Ebenezer 2

Raise Your Ebenezer

1 Samuel 7:9–14 NKJV

9 And Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. Then Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him. 10 Now as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the Lord thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day, and so confused them that they were overcome before Israel. 11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and drove them back as far as below Beth Car. 12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” 13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not come anymore into the territory of Israel. And the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14 Then the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and Israel recovered its territory from the hands of the Philistines. Also there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

What Other Ebenezers May We Find in the Bible and what about our own lives?

Last week we discussed the importance of raising Ebenezers in our own lives, memorializing those special times when God was so close to you, or when He moved in an UNMISTAKABLE way in your life. Let’s walk through Scripture and observe some other amazing things. This Psalm is one of my very favorite. It talks about remembering and having a song in the night.

Psalm 77:1–20 NKJV

1 I cried out to God with my voice—To God with my voice; And He gave ear to me. 2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; My hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing; My soul refused to be comforted. 3 I remembered God, and was troubled; I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah 4 You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. 5 I have considered the days of old, The years of ancient times. 6 I call to remembrance my song in the night; I meditate within my heart, And my spirit makes diligent search. 7 Will the Lord cast off forever? And will He be favorable no more? 8 Has His mercy ceased forever? Has His promise failed forevermore? 9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies? Selah 10 And I said, “This is my anguish; But I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.” 11 I will remember the works of the Lord; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. 12 I will also meditate on all Your work, And talk of Your deeds. 13 Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; Who is so great a God as our God? 14 You are the God who does wonders; You have declared Your strength among the peoples. 15 You have with Your arm redeemed Your people, The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah 16 The waters saw You, O God; The waters saw You, they were afraid; The depths also trembled. 17 The clouds poured out water; The skies sent out a sound; Your arrows also flashed about. 18 The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; The lightnings lit up the world; The earth trembled and shook. 19 Your way was in the sea, Your path in the great waters, And Your footsteps were not known. 20 You led Your people like a flock By the hand of Moses and Aaron.

My Song in the Night

In this psalm you have a memorial of a Song in the Night… an Ebenezer Song

Why Did He Need His Song?

But what precipitated this need for a song in the night and just what was this song in the night referring to?

The songwriter had fallen out of sorts with God over some sin in his life.

This caused him to doubt the goodness and faithfulness of God.

Thinking of God troubled him.

His emotional state was lying to him! Listen to the list of his accusations against God!

He felt cast off

He felt he had used up the grace of God

He felt that God’s mercy had faded away

He felt God’s promise had FAILED

This passage verses 7-9 is typical of Hebrew poetry. It’s phrases which mirror one another for emphasis and clarity.

What Did the Ebenezer Song Remind Him Of?

The necessity of repentance. This is my anguish. This is my failing. This is my wandering. This is my infirmity. This is what is wrong.

His song reminded him of his personal time with God.

It reminded him of when he had seen God working in his life.

IT reminded him to MEDITATE on GOD AND HIS DEEDS

IT reminded him that God is in His Sanctuary in a special way.

IT reminded him of God’s deeds done for others in the past.

It reminded him of God’s faithfulness as portrayed in the Scriptures.

It reminded him of God’s REDEMPTIVE nature and power

It reminded him specifically of the parting of the Red Sea and the defeat of the armies of Pharaoh.

What is YOUR Ebenezer Moment?

Share testimonies.