August 4, 2026
- 18 hours ago
- 5 min read
“Thus Far He Has Helped Us”
In 1 Samuel, chapters 4–7, a place named Ebenezer is mentioned three times: 4:1, 5:1, and 7:12. The name means “Stone of Help,” named after the stone monument Samuel erected in 7:12 (NASB): “Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”
Although the name Ebenezer is used in all three references, we can see from the above verse that the name wasn’t formally given until chapter seven. In chapters 4 and 5, the writer, who is writing all of this after the fact, is simply referring to the place by its future name. (In literature, this is known as a prolepsis, which refers to calling something by what it will eventually be named, though technically that has not yet occurred. You’re welcome.)
The context of these chapters is as follows. Because of sin and rebellion spelled out in the first three chapters of this book, Israel is about to experience judgment. By the time we get to 1 Samuel 4:1 (NASB), Israel is about to face the Philistines in battle, where this judgment will begin: “Thus the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to meet the Philistines in battle and camped beside Ebenezer while the Philistines camped in Aphek.”
When the fighting started, Israel was struck down in the first battle (verse 2), so they decided to bring the Ark of the Covenant from Shiloh to the battlefield for the second round (verse 3). They believed the presence of the Ark would guarantee victory. Israel had no actual reverence for the presence of God, and had been demonstrating this through their rebellion. To them, the Ark was nothing more than a “magic box.” Rather than seeking the God of the Ark through heart repentance, they were using it as a good luck charm.
But God will not allow Himself to be manipulated or reduced to a lucky charm. Israel was routed, the Ark was stolen, and “Ichabod” was declared over Israel (4:11-22), meaning, “the glory has departed.” In chapters 4 and 5, by referring to this place of defeat by its future name, the irony is unmistakable. Israel was encamped at a place destined to be the "Stone of Help," yet in such a place they experienced a devastating defeat! Scriptural promises or possessing sacred objects mean nothing if one’s heart is far from God.
1 Samuel 5:1 (NASB) then says: “Now the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.” Ironically, the name Ashdod means spoiler or ravager.(1) The Philistines carried the Ark to Ashdod and set it in the temple of their idol, Dagon. They assumed their demonic god had conquered Israel’s God and the Ark was his trophy. In a statement of His ability to take care of Himself, God personally knocked Dagon over several times, “decapitating” him before the Ark (5:3-4). He also struck the Philistines with plagues (5:6-12). The Ark being taken was not a sign of God’s weakness, but of His refusal to be treated as a talisman, and He was certainly not going to be mocked by a false religion. He can walk directly into the “ravagers'” stronghold (Ashdod) and destroy their idols single-handedly.
The Philistines decided they wanted nothing more to do with the Ark, and sent it back to Israel, where it ended up in the small town of Kiriath-jearim for 20 years! During this time, Samuel led Israel into repentance and restoration (chapter 7). After this season of true repentance, the Philistines attacked them yet again!
And this time the Lord helped Israel!!!
1 Samuel 7:10-11 (NASB) tells us: “Now Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, and the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day against the Philistines and confused them, so that they were routed before Israel. The men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and struck them down as far as below Beth-car.” It sure is nice to pursue one’s enemy as opposed to being pursued!
And now we come to the naming of the place “Ebenezer.” “Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far the Lord has helped us.’” (verse12). What an incredible memorial!
And what a picture it painted! By naming it Ebenezer, the Lord permanently marked a place of former defeat and humiliation, turning it into a monument of divine help and deliverance. God can redeem the exact ground where we once experienced our greatest failures. Repentance paves the way for turning a graveyard of defeat into a place of grace, and spiritual barrenness into revival.
This is now taking place in America and other nations. Do not be confused by all of the warfare taking place. MUCH repentance has taken place in our nation, including a formal rededication to God by the highest government and church leaders in our land. I am not saying repentance is no longer needed; I’m saying we don’t have to start over! Of course sin still occurs and must be repented of. But America’s past great sins of abusing native Americans, slavery, abortion, national rebellion against God’s laws, and more, have been repented of millions of times! I know this because it has taken place with millions of believers participating by media, agreeing and participating with the repentance. God always works through a remnant, and a faithful remnant HAS humbled itself, prayed, and repented, just as Israel did in Samuel’s day.
And America has come to her Ebenezer! Jesus, the “Rock of our Salvation,” our “Stone of Help,” has said, “America shall be saved!”
In your heart and with strong faith, look past the murky media, ravaging dictators, demonized terrorists, leftist Marxists…and stand! Rise above the personal attacks you’re facing and anchor yourself to your unfailing God. Build your Ebenezer–“thus far He has helped us.”
He will not fail us now.
Pray with me:
Father, You warned us that in the last days perilous times would come (2 Timothy 3:1), and that evil would abound (Matthew 24:12). We are certainly experiencing this. BUT where sin abounds, grace abounds more (Romans 5:20), and You said Your Kingdom would never stop increasing (Isaiah 9:7). The government of this Kingdom is on the shoulders of Jesus Christ and is held securely by Him (Isaiah 9:6).
As we war spiritually for our families, nations, and the monumental harvest You have planned, it can become wearying. But we are anchored by these truths. And also by the certainty that You defeated the powers of darkness, and that this victory is manifesting more and more. Your family is increasing and will continue to do so. Thanks for letting us participate!
We speak grace and peace over one another. We are one body, connected by our roots like the roots of a giant Aspen forest. As such, we can feed and water one another in the spirit. We do so now, speaking blessings to our fellow believers.
And we continue to ask for grace and favor in the war with Iran. Strengthen and guide our leaders and troops; give them the correct answers. Foil every plan of the evil leaders in Iran, break the back of wickedness there. Set the stage for the harvests of all harvests.
Lead us as we prepare for August 14. Bring those You need there; move on the hearts of many to join online. Give us critical mass in the spirit, and may the impact be greater than anything we have yet experienced. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Our decree:
We state our faith that the Rock who has helped us thus far, our Ebenezer, will be our help in our future.
Click on the link below to watch the full video.
James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 795.