1 Samuel 7:3-13 (NRSV)
Samuel raises the Ebenezer stone
Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, "If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Astartes from among you. Direct your heart to the Lord, and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines." So Israel put away the Baals and the Astartes, and they served the Lord only.
Then Samuel said, "Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you." So they gathered at Mizpah, and drew water and poured it out before the Lord. They fasted that day, and said, "We have sinned against the Lord." And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah.
When the Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the people of Israel heard of it they were afraid of the Philistines. The people of Israel said to Samuel, "Do not cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us, and pray that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines." So Samuel took a sucking lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord; Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him. As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel; but the Lord thundered with a mighty voice that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion; and they were routed before Israel. And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and struck them down as far as beyond Beth-car.
Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Jeshanah, and named it Ebenezer; for he said, "Thus far the Lord has helped us." So the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of Israel; the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
Reflection
Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, "If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Astartes from among you. Direct your heart to the Lord, and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines." So Israel put away the Baals and the Astartes, and they served the Lord only.
Then Samuel said, "Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you." So they gathered at Mizpah, and drew water and poured it out before the Lord. They fasted that day, and said, "We have sinned against the Lord." And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah.
When the Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the people of Israel heard of it they were afraid of the Philistines. The people of Israel said to Samuel, "Do not cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us, and pray that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines." So Samuel took a sucking lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord; Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him. As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel; but the Lord thundered with a mighty voice that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion; and they were routed before Israel. And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and struck them down as far as beyond Beth-car.
Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Jeshanah, and named it Ebenezer; for he said, "Thus far the Lord has helped us." So the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of Israel; the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
Reflection
At some point you have to do it. You must set up that stone marker that declares that you know God has helped you. I've been stuck in so many situations where I don't know where to turn. I have tried to use all of the resources I had at hand and the solution was not present. And I muddled and muddled and just couldn't dig my way out of that hole.
How selfish could I have been. It's easy to be vague about this. Early in life and a few times since then it's easy to recreate a specific scene when I have tried to go it alone. Tried to carry the burden all on my own. Tried to be the Savior of my family, my life, my job... and then one day you realize.
It seems the Holy Spirit guides you back to catechism teachings, or in my case Pastor Klafter flat out told me to get my act together. And then the period of digging and study and going back to the Bible begins. The search to learn is on. The Spirit moves you to begin again and you do this time. You begin and grow in faith and start to learn that God was on your side that entire time. Waiting for you to return to the Father. Wanting so badly to step in but he had to wait for his son to learn.
I realized my selfish sin and confessed. Still confess every day. It's not about me anymore, it's about God and pleasing God and doing God's will in my life. Each day is a new day. Each day I arise from my sin to begin life anew. Anew as Pastor Sara mentioned Sunday as a living sacrifice. I give my life to God and get to live it. How great is that!
At some point you have to do it. Raise that stone of Ebenezer and declare your faith and hope and trust in God. One thing that old hymn would do for me was make me revisit this passage to see what the heck this whole "raise my Ebenezer" was about. Well it's time. God will take you through the battle! Raise that stone and declare a song of praise to God! "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" Thanks be to God!
Prayer
Lord, forgive my selfish pride as I humbly turn to you. Only you can save. In you I place all my hope, faith and trust, for you are God. I praise you and loudly, boldly, clearly sing your praise... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
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