1 Samuel 7:12
Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us. Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.
After Israel turned back to God, He gave them a signal victory over the Philistines on the very field of their former defeat, and Samuel set up a great stone between Mizpeh and Shen and named it Ebenezer, meaning the stone of help, to declare that the Lord had helped them up to that point so the occasion would never be forgotten. This keeping of memorials of special deliverance follows the same pattern commanded through Moses and Joshua after leaving Egypt. To say the Lord has helped hitherto means keeping fresh in memory every token of His care, mercy, and supply as imperishable mementos guarded in the mind, and looking back on them gives firmer assurance than ever that He will help to the end. That remembrance strengthens for all that remains of the pilgrimage, giving courage without dismay in new perplexities, afflictions, and bereavements, with certainty that strength will be given proportionate to every trial. Because God has brought His people safely this far, His past help is reason to trust Him wholly in present danger without fear, to do today's humblest duties with fidelity and prayer, and to take hold of tomorrow's work with fresh courage to His glory.
The Victory and Memorial
The stone marks a signal victory gained after Israel's repentance was accepted. Israel stood in silent awe, trembling with hope and fear, and then beheld the slaughter of their enemies. Though unprepared for battle, they seized the weapons of the slaughtered Philistines and pursued the fleeing host to Beth-car. This triumph came on the very field where twenty years before Israel had been smitten before the Philistines, the priests slain, and the ark of God taken.
After the victory over the Philistines Samuel set up a great stone of thankfulness between Mizpeh and Shen as a memorial so that the occasion might never be forgotten. He called its name Ebenezer, meaning the stone of help, to declare that the Lord had helped them up to that point.
The memorial belongs to a pattern in which Moses and Joshua were commanded by God to preserve memorials and build remembrances of special victories after leaving Egypt. The victory shows that the path of obedience to God is the path of safety and happiness for nations as well as individuals, while transgression leads only to disaster and defeat.
As a result the Philistines were so completely subdued that they surrendered the strongholds taken from Israel and refrained from hostility for many years. Other nations followed this example, and the Israelites enjoyed peace until the close of Samuel's sole administration.
Remembering God's Past Help
Looking back on how the Lord has helped hitherto gives firm assurance, firmer than ever before, that He will help to the end. Confidence is therefore not to be cast away in the face of great things ahead but to be made firmer while getting ready for them. The stone set up as a monumental pillar is a reminder of what the Lord has done to comfort His people and to save them from the hand of the destroyer. Remembered mercies, comfort, deliverance and mercy in the past give Christians confidence that He will help them through future trials and conflict for the rest of their journey.
Saying that the Lord has helped hitherto means keeping fresh in memory every token of care, goodness, mercy, love and promises. That includes every tear wiped from the eyes, every pain soothed, every anxiety removed, every fear dispelled, every want supplied, every sorrow relieved and every mercy bestowed. They are to be kept as imperishable mementos hung in memory's halls and written on the tablets of the mind, guarded so no part is obliterated or dimmed. The story of what God has done in personal experience is to be expressed by monumental pillars, and by keeping a diary of the help given in working for others and writing down every interesting experience, so the memory stays fresh and selfishness is shut out.
That remembrance strengthens for all that remains of the pilgrimage and for new perplexities in the coming conflict, looking at what is past as well as what is to come. It gives courage to take up work where it is found and courage in new trials and increased perplexities, even in afflictions, privations and bereavements, without dismay. There is certainty that no trial will come without strength proportionate to bear it, that the trial will not exceed the strength given to bear it, and that strength will be given according to the days. This leads to committing the keeping of the soul to a faithful Creator who keeps what is committed to His trust.
Applying Ebenezer Today
Ebenezer means declaring that the Lord has helped up to the present, and it is spoken with fresh courage after faithfully doing today's duties however humble, preparing to take hold of tomorrow's work ready to do any work be it ever so humble. Done with strict fidelity, patience and calm reliance on God for strength, letting light shine for Christ even in little duties, this daily course leads to standing ready before God asking what He wants done and seeking His Spirit and strength, growing up to the full stature of men and women in Christ. Because God has been the dependence all the difficult way and has brought His people safely this far, His past help is reason to trust Him wholly in present danger without fear, for He holds what holds them and will not fail now. That help gives courage to trust more and fear less, to pray for direction where to labor, and to go where Jesus leads.
Past help calls for prayer to ascend to heaven and for freedom from anxiety even when every way to work seems hedged up, telling it all to God and refusing to be drawn away from the work. It means waiting patiently and trusting in the Lord and calling upon God and looking away from men, because God cannot make a mistake and cannot err and will still be help to those who so trust. God's leading and help in the past is ground for faith in planning present work, so those who shared in the early message and saw its presentation blessed should rejoice to repeat those same truths, allow no words of discouragement, and lay plans trusting the same divine guidance will continue.
Acknowledging that the Lord has helped to this point gives His name all the glory, magnifying Him with heart and voice full of praise and loving Jesus with the whole heart. That help is known in personal affliction and long sleepless nights with unfolding truth and felt nearness to heaven, and it applies to personal experience in that the Lord has sustained and health is good. Remembered help is ground for perfect confidence in God, for believing rather than faithless unbelief and for continual rejoicing, including gratitude for sparing in great mercy the life of an overworked afflicted servant. Those so helped are to draw from God in hoping, praying and believing, to keep a fragrant spirit and pleasant speech, and to rejoice always with faith in God.
The Lord's help up to now means Jesus is close beside His servant in controversy whatever course an opponent pursues. Those helped are to keep attention fixed on Christ, and by beholding Him manifest the love He claims which it is their happiness to make known, and the evident divine influence with them commands respect so even opposers of truth do not wholly disrespect and deny it. The same declaration of gratitude for help up to that point applies to moving the publishing work from Battle Creek to Washington in obedience to direction, where the Lord prepared the way at every step with evidence of help leaving no room for doubt. The Lord is helper of His workers in the South who have shown self-denial and self-sacrifice, having helped them up to now under His guidance, and He will strengthen every effort to advance His kingdom and prepare the way before them if they walk in His way and do His will. If they walk humbly with Him He will go before them and enable a true work ensuring happiness, honor and usefulness, so they are to put trust in God, regulate expenditures by His directions, and do all to His glory. The words also thank God that the Lord has helped up to now in evangelistic work, where He helps by drawing crowded congregations night and day, blessing preaching and health addresses to call out large numbers, and bringing thirty-five souls to take their stand for the truth as trustworthy converts while the work still goes forward for more.