The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 5 October 2024 — Ebenezer: Thus Far The Lord Has Helped Us
TOPIC — Ebenezer: Thus Far The Lord Has Helped Us
READ: 1 Samuel 7:7-17 (NKJV)
- Now when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel had gathered together at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard [of it,] they were afraid of the Philistines.
- So the children of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.”
- 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.
- 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.
- And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and drove them back as far as below Beth Car.
- 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.”
- 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.
- 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.
- And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
- He went from year to year on a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, and judged Israel in all those places.
- But he always returned to Ramah, for his home [was] there. There he judged Israel, and there he built an altar to the LORD.
A sinful lifestyle resulting from disobedience to God’s word has many negative consequences. Israel lived sinful lives and were constantly defeated by enemies. The Philistines even came to attack them while they were praying at Mizpah. This shows that the devil can attack anytime, so watch and pray. Samuel’s intercession for Israel brought great victory -God unleashed thunder and confusion upon the Philistines and they were defeated.
Israel appreciated God’s intervention and raised an altar which they named Ebenezer (thus far the Lord has helped us). Samuel as a righteous and faithful man was heard when he cried to God. He was used in his generation as an instrument to subdue the Philistines and recover Israeli cities in their custody. This shows that God can use only one ‘prepared’ man in a family, tribe, office or nation to bring down His mighty hand of deliverance. So don’t follow the crowd to do evil for they will not be able to deliver in the day of trouble.
Can God rely on you in this sinful generation to stand alone for Him? What spiritual and physical impact are you making where God has placed you? Do you have a strong altar of prayer that heaven responds to when you call? Emulate Samuel’s example to bring down peace, prosperity and restoration (verses 13-17).
PRAYER: Repent and rededicate your life to God. Thank Him for His deliverances from the challenges in your life.
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