Ebenezer: Stone of Help

In the hymn "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing," the lyrics of verse two read, "Here I raise my Ebenezer, hither by thy help I come."  I have sung this song for years and never had a clue as to what an Ebenezer was.  The hymn continues: "Hither to thy love has blest me; thou has bro't me to this place."

1 Samuel 7 provides the background of this well-known song. The Israelites were mourning because it seemed that the Lord had abandoned them.  Samuel told them if they were serious about returning to the Lord, they must get rid of their foreign gods.  He then told them to come to Mizpah, and "I will pray to the Lord for you" (7:5b NASB).  In a great ceremony, they drew water from a well and poured it out before the Lord. They also went without food and confessed they had sinned against the Lord.  The Philistine rulers heard that all Israel was at Mizpah.  They mobilized an army and proceeded to Mizpah. The Israelites pleaded with Samuel to ask the Lord to protect them.  "So Samuel took a young lamb and offered it to the Lord as a whole burnt offering" (7:9 NLT).

When the Philistines arrived for battle, the Lord spoke with a mighty voice of thunder from heaven.  The Philistines were thrown into confusion; the Israelites chased them from Mizpah, slaughtering them all along the way to Beth-car. Samuel, who was Israel's judge, took a large stone and placed it between Mizpah and Jeshanah.  He "named it Ebenezer" - the stone of help - for he said, "Thus far the Lord has helped us" (7:12 NIV).  The stone Ebenezer commemorated a great victory attributed solely to God, a time when God intervened and interposed Himself between the Israelites and their enemies.  Throughout Samuel's lifetime, the Philistines were subdued, for the Lord's powerful hand was raised against them.

Samuel set forth the disciplines Israel would have to practice before God would hear their prayers or protect them: Get rid of your foreign gods and determine to obey only the Lord.

I am struck by the parallels between Israel at that time and the United States today.

The Philistines were just waiting for an opportunity to attack Israel.

The enemies of our country are probing for any weakness to use for their advantage.

The Philistines saw their chance when the Israelites left the protection of the city.

The Israelites, in obedience to God, got rid of their foreign gods and determined to obey only God.  The Philistines showed up for battle just as Samuel was offering a sacrifice. God showed His displeasure "with a mighty voice of thunder from heaven" (7:10 NLT).  Ears ringing and heads aching, the Philistines could not even decide which way to retreat.  In an understatement Samuel wrote, "So the Philistines were subdued and did not invade Israelite territory again" (7:13 NIV).

Our country needs prayer.  A nation in its hour of need has one true fortress against evil: the prayers of God's people.  As E. M. Bounds puts it, "Our prayers should be thrown across their pathway as they rust in their downward course to a lost eternity."  "Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and hear their land" (2 Chronicles 7:13 NLT).

We need to line up our lives according to the word of God.  We must be specific in our prayers.  When God answers, we should make a place of worship and praise.  I lift up my Ebenezer in remembrance of Your intervention in my life. You have brought me to this place.  I praise and thank You for interposing Yourself between my enemies and me.