Bible Reflections From Scripture Union Volume OneSample

Ebenezer: Stone of God’s Ever-Present Help Read 1 Samuel 7:2-17 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far has the LORD helped us." 1 Samuel 7:12 All throughout Israel’s history from the time they left Egypt, time and time again, God punished His people for worshipping idols. Today, we still tend to be like the Israelites. We need to rid ourselves of all our ‘modern’ idols too and worship only Him. Idols these days, other than religious objects, can be people, money, our electronic gadjets, job or even studies. We must in true repentance, rid ourselves of the distractions of all symbols of status. Only then will God be our help in times of need. In today’s reading, the whole nation of Israel repented and mourned for their sins. They cleansed themselves of their worship of idols. It was a fresh start led by the last of their Judges, Samuel. The Philistines began to attack Israel again. For once this time the Israelites were fully prepared for battle as they had gone through national repentance and had given up all their foreign idols. They had Samuel to pray for them. As Samuel was offering the sacrifice, the Philistines attacked them but the Lord sent thunder to confuse the Philistines. While they were off guard, the Israelites won the victory over them. For once they even gained some Philistine territory. Samuel immediately gave all glory to God by building a stone altar he named Ebenezer, which means ‘stone of help’ in commemoration of God’s help, not only that day, but all the way. We need to set up such milestones in our lives so that we can remember and give God the glory. These milestones are also specially helpful whenever new challenges confront us and we need to have a renewed assurance of God’s Ebenezer yet again. Meditate on this verse in the hymn ‘Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing’: Here I raise my Ebenezer, hither by Thy HELP I’ve come. Let Thy goodness like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee.