Raising an Ebenezer

1 Samuel 7:3–13 KJV 1900

3 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. 4 Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the Lord only. 5 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the Lord. 6 And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the Lord, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the Lord. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh. 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. 13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

Series: When God Calls Sermon: Raising an Ebenezer Scripture: 1 Samuel 7:3-13 Speaker: Rev. Adrian S. Taylor Main Idea: When God calls His people back to Himself, He requires wholehearted repentance that removes rival loyalties and returns us to obedient worship. As we humble ourselves and cry out in complete dependence, the Lord intervenes with power that we cannot produce on our own. So, we remember His help by marking His faithfulness and continuing to rely on Him for every victory ahead. Introduction Dr. Joseph H. Jackson (January 11, 1900 - August 18, 1990) carried the weight of shepherding a historic congregation and providing denominational leadership through turbulent times. He pastored one of America’s first mega churches, Olivet Baptist Church in Chicago, which had more than 20,000 members at one point. Then, beginning in 1953, he was elected president of the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc., serving in that role for 29 years (1953-1982). In one widely noted message on the meaning of the cross, Jackson pressed the church toward moral righteousness, insisting that the people of God must not be driven by bitterness or vengeance. He warned with plain conviction, “You can’t build a great church preaching hate, envy, and revenge,” because the cross calls believers to a holiness that guards the heart and preserves the witness.”

There is a calling in this text that still reaches into our lives. God does not merely invite us to improve. He calls us to return. His call interrupts complacency, convicts the conscience, and gathers the heart back to Him. When the Lord calls your name, He is not trying to shame you. He is trying to save you. (1 Samuel 7:3)

And every time God answers that call with mercy, He gives us an Ebenezer, a holy marker that says, The Lord helped me right here. Ebenezers are not trophies of our strength. They are testimonies of His grace. They remind us that the God who called us out of sin is the same God who carries us through storms, and the same God who will keep us until the end. (1 Samuel 7:12; Philippians 1:6)

That is why this series is not just about ancient history. It is about present obedience. God is still calling families, calling leaders, calling a church, calling a community, to come back to Him with all the heart, to depend on Him in the battle, and to remember His help when the victory comes. (Hebrews 3:15)

There are moments when things are as low as can be, and there is nowhere to go but up. 1 Samuel 7 is one of those moments in Israel's history. The nation has been overtaken by idolatry after drifting from the Lord in gradual apostasy. The ark of the covenant has been taken (1 Samuel 4:10-11), Eli the high priest has died (1 Samuel 4:18), and the glory departs from Israel, replaced by a spirit of Icahbod that has cloaked the land like a wet blanket (1 Samuel 4:19-22). Instead of the words of the Law being prominent in every house, idols are proliferated throughout the homes in Israel. Chapter 4 concludes with a sad review of the aftermath of Israel's defeat. It was the Day the Glory Departed (1 Samuel 4:12-22) I. Grave Report (1 Samuel 4:12-17) II. Grief-Striken Response (1 Samuel 4:18-20) III. Glory Removed (1 Samuel 4:21-22) Chapters 5-6 provide a history of the ark's movements and impact on the Philistine tribes after its capture. The Showdown of the Gods (1 Samuel 5:1 - 6:21) I. Showdown in Dagon's Tent (1 Samuel 5:1-5) II. Suffering in the Land (1 Samuel 5:6-12) III. Sending Back the Ark (1 Samuel 6:1-21) Israel has shown itself to be unfaithful, but God continues to show himself faithful.

He does not leave them drowning in the consequences of their drift without sending a call back home. Samuel stands in the gap and speaking with clarity. If you want God to move in the nation, the children of Israel must return to Him with all their hearts

That is why this message is not simply about a stone in the ground. It is about a God who restores the soul of His people. It begins with repentance, it continues with dependence, and it ends with testimony. Today we are going to walk through three movements that help every believer raise an Ebenezer in real life.

I. Repent to God (1 Samuel 7:3-6)

A. Repent based on the message from God (1 Samuel 7:3-4)

“And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel…” - After twenty years of spiritual apathy, the people are jolted toward revival through the voice of the prophet Samuel. Samuel does not whisper, and he does not limit the message to a small circle. He speaks to all the house of Israel, and he calls the nation to come back to the Lord with all the heart. (1 Samuel 7:2-3)

Samuel names the real problem. The greatest threat is not only Philistine pressure, it is divided devotion. The people have made room for strange gods, and Samuel tells them to remove the rivals, prepare the heart, and serve the Lord only. Repentance is not a mood, it is a movement. It is turning from what is false and turning fully to the living God. (1 Samuel 7:3-4)

Notice the order. Before God deals with the Philistines on the outside, He deals with the idols on the inside. Before there is victory in the valley, there must be surrender in the heart. Samuel says, Put away the strange gods, prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve Him only.

Then the pressure shows up. The Philistines hear that Israel is gathered and they move in for battle. Israel is afraid, but this time they do not grab a symbol and act like it is a substitute for the Savior. They ask for prayer. They ask for help. They ask Samuel not to stop crying out to the Lord.

“Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtoreth, and served the Lord (1 Samuel 7:4).” When the word of God lands on a willing heart, it produces decisive action. The Bible says they put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and they served the Lord only. That is what revival looks like in real life. It is not merely a louder service, it is a cleaner heart. It is not only a stronger feeling, it is a surrendered will. (1 Samuel 7:4)

Five KJV Cross References

Joshua 24:14 - "Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth... and serve ye the LORD."

1 Kings 18:21 - "How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him."

Isaiah 55:7 - "Let the wicked forsake his way... and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him."

Acts 3:19 - "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out."

1 Thessalonians 1:9 - "Ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God."

B. Repent and make sacrifice to God (1 Samuel 7:5-6)

“And Samuel said, Gather all ISrael to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the Lord (1 Samuel 7:5).” - Samuel gathers the people to Mizpeh, and he makes a promise that puts the emphasis where it belongs. He says, I will pray for you unto the Lord. The people respond with public humility. They draw water and pour it out before the Lord, they fast, and they confess, We have sinned against the Lord. (1 Samuel 7:5-6)

“And they gathered together to Mizpeh… (1 Samuel 7:6).” - The passage shows repentance as costly. It costs pride because confession is honest. It costs comfort because fasting is self-denial. It costs self-rule because they submit to Samuel's spiritual leadership as he judged Israel at Mizpeh. Repentance is not only turning from sin, it is returning to God with a new heart and a new direction. (1 Samuel 7:6)

Even when the text highlights confession and fasting in these verses, the principle is clear. True repentance always carries a sacrificial posture, a willingness to lay down what displeases God and to offer Him what honors Him. The outward actions are not meant to replace heart change, they are meant to reflect it. (1 Samuel 7:5-6)

Five KJV Cross References

Joel 2:12 - "Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning."

Psalm 51:17 - "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise."

1 John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Romans 12:1 - "Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."

Hebrews 13:15 - "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name."

II. Request Help From God (1 Samuel 7:7-10)

A. Show complete dependence on God (1 Samuel 7:7-9)

In verse 7 - The Philistines hear that Israel is gathered at Mizpeh and they move toward them for battle. Israel is afraid, but watch the shift in their spirit. Fear does not send them running back to superstition. Fear drives them toward the Lord. “And the children of Israel said to Samuel, ‘Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us… (1 Samuel 7:8)” - This is a striking contrast to the attitude we saw earlier when Israel said, “Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.” (1 Samuel 4:3) Now, in 1 Samuel 7, they understand that it is not the ark of the covenant that delivers them, but the Lord of the covenant who fights for them. So they do not ask for an object. They ask for intercession. They say 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.” (1 Samuel 7:8)

Verse 9: Samuel answers their request the way a faithful leader should. He moves into his priestly work of sacrifice and intercession, offering a burnt offering and crying unto the Lord. Then the text says what every believer needs to hear, desires to hear, and is relieved to hear: “the LORD heard him.” Heaven is not closed. God is not distant. When His people humble themselves and seek His face, the Lord still hears, and the Lord still helps. (1 Samuel 7:9)

Application: When pressure rises and fear comes knocking, do not reach for a substitute. Reach for the Savior. Bring your need to the Lord in prayer, ask for godly intercession, and stay dependent until God answers with His deliverance. (1 Samuel 7:8-9)

Five KJV Cross References

Psalm 20:7 - "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God."

Proverbs 3:5 - "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."

Psalm 121:2 - "My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth."

Hebrews 4:16 - "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

James 5:16 - "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

B. See the power of God demonstrated in your life (1 Samuel 7:10-11)

When Israel turns from idols and turns to the Lord, God does not respond with vague encouragement. He responds with visible power. The passage does not present God’s help as theory. It shows God’s help as victory that can be seen, remembered, and testified.

In Verse 10: The Bible is careful to show the timing. While Samuel is offering the burnt offering, the Philistines draw near to battle against Israel. In other words, the threat is real and it is close. Yet right there at the moment of need, the Lord steps in. He thunders with great power and throws the enemy into confusion. God fights in a way that makes it plain who won the battle. This is the supernatural power of an omnipotent God. He offers deliverance through a miracle as he had done for Israel through the ten plagues brought down upon Egypt.

“And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines.” They immediately moved from defense to offense, stengthened by the power of God. God provides the power, and they walk in the victory He supplies. This is the rhythm of faith. We pray, God answers, and we move. We cry out, God thunders, and we step into the breakthrough. (1 Samuel 7:11)

Application: Expect the Lord to demonstrate His power when you trust Him fully. Do not confuse your prayer life with passivity. After you have sought God, stand up in faith and walk in the obedience that matches His answer. (1 Samuel 7:10-11)

Five KJV Cross References

Exodus 14:14 - "The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace."

2 Chronicles 20:15 - "The battle is not yours, but God's."

Psalm 29:4 - "The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty."

Romans 8:31 - "If God be for us, who can be against us?"

