1 SAMUEL 7:10-12
We may or may not be familiar with the hymn ‘Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.’ It was written in 1757 by a pastor named Robert Robinson. It is a powerful song about God’s kindness and grace toward His people, even though the language is a little bit old-fashioned.
In the second stanza of the hymn it says, “Here I raise my Ebenezer, hither by thy help I’ve come.” “Ebenezer” is not a word we use in our everyday conversation, and most of us probably have not thought much about it, apart from giving it to our children as a Christian name. By the way, my second son goes by that name.
There is a powerful biblical story behind that name. The term “Ebenezer” comes from the Old Testament book of first Samuel. It is a Hebrew word, and its origin is explained to us in 1 Samuel 7:12. The Philistines attacked the people of Israel, but God gave them victory over their enemies. After they won the battle, Samuel set up a stone on the battlefield, between two cities – Mizpeh and Shen. After setting up the stone, he said to the people of Israel, “Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.”
The word Ebenezer literally means “stone of help.”
We worship a God in whose hands the future can be safely entrusted. As Samuel honoured God, He took care of Israel’s enemies. As the Church, let us review our calling to live as God’s ambassadors for a world in need, daily reminding ourselves, and each other, ‘Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.’
Lord, thank You for being our Ebenezer. May we find our confidence in You today and in the days to come, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
