Israel was under the thumb of the Philistines for 20 years. During this time, Samuel traveled from town to town, seeking to turn the hearts of God's people back to Him. After suffering years of oppression, "all the people of Israel mourned and sought after the Lord" (1 Samuel 7:2, NIV). They came together at Mizpah as Samuel had instructed them. "If you return to the Lord with all your hearts," Samuel said, "then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and prepare your hearts for the Lord, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines" (verse 3, NKJV).
But as Israel gathered to seek the Lord, the Philistines misinterpreted this great gathering, thinking Israel was making battle plans. So with a strong force, they took the offense and prepared for war. The news of the approaching army caused great terror in Israel. So they called out to Samuel, "Do not cease to cry out to the Lord for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines" (verse 8).
And so the army of the Philistines advanced against Israel. And though God's people trembled with fear, they hoped that God would deliver them. In answer to their prayers, God sent a devastating storm that threw the Philistines into such confusion, that the armies of Israel took the upper hand and won a great victory. As a result, the Philistines restored the strongholds they had captured from Israel and the nation enjoyed peace from her enemies for many years.
To keep this victory forever in their minds, Samuel set up a memorial between Mizpah and Shen. He called it Ebenezer, "the stone of help," saying to the people,"thus far the Lord has helped us." Throughout the history of Israel, other memorial stones were erected. God commanded both Moses and Joshua to do this, "to build up remembrances" of what He had done.
Too often we forget the way the Lord has led us. As time passes, the memory of answered prayers or victories over temptation fade from our memory. We need a stone of Ebenezer, some kind of tool to remind us that "thus far the Lord has helped us." It doesn't have to be an actual stone or pillar. It could just be a simple notebook to record our journey with God.
I use several journals as my stones of Ebenezer. In one, I write a daily letter to God, thanking Him for at least 3 new blessings that He gives me each day. In another, I record my meditations as I study the Bible. I also use a prayer journal from time to time. I call them my Communion Journals. They build memories for me of God's grace, keeping fresh in my mind the mercy He's shown, the tears He's wiped away, the fears He's dispelled. Looking back at these journals gives me more courage to keep moving forward in faith.
