1 Samuel 7:12 - The Lord has helped us

Today I want to take you into 1 Samuel 7.

1 Samuel 7:9–12 CSB

9 Then Samuel took a young lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. He cried out to the Lord on behalf of Israel, and the Lord answered him. 10 Samuel was offering the burnt offering as the Philistines approached to fight against Israel. The Lord thundered loudly against the Philistines that day and threw them into such confusion that they were defeated by Israel. 11 Then the men of Israel charged out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines striking them down all the way to a place below Beth-car. 12 Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it upright between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, explaining, “The Lord has helped us to this point.”

This is to people who have known God, rebelled against God, who have been still loved by God and were then restored by God. Yet Samuel comes and set’s up a stone, something that had purpose. In the middle of where the battle had been fought He was making a statement, “The Lord has helped us to this point!”

Sometimes we need to set up our stones of remembrance.

Through the years Jenni and I have often sat and just talked, remembering the people in our lives, remembering the events in our stories, the challenges we have faced, the feelings of loss and gain. Sometimes there are things we pull out of a drawer and our minds are catapulted back in time to a moment. But there are also things that we deliberately put up for a purpose, to remember that the Lord has brought us this far.

This church has done it - see the photos on the wall.

City Hill Church, God has brought us to this place today. What a journey it has been.

How far the Lord has brought us! I sat here on Friday night as so many people in this church gathered together to practice and worship. And I was sitting with Tonde and he was remembering a song that says, "Bless the Lord - He has done great things." He’s setting up a stone and saying, “The Lord has helped us to this place!”

This is a call to firstly...

1.Remember the past

God has brought us this far. It was meant to cause us to reflect on God has helped us.

When I think like this, I find myself learning about the providence of God. This is so clearly seen in this story.

1.1. See God’s sweet providence

The providence means that God is always involved in all things and working it for His purpose, His glory and our good even if we can’t see it.

We sing this!

Waymaker - “Even when I don’t see it You’re working!”

Sovereign over us - “Even what the enemy means for evil, You turn it for our good...”

We speak this

When we say to each other, “God has got you!”

We take Scripture to remind each other that “He is with you and will never leave you!”

We struggle with this

Especially when can’t see how it’s true and life is tough. But it doesn’t change this truth:

Romans 8:28 CSB

28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

I believe that’s our story here today as we have embarked on this new chapter in our life as a church. “The Lord has helped us to this point.” Honestly, there were times I struggled to see it, but He has been there all along, leading, guiding, working, comforting. He is building His church!

1.2. Marvel at God’s gracious work

This is the story of God’s grace to the Israelites.

Grace is...

Unconditional love

From an Unobligated giver

To an Undeserving receiver

How do we see this?

They are far from God and doing their own thing but there is a growing longing for God v2

Then Samuel recognises the work of God in their lives and takes hold of that and partners with God in what He is doing. He partners by calling them to repentance.

1 Samuel 7:2–3 CSB

2 Time went by until twenty years had passed since the ark had been taken to Kiriath-jearim. Then the whole house of Israel longed for the Lord. 3 Samuel told them, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, get rid of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths that are among you, set your hearts on the Lord, and worship only him. Then he will rescue you from the Philistines.”

They fast and confess their sin, they do business with God. And then we see God show up miraculously for them.

1 Samuel 7:9–10 CSB

9 Then Samuel took a young lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. He cried out to the Lord on behalf of Israel, and the Lord answered him. 10 Samuel was offering the burnt offering as the Philistines approached to fight against Israel. The Lord thundered loudly against the Philistines that day and threw them into such confusion that they were defeated by Israel.

For many years they had been living under the oppression of the Philistines and Samuel is saying, “All that way, it’s God who was at work and has brought to to the now.”

That’s the evidence that ALL ALONG...

When they were far from God, He was near

Even when we were faithless, He was faithful

When they were weak, He was strong

This is the Gospel story. Rebellious sinners, deserving of God’s wrath, and yet God breaks in by sending His Son to die in my place to save me from my sin.

This is City Hill’s Story as God has been at work raising you up, changing hearts and lives, building a church for impact and His glory!

In the song Amazing grace John Newton writes:

Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come: 'tis grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.

2. Be confident for the future

So he says, “The Lord has helped us to this point.” This isn’t the end of the road. God isn’t finished with us. This isn’t time for us to be settling because God has got a future for His church. God wants to use us for His Kingdom purposes. The promises He gave in the past are true for the future.

He will continue to be our merciful and gracious God .

Philippians 1:6 CSB

6 I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

2.1. He is working in us

We can see that. We long for that.

2.2. He is working around us

We’re not here in this place by chance but this is God’s design.

2.3. God is working for His glory!

3. Worship in the now

There are times when we need to stop and reflect and say to each other that the Lord has brough us to this point. But this point is a place of worship. What happened in the past shpuld cause us to worship in the present. Grace in the past leads to grace in the present.

Some of you are here because of things God has allowed in your life in the past to bring you to tye present. To even worship Him in the storm.

Not our genius that got us here. Not our wealth. Not our influence. God brought us here!

The Spurgeon Study Bible: Notes Chapter 7

We do our Lord an injustice when we suppose he worked all his mighty acts in days gone by but does not perform wonders for the saints now on the earth. We should review our own diaries.

3.1 In praise to Him!

3.2. With gratitude for His grace

3.3. Readiness to live as worshippers, devoted to Him, committed to His will!