“Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.” – 1 Samuel 7:12

The Philistines were part of a group of nations that the Lord intentionally left in the Promised Land to “test,” “prove” and “teach” the new generation of Israelites who had no experience of war (see Judges 3:1-4).

Sadly, Israel came under Philistine oppression; the people of God became the oppressed for decades because they had started worshipping Philistine gods and idols.

The situation became so bad that the Philistines made it illegal for the Israelites to make or sharpen any metallic tools.

It was an offence to own a weapon of war.

If they wanted to sharpen their garden tools, they had to go to the Philistines to do it for them, at a fee. 

Inevitably, there were recurrent attacks by the Philistines to rustle livestock and capture food from the Israelites.

This demonstrates a key spiritual principle: We become subservient to those whose gods we worship.

Eventually, Samuel, the prophet, felt that the time had come for a new beginning.  Enough was enough!

He called for a day of national prayer and repentance.

Unarmed and helpless, the terrified people told Samuel; “Do not cease to cry out to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines…Then Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him.“

1 Sam. 7:8

At the event, he sacrificed a little lamb, which of course was a shadow of Christ, “the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29).

Don’t be deceived, the key to total deliverance from oppression is repentance from idolatry and embracing the Lamb of God as Lord and Saviour.

When the Philistines heard that all the people had gathered together, they prepared a final assault to finish them off. 

Unarmed and helpless, the terrified people told Samuel; “Do not cease to cry out to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines…Then Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him.”

The Bible says the “LORD thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day, and so confused them that they were overcome before Israel.”

Now, this was a one-of-a-kind victory; the Philistines were defeated with thunder!

The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but are mighty through God!

There is never a standard formula that God uses to perform His miracles. 

He has a way of surprising us with something completely new from His box of tricks, you know.

It was such a rout of a victory against the Philistines that it deserved commemorating.

Our meditation says that Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”

The name ‘Ebenezer’ means ‘Stone of Help.’

It was set up between Mizpah, which means ‘watch-tower’ and Shen, which means ‘change’ in Hebrew.

Did you know? Your ‘Ebenezer’ lies at a point between changing and being watchful.

The psalmist said; “I will lift up my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2)

I believe that setting up the Ebenezer memorial stone was a massive statement of faith.

In essence, Prophet Samuel was telling God that it was not going to be a one-off victory but a turning point for the nation.

He was emulating Joshua’s secret of commemorating turning points with stone markers.

In Joshua 4:9, 20, he laid memorial stones when the Israelites crossed the final frontier – the River Jordan – for the first time into the Promised Land.

Consequently, 1 Samuel 7:13 says; “So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not come anymore into the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.”

I strongly feel this July someone reading this shall finally cross the Rubicon and will set up a giant ‘Ebenezer’ memorial to the glory of the Father.

Yes, receive your breakthrough in the Name of Jesus!

Prayer:                                                           

Almighty God, my help comes from no one but You. Oppression is not my portion. Ebenezer! You have helped and I will glorify You, in the Name of Jesus, Amen!