Ebenezer is an old-fashioned name which probably doesn’t rank on the top 100 popular boys’ names in the UK nowadays (Noah, surprisingly, headed the list in 2022 apparently). Insofar as it’s known at all as a name, this is probably down to Charles Dickens, whose famous character Scrooge bore that first name. (‘A Christmas Carol’)
The name ‘Ebenezer’ means ‘rock of help’, and the main reference to it in the Bible is found in 1 Samuel 7. There, the Israelites are again facing trouble, threatened by their powerful neighbours, the Philistines. They ask Samuel, the prophet, to pray for them, and he does. Prayer is a powerful weapon, one that is often overlooked, but which this story remind us is at the heart of every victory.
1 Samuel 7:10 tells us that while Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. The implication is that they would ‘sitting ducks’, disarmed because they had chosen to prioritise God over war (a timely reminder that spiritual matters should never be left unattended, no matter what external circumstances tell us.) The account goes on, ‘But that day the Lord thundered wth loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites.’ (1 Sam 7:10)
Victory was won that day and then ‘Samuel took a stone and set it up beteen Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer (Rock of Help), saying Thus far has the Lord helped us.’ (1 Sam 7:12)
This story reminds us that God helps us, saves us, delivers us. It reminds us that there are tangible times and memorable moments when God intervenes in our lives. It reminds us of God’s miraculous, supernatural help in our lives and the fact that we cannot separate any victory from God.
I always imagine the rock Ebenezer to be large, a worthy memorial, something which could not easily be overlooked. But I’m also mindful of the five smooth stones David chose from the stream, which probably were not large at all, one of which was used to kill the giant Philistine, Goliath. (1 Ssam 17:40) It’s not the size of the stone, ultimately, which matters. It’s the size of our God who wins the victory.
Memorial stones can easily become mere monuments. But the truth is our lives are built on such stones. Our testimony is always ‘This is where God helped us.’ This is what God has done. This is what He did. May we lay our Ebenezers in the places where we have received God’s help, and may our lives ring forth with the testimonies of what our God has done for us.
