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.” 1 Samuel 7:12
“I’m going to ask you two scholars,” she said, “this question: What is an Ebenezer? I know that there are churches named Ebenezer, but I never knew what they were named for.”
I had to look it up. I kept thinking of Ebenezer Scrooge and the line in that marvelous hymn that says, “Here I raise my Ebenezer.” And I found it! Ebenezer is a stone that Samuel set up to thank God for God’s gracious intervention on Israel’s behalf. That’s what the text above tells us.
For Christians, our Ebenezer is the Cross. This is the sign of God’s great love for us. I especially love the Cross in our sanctuary. This is the Cross with Christ the King on it. The message is clear: the crucified one is also the risen and reigning one.
There are, of course, other more personal Ebenezers in our lives. I have a friend who has a scar where God intervened to save his life. Another friend of mine was not expected to live at birth – he did and his name is his Ebenezer; his name is Vic.
My wife, daughter and I drove through a harrowing fire storm in south Idaho. What we thought was a sand storm was a fiery inferno. As we drove through the heat and flames, we had an Amy Grant CD playing and, in the worst of it, she sang, “Angels watching over me every where I go.” That’s a personal Ebenezer for me.
I’d like to encourage you to identify at least one sign, memory or object that is an Ebenezer to you. Then, as you think of it or hold it or look upon it, give thanks to the God whose grace is so freely given us.
Lord Jesus, thank you for your intervening love and care in my life. Let me raise my “Ebenezer” as an offering of praise and gratitude. And when I forget your presence in my need, remind me of this sign you’ve given me. Amen
