Ebenezer (part 1)

"Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and named it Ebenezer, saying, 'Thus far the Lord has helped us.' So the Philistrines were subdued and they did not come anymore within the border of Isreal. And the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel."

I awoke singing a Holy Spirit original, "Raising my sweet Ebenezer til by Your grace it is done..." which of course led me to a great hymn of the church. "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" includes this beautiful poetry: "Here I raise my Ebenezer- Hither by Thy help I'm come."

This in turn led me to a bit of Biblical research. It seems that during a period of harassment by the Philistines, the Isrealites, frightened by the threats made by the Philistine army, asked the prophet Samuel to intercede for them. "Do not stop crying out to the Lord our God for us..." The enemy was routed and at the site of the victory, Samuel places a stone and names it Ebenezer - Thus far has the Lord helped us.

We have a need for such stones of rememberance. Thus far has the Lord helped. What are those places of Ebenezer for you? Thank God for them today.