Ebenezer

"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. 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." (I Samuel 7: 11-13)

Ebenezer is interpreted to mean "stone of help." It was a memorial stone erected by Samuel to mark where God helped Israel to defeat the Philistines - north of Jerusalem. It literally means "hitherto (up till now) has the Lord helped us." This name and symbol may have been in Paul's mind when he said, in a speech -

"For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me. Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great..." (Acts 26: 21,22)

Paul is saying that God has been his "Ebenezer," his "stone of help," and it is due to this character of God and Paul's relationship to him, that he can he make the confession which he did. Paul says that his continued existence and his preservation have been the result of God acting as his helper and sustainer. The eternal God is the helper, the Ebenezer, of every believer.

"There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky. The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them. Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew. Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places." (Deuteronomy 33: 26-29)

You cannot have any better helper than God. Who can help any better? The one who is ready to help is the "eternal God," the one with "everlasting arms," infinite power and wisdom, the source of all "safety" (See Proverbs 21: 31). To have God as one's "shield" and "force field," is absolute and certain protection.

"God hath power to help, and to cast down." (II Chronicles 25: 8)

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him." (Psalm 28: 7)

"Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper." (Psalm 30: 10)

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (Psalm 46: 1)

"Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man." (Psalm 60: 11)

"Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence." (Psalm 94: 17)

"Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God." (Psalm 146: 5)

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." (Isaiah 41: 10)

"O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help." (Hosea 13: 9)

"Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me." (Matthew 15: 25)

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." (Hebrews 13: 5,6)

What precious promises are these for those who are in need of help? The helpless can look to no better source for help than in his Maker. "Vain is the help of man" is a common utterance of those helpless ones who look to man for sympathy and relief. It takes faith to claim any promise of God, however. We may say - "God is the Helper of all men, specially of those who believe." The believer is the only one who can claim and obtain the help of the Lord, both for now and eternity.

Friend, what is the ground of your hope and confidence relative to the eternal destiny of your soul? Do you look in faith to God to be your helper and protector? Or, do you look to other things? Can you say boldly and with strong confidence - "The Lord is my Helper"?