What is the Ebenezer Stone?
1 Samuel 7:3-15
3 So Samuel said to all the Israelites, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” 4 So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only.
5 Then Samuel said, “Assemble all Israel at Mizpah, and I will intercede with the Lord for you.” 6 When they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the Lord. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the Lord.” Now Samuel was serving as leader[a] of Israel at Mizpah.
7 When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them. When the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid because of the Philistines. 8 They said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines.” 9 Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and sacrificed it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. He cried out to the Lord on Israel’s behalf, and the Lord answered him.
10 While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites. 11 The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Kar.
12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer,[b] saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”
13 So the Philistines were subdued and they stopped invading Israel’s territory. Throughout Samuel’s lifetime, the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines. 14 The towns from Ekron to Gath that the Philistines had captured from Israel were restored to Israel, and Israel delivered the neighboring territory from the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
15 Samuel continued as Israel’s leader all the days of his life.
Today we see what a good leader looks like. First of all Samuel tells the Israelites to return to God by getting rid of all of their idols, which were being worshiped by the pagan nations. Then, they assembled and publicly repented for their sins, and Samuel interceded for them. They also fasted as a sign of returning to God in devoted prayer. When the Philistines attacked them, Samuel intervened and offered up a lamb as an offering for their sin.
While Samuel was offering up the sacrifice, the Philistines came to attack and were completely routed by the Israelites. The Lord thundered with a loud thunder, and they were thrown into a panic as they rushed out of the Israelites' land. Significantly, Samuel set up a stone as a memorial stone, and called it "Ebenezer", which meant the "Lord as helped us thus far"! So every time they would see that stone they would remember that as they repented and turned to God in confession, God would absolve them of their sin and provide the power to defeat their enemies.
Does this pattern sound familiar? Is it easy for us to run to other gods and begin to put our trust in them for security and happiness? When we stray from God, we see consequences of not trusting in Him. God gives us what we REALLY want! And then we come to worship and confess our sins together. A called pastor announces the absolution, "Because of what Jesus has done for you on the cross, your sins are forgiven!"
So who is the lamb that is sacrificed as a burnt offering to the Lord? Jesus is the Lamb of God, who was the once and for all sacrifice for sins. We don't not need to continue to sacrifice any innocent animals anymore. When we come to communion, the bread and wine are an "Ebenezer" of sorts, that remind us of what God has done for us in Christ. We receive communion so that we never forget what Jesus has done for us, and the forgiveness he has given us on the cross. Every week we need come to repent of our sin and then hear the words, "The body of Christ" given for you! "The blood of Christ, shed for you! Do this in remembrance of me"
There will be enemies for us as we seek to be faithful to our calling! But as we remember God has delivered us and we trust in Him alone, we can take the ground back for His kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. Take a moment to think about what gods you are tempted to serve. Confess your sin and return to God. Amen.
3 So Samuel said to all the Israelites, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” 4 So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only.
5 Then Samuel said, “Assemble all Israel at Mizpah, and I will intercede with the Lord for you.” 6 When they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the Lord. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the Lord.” Now Samuel was serving as leader[a] of Israel at Mizpah.
7 When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them. When the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid because of the Philistines. 8 They said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines.” 9 Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and sacrificed it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. He cried out to the Lord on Israel’s behalf, and the Lord answered him.
10 While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites. 11 The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Kar.
12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer,[b] saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”
13 So the Philistines were subdued and they stopped invading Israel’s territory. Throughout Samuel’s lifetime, the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines. 14 The towns from Ekron to Gath that the Philistines had captured from Israel were restored to Israel, and Israel delivered the neighboring territory from the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
15 Samuel continued as Israel’s leader all the days of his life.
Today we see what a good leader looks like. First of all Samuel tells the Israelites to return to God by getting rid of all of their idols, which were being worshiped by the pagan nations. Then, they assembled and publicly repented for their sins, and Samuel interceded for them. They also fasted as a sign of returning to God in devoted prayer. When the Philistines attacked them, Samuel intervened and offered up a lamb as an offering for their sin.
While Samuel was offering up the sacrifice, the Philistines came to attack and were completely routed by the Israelites. The Lord thundered with a loud thunder, and they were thrown into a panic as they rushed out of the Israelites' land. Significantly, Samuel set up a stone as a memorial stone, and called it "Ebenezer", which meant the "Lord as helped us thus far"! So every time they would see that stone they would remember that as they repented and turned to God in confession, God would absolve them of their sin and provide the power to defeat their enemies.
Does this pattern sound familiar? Is it easy for us to run to other gods and begin to put our trust in them for security and happiness? When we stray from God, we see consequences of not trusting in Him. God gives us what we REALLY want! And then we come to worship and confess our sins together. A called pastor announces the absolution, "Because of what Jesus has done for you on the cross, your sins are forgiven!"
So who is the lamb that is sacrificed as a burnt offering to the Lord? Jesus is the Lamb of God, who was the once and for all sacrifice for sins. We don't not need to continue to sacrifice any innocent animals anymore. When we come to communion, the bread and wine are an "Ebenezer" of sorts, that remind us of what God has done for us in Christ. We receive communion so that we never forget what Jesus has done for us, and the forgiveness he has given us on the cross. Every week we need come to repent of our sin and then hear the words, "The body of Christ" given for you! "The blood of Christ, shed for you! Do this in remembrance of me"
There will be enemies for us as we seek to be faithful to our calling! But as we remember God has delivered us and we trust in Him alone, we can take the ground back for His kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. Take a moment to think about what gods you are tempted to serve. Confess your sin and return to God. Amen.
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