The stone of help

1 Samuel 7:7–12 KJV 1900

7 And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines. 8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines. 9 And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the Lord: and Samuel cried unto the Lord for Israel; and the Lord heard him. 10 And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel. 11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Beth-car. 12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.

Illustration will go here: The American Battlefield Trust is a charitable organization that exists for the purpose of preserving historic battlefields and educate the public as to what happened and why it matters. According to the Trust, there are more than 6,000 monuments, markers, memorials and tablets located on Civil War battlefields across the nation — 1,300 at Gettysburg alone. These memorials etched, engraved, sculpted, and shaped in stone ensure that America may never forget the sacrifice of the brave so that we may live free.

The American Battlefield Trust goes on to explain the importance of these monuments, emphasizing three main purposes:

To honor the sacrifice of armed forces – Above all, monuments serve as a lasting reminder of the bravery and sacrifice of the men and women who served.

To commemorate significant actions and individuals – They preserve the memory of heroic deeds and important figures, ensuring their legacy is not forgotten.

To transform battlefields into places of remembrance – Monuments help shift the focus from combat to reflection, making battlefields sacred spaces for quiet remembrance and historical reflection.

To transform battlefields into places of remembrance!

Transition

Today, as these stone monuments and memorials call us to remember the brave men and women who fought, bled, and died for our freedom…It brings to my mind the Stone the great prophet to Israel placed between Mizpeh and Chen after the Lord gave their armies an improbable victory over their enemies. The Bible says that after the battle had been fought and the victory had been won…After the Lord had thundered with a great thundered and discomfited their enemies, that Samuel placed a large stone in the place of their great victory and he called the name of the stone Ebenezer.

And Samuel said the reason that we are calling this stone Ebenezer, is because I don’t ever want you to forget that hitherto the Lord has helped us.

That stone of help transformed that battlefield into a place of remembrance…God has been good to us!

Hitherto, God has been good to us! Up until this point…God has been good to us!

I came today to transform somebody’s battlefield into a place of remembrance.

God has been good to us!

I know you might have walked in here in the middle of a battle.

A battle for your soul

A battle in your marriage

A battle on the job

At war in your finances

But it’s memorial Day! I call you to remember that hitherto God has been good to us

If you have breath in your body…God has been good

If you have the strength to get out of bed…God has been good.

A roof over your head

Clothes on your back

Food on the table

You’ve made it through some things that you never thought you could endure.

God has been good to us!

Today is a day of remember, and as we consider the sacrifice of American soldiers, may be also consider that Hitherto the Lord has helped us.

But what of this stone?

What of this stone called Ebenezer?

I submit to you today that this stone called Ebenezer was more than just a memorial, it was a stone of prophetic proportions.

More than just retelling the story of a single victory for a single army, it was foretelling a victory for all humanity.

the name Ebenezer simply means “The stone of Help”

Who is this stone that when we stand on the place of battles won, and enemies confounded…that we should remember his greatness.

the Psalmist declared this stone in Psalms 118:22

Psalm 118:22 KJV 1900

22 The stone which the builders refused Is become the head stone of the corner.

Genesis chapter 49 vs. 24 says calls Him the Mighty God of Jacob, he Shepherd, the stone of Israel.

Tie in Isaiah 28:16 Transition statement: The stone of our help! Let me take you to Isaiah chapter 28 to take a closer look at this stone who is our help!

Isaiah 28:16 KJV 1900

16 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, A tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: He that believeth shall not make haste.

and Peter in his first pastoral Epistle (1 Peter chapter 2 leaves no doubt who this stone is when he reaches back to these words of Isaiah and emphatically declares that it is Jesus Christ who is the precious stone…the stone that the builders rejected who has become our cornerstone.

Build up here

For just a few minutes this morning, I want to preach about the stone of our help!

The stone who, hitherto, He has been good to us!

Fist of all…Ebenezer was placed between Mizpeh and Chen by the hand of the prophet Samuel…but look at what Isaiah says about the Stone of our help.

saith the Lord God…Behold I LAY IN ZION

the stone monument positioned on the battlefield at Gettysburg was put there by a veterans committee…others have been erected through an act of congress or even a presidential order…

But…This stone was placed in Zion…this Stone of help was placed in Zion Not a president or an act of Congress…but by the Hand of God himself!