1 Corinthians 15:57 - "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

III. Remember the Help that Comes From God (1 Samuel 7:12-13)

A. Raise the Stone and Marker (1 Samuel 7:12)

After the Lord gives victory, Samuel refuses to rush past grace. He pauses long enough to put a witness in the ground. The Bible says, “Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.” (1 Samuel 7:12) That is not decoration, that is discipleship. Samuel knows that what God does in a moment can be forgotten in a month if the people do not mark it.

This stone is raised in the same region that once tasted defeat, shame, and sorrow. It stands as a holy interruption, a reminder that God’s mercy met them again. The enemy did not win the last word. The Lord did. Ebenezer is a testimony that says, God has carried us farther than we deserved, and He has helped us more than we can explain.

There is power in a sanctified memory. When you remember what God has done, your faith gets stronger for what God will do. When you mark His faithfulness, you silence the voice of fear that tries to tell you the Lord has forgotten you.

Application: Put a marker on the mercy of God. Tell the story, write it down, share it with your children, and rehearse it in worship, because remembrance protects your heart from returning to old idols and old doubts. (1 Samuel 7:12)

Five KJV Cross References

Joshua 4:6-7 - "That this may be a sign among you... that the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD."

Deuteronomy 6:12 - "Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt."

Psalm 77:11 - "I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old."

Psalm 103:2 - "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits."

Lamentations 3:22-23 - "It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed... great is thy faithfulness."

B. Remain dependent on God who saves us from our enemies (1 Samuel 7:13)

Verse 13 is a quiet shout. It tells us that God did not only give a moment of victory, He granted a season of relief. “So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.” (1 Samuel 7:13) That is what happens when God’s people return, rely, and remember. The Lord does not merely rescue them from a battle, He restrains the enemy over time.

Israel understands now that mercy is not permission to drift again. Mercy is motivation to walk closer. They have learned the danger of divided devotion, so they desire to remain connected, covered, and committed in covenant relationship with the Lord. The God who saved them is the God they must keep serving. The God who fought for them is the God they must keep following.

Notice the phrase, “the hand of the LORD.” That is power with purpose. That is protection that comes from presence. When the Lord’s hand is for you, no enemy can overturn you. When the Lord’s hand is against your enemies, no opposition can outlast you.

Application: Do not let yesterday’s victory become tomorrow’s complacency. Stay close to the Lord through prayer, worship, and obedience, because continued dependence is how God keeps you steady after He has brought you through. (1 Samuel 7:13)

Five KJV Cross References

John 15:5 - "I am the vine, ye are the branches... for without me ye can do nothing."

Proverbs 3:6 - "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

Psalm 124:8 - "Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth."

2 Corinthians 12:9 - "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness."

1 Peter 5:7 - "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."

Sermon Close

Beloved, we came to the text and the text came to us. The Lord called His people to repent, and they repented. The Lord taught His people to cry out, and they cried out. The Lord moved with power, and the enemy fell back. Then Samuel put a stone in the ground and put a testimony in the air, “Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.” (1 Samuel 7:12)

And I want to say it the way our hearts can carry it. He helped them then. He helped them then. He helped them then. He helped them then, and He is helping us now. He helped them when they were divided, and He is helping us when we have been distracted. He helped them when fear was marching toward them, and He is helping us when trouble comes knocking at our door. He helped them when they could not fight their way out, and He will help you when you cannot fix your way out. (Psalm 46:1)

Do not miss the mercy in the memory. The stone did not save them. The Lord saved them. The marker did not deliver them. The Lord delivered them. The testimony did not win the battle. The Lord fought the battle. That is why you can raise an Ebenezer without raising your pride, because every time you point to the help, you are pointing to the Helper. (1 Samuel 7:10-12)

And if you follow that stone far enough, it will lead you to another place where God planted a witness. Not a stone between Mizpeh and Shen, but a rugged cross between heaven and earth. The same God who thundered against the Philistines poured out His love at Calvary. Jesus paid what we owed, carried what we could not carry, and died for our sins. (Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:3)

They put Him in a borrowed tomb, but He did not stay there. Early Sunday morning, He got up with all power in His hand. He got up so sinners could be saved. He got up so captives could be set free. He got up so broken hearts could be healed. He got up so weary saints could keep walking. (Matthew 28:5-6; 1 Corinthians 15:4)

So if you need help, do what Israel learned to do. Repent to God, because He receives the broken. Request help from God, because He hears the cry of faith. Remember the help that comes from God, because gratitude guards your soul. And if you have never trusted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, today is your day to come. Call on Him. Believe on Him. Receive Him. The same Lord who fought for Israel will save you and keep you. (Acts 3:19; Romans 10:13; Hebrews 7:25)

Invitation If you want to give your life to Jesus Christ, come now. If you need to return to the Lord with your whole heart, come now. If you need prayer because the battle is close, come now. We are raising an Ebenezer, and we are lifting the name that is above every name, because hitherto hath the Lord helped us, and by His grace He will help us still. (Philippians 2:9-11; 1 Samuel 7:12)

References (APA 7) The Holy Bible, King James Version. (1769/2017). Bible Gateway. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+7%3A3-11&version=KJV