TEXT:

‘Samuel then took a stone and placed it between Mizpah and Jeshanah and named it Ebenezer (meaning, “the Stone of Help”), for he said, “The Lord has certainly helped us!”’ (1 Samuel 7:12 TLB)

THOUGHT:

My favourite DVD is probably ‘The Muppets Christmas Carol’ and a certainty for watching again during December. Based on Charles Dicken’s novel, the story is about a miserly moneylender called Ebenezer Scrooge. He was so intent on amassing wealth that he did not care who he exploited or what relationship he ruined. On Christmas Eve night he was visited by three spirits who showed him his past, present and future. They helped him discover the true meaning of Christmas as a time for love, joy and giving and revolutionised his lifestyle, much to the amazement of everyone who knew him. Every time I watch it I always say, “If I was Prime Minister I would make everybody watch it at Christmas”, so powerful is its message!

Today’s Teaching is about the place called “Ebenezer” and there are four important truths we can learn from the events that happened there.

• Ebenezer – The Place of a Previous Defeat – ‘Israel went out to battle against the Philistines, and encamped beside Ebenezer’ (1 Samuel 4:1)

Israel faced another battle with their old enemy, the Philistines. Due to their moral and spiritual decline, God had withdrawn His protection and the Israelite soldiers were routed. Eli the priest’s two sons were killed and the Ark of the Covenant was captured. The enemy soon found out that God was not like one of their idols, He was quite capable of taking care of Himself. After a series of disasters befell them, the Philistines quickly sent the Ark back with an offering of repentance!¹

Armies can lose a battle or two but still win the war. Defeats are a part of life which we need to accept and move forward from. The worst thing we can do is park beside our defeat.

Sometimes the reason for our defeat is us and we must face the facts that our behaviour meant God could not take our side and stand with us. However all is not lost for, ‘For His anger is but for a moment, His favour is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning’ (Psalm 30:5).

• Ebenezer – The Opportunity for Repentance – ‘If you return to the Lord with all your hearts….He will deliver you’ (1 Samuel 7:3)

Approximately twenty years after that defeat, during a time of national soul-searching and crying to the Lord, Samuel’s leadership comes to the fore. His challenge to ditch idolatry and turn back to the living God is taken up, ‘So they destroyed their idols…and worshiped only the Lord’ (1 Samuel 7:4).

Christmas reminds us of Christ’s birth and gives another opportunity to respond to the reason why He came. ‘You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins’ (Matthew 1:21). He has done His part, but what about yours? Have you repented and received Him into your heart?

As the carol, O little town of Bethlehem says,

“How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given;
So God imparts to human hearts, the blessings of His Heaven.
No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.”

• Ebenezer – Someone is Praying for You – ‘I will pray to the Lord for you’ (1 Samuel 7:5)

When we are the reason for our previous defeat, God has to take us back to turn that defeat into a victory. The Philistines did not want to lose control over Israel, nor does sin and Satan over you. They chose to attack but this time God intervened.

Samuel’s prayers achieved two things. He helped the Israelites to repent and then in response to their fear of attack and another defeat when they cried out, ‘Do not cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us, that He may save us’ (1 Samuel 7:8), Samuel called on God and the Lord answered. Nothing stopped his prayer from being heard.

Someone is ready to pray with and for you, but perhaps reading this you think that because you are on your own, no one is there to pray on your behalf. Remember Jesus is our High Priest and makes intercession for us.² He is ready to include you in His prayer. Lift up your voice to Him and He will come and save you!

• Ebenezer – The Place of Victory

God supernaturally caused loud thunder to disorientate the Philistines and Israel experienced a relatively easy victory. This time there were no multiple gravestones, instead a memorial stone Samuel erected, inscribed with the words “Ebenezer” which means, ‘Thus far has the Lord helped us!’ More than just a victory; with the enemy subdued, Israel was able to recover lost territory.

Did God’s people deserve such blessing after years of idolatry and backsliding? No, but such is the grace of God, His unmerited favour is able to restore years of loss. ‘The Lord says, “I will give you back what you lost….once again you will have all the food you want, and you will praise the Lord your God, who does these miracles for you’ (Joel 2:25-26 NLT).

Only a couple of weeks after Peter denied three times that he was Jesus’ disciple, Jesus asked him three times, “Do you love Me?”³ The Bible states Peter was grieved when Jesus asked him the third time. The wounds of denial were still raw. Jesus took Peter back to it, not to rub salt in the wounds but as a balm to ensure true repentance and restoration. Mission accomplished; for Peter later stood on the streets of Jerusalem and publicly declared the gospel of Jesus Christ. Not in his own strength this time but in the power of the Holy Spirit. The result, three thousand changed sides to follow Christ! Hallelujah!

Endnotes:

¹ 1 Samuel 5:1-6:12                 ² Hebrews 7:25            ³ John 21:15-17