The Lord is my help
Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the Lord has helped us. 1 Samuel 7:12 (ESV)
Have we thought about the context in which the prophet Samuel placed this large stone between Mizpah and Shen as a monument and called it Eben-Eser?
1. Israel wants to achieve victory
Without a change of heart, Israel wants to achieve victory in a war against the Philistines by bringing in the Ark of the Covenant. This project fails completely.
As soon as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel gave a mighty shout, so that the earth resounded. 1 Samuel 4:5 (ESV)
The Philistines heard the shouting. What's going on over there? they asked each other. She was seized by fear. Their God has come to their camp! they shouted.
Then the Philistine commanders encouraged their soldiers: Arise, you Philistines, be men! Show them who you are! Fight like lions! And kill 34,000 Israelites in two battles and take the Ark of the Covenant with them as booty.
2 Samuel prays to the Lord
And 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 Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” So the people of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and they served the Lord only. Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.” 1 Samuel 7:3-5 (ESV)
3. Israel recognizes their mistakes and turns to God
They fast all day and confess to God we have sinned. The Philistines then attack a third time.
But the Lord thundered with a mighty sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were defeated before Israel.
1 Samuel 7:10b (ESV)
Then
Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called
its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the Lord has helped us.
1 Samuel 7:12 (ESV)
4. God is full of mercy
Israel is showing that they are really serious. They separate themselves from their idolatry, repent and serve the Lord alone who forgave them their sins. Now they know what Samuel says: The Lord has helped up to this point!
Song: Our help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
He is the Guardian of his people who never sleeps because he is awake. It is wonderful to entrust yourself to the goodness of the Lord and to see his miracles every day.
According to Psalm 121:2-4 JMS (1985)
Let us remember God's actions. Thank you for salvation. Giving thanks for God's guidance, protection and blessing. God is full of mercy and love. And through Jesus Christ forgives us our trespasses.
Author: Egon Waechter
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