This stone

The stone of help!

He is a tried stone

the Hebrew word that is used there, spoke of the process of using fire to try metals. To prove them and to test them.

Isaiah will go on to declare this stone to be a precious stone.

this sentiment is echoed in 1 Peter 2:7

A precious stone is a stone of great value and great worth.

It is a stone such as a diamond, an emerald, a beryl or perhaps an opal that has been determined to be authentic.

The only way that you can determine the authenticity and the worth of a precious stone, is that stone has got to be tested and it has to be tried.

He is a tried stone!

For the Hebrew children, the fire didn’t destroy Him, it revealed Him…He is a tried stone.

The devil tried him in the wilderness when he tempted him to turn stones into bread, cast himself off the pinnacle of the temple, and to trade the suffering of Calvary for the earthly Kingdoms of this world

They tried him when he stood before Pilate and dared him to speak…yet he opened not his mouth

They tried him when they laid him low in Joseph’s borrowed tomb…

He is a tried stone!!

Scholars and skeptics have tried to prove that he never existed…with many of them being converted in the process.

He is reliable, trustworthy, and altogether dependable

He is a stone that has been fully tested for its strength, durability, and steadfastness…and he has been found worthy.

He is a tried stone!!

He is faithful! He is proven! He is dependable!

How do I know he is a healer? He is a tried stone!

How do I know he is a deliverer? He is a tried stone!

How do I know he is a waymaker?

How do I know he is a provider? He is a tried stone!

Isaiah didn’t stop there…this stone who is our help…he is:

A precious Corner Stone

The cornerstone was the principal stone, (the first stone laid in the foundation) usually placed at the corner of a structure, to guide the workers in their course. The cornerstone was larger than the other stones, the most solid, and the most carefully constructed of any in the building. Once the cornerstone was in place, it became the standard for determining every measurement for the construction and everything was aligned to it.

It was the responsibility to ensure that every other stone aligned with the cornerstone.

It would be standard by which every other component of the building would be measured

it established the pattern by which everything else would be built.

Many today want to simply add Jesus Christ to their already laid foundation.

Just another stone.

Others look at the call to bring life into alignment as being a burden, as being demanding. (Why does my life have to line up with the Word of God?

this is not demanding, it is liberating…

Not a burden, it is a blessing…

Once you get that cornerstone in place, it makes everything else simple.

you can build your life in alignment with his word and have an assurance that you aren’t going to end up in error or disrepair.

1 Peter 2:4-6 Christ is referred to as a cornerstone chosen by God to secure a promise and that those who trust Christ will never be put to shame.

1 Peter 2:4–6 ESV

4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

When we read that Christ is the cornerstone, it means that Jesus is our right and true foundation—perfect—and whatever is built in alignment with him will be right and true too.

A sure foundation

This sure foundation is in contrast with the wicked and deceitful who are being addressed throughout the chapter.

Isaiah 28:15 NLT

15 You boast, “We have struck a bargain to cheat death and have made a deal to dodge the grave. The coming destruction can never touch us, for we have built a strong refuge made of lies and deception.”

Isaiah 28:17–18 NLT

17 I will test you with the measuring line of justice and the plumb line of righteousness. Since your refuge is made of lies, a hailstorm will knock it down. Since it is made of deception, a flood will sweep it away. 18 I will cancel the bargain you made to cheat death, and I will overturn your deal to dodge the grave. When the terrible enemy sweeps through, you will be trampled into the ground.

The wicked have built their lives upon lies and deception. They believe they will avoid death and avert the grave. Yet, the Lord says, the hails storm will bring down their refuge and the flood will sweep it away.

The wicked are one storm away from destruction…

But…The Stone of our Help…

He is a sure foundation.

A sure foundation is something you can build upon without fear.

You can build your faith on The stone of Help!

You can build your hope on Him

You can build your family on Him!

You can build your marriage on Him!

You can build this life on the sure foundation!

You can build the life to come on the sure foundation

And when the oceans rise and thunders roar…I will soar with you above the storm!

When troubles come…when the hail falls from the sky!

When the flood comes from the sea…

My foundation is sure!

closing

Hitherto, God has been good to us!

Twas grace that brought us safe thus far

And grace will lead us on!