Ebenezer in the Bible

What is EBENEZER in the Bible?

"Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, saying, 'Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.'"   1 Samuel 7:12 (KJV)

The story:
Theword EBENEZER (Eben-ezer) is mentioned in the Bible in 1 Samuel 7:12. Samuel called the people of Israel together and exhorted them to repent of their sin of idolatry (7:2-6). The Philistines heard about that "revival" gathering and took the opportunity to attack. But God defended Israel and gave them a great victory.

In response, Samuel erected a monument - he set up a stone "and called its name Ebenezer, saying "Thus far the Lord has helped us."  (NKJV)

The location came to be called by that name also.

The definition:
The word literally means "stone of the help."  (Check out this dictionary definition.)

Some applications:

• If we want to have God's victory in our lives, we must turn from our sin to obey God.
• We are insufficient in ourselves to win the battles we face. We need God.
• God is altogether able to bring us through the times of trouble we face.
• It is always appropriate to "erect a monument" to the faithfulness of God  -  through our testimonies and by our changed lives.
• Remembering that God has "helped us" in the past gives us confidence for the future.

 

The location of Ebenezer Bible Chapel at the intersection of Warwick Furnace Road and Trythall Road near Elverson, Pennsylvania has been known as "Ebenezer" for many years, as shown on old maps of the area. The first church at the location was organized as a Methodist Episcopal church (see History).