ll continue to help me as I strive to live in this
life that he has made.
God, today I ask you to keep me
focused, to help me remember how far you’ve brought me and to share your light
and grace with others as I move through my day.
Amen! :D
*NAB footnote
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