Human Response 415: Set Up a Stone of Thanks

1 Samuel 7:12 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.

The Lord had given Israel a miraculous victory over the enemy. So Samuel took a stone and set up before the Lord as a memorial to remind everyone what great things God has done. He called it Ebenezer, meaning “stone of help.” For he said, “Up to this point the Lord has helped us.”

Samuel acknowledged that it was God who gave them the victory. They had God’s help. The stone of remembrance was a concrete expression of thanks to God. Whenever the people, and even future generations, would see it, they would remember what great things God has done and give Him thanks. The memorial stone is a permanent reminder of the invisible God who is here to help.

We would do well to set up markers in our own life to remember and give thanks, like we do with birthdays and anniversaries. the Lord has touched our lives in various wonderful ways. We do well to remember them. But particularly, we go to Holy Communion weekly to “Do this in remembrance of Me.” And we remember our Baptism daily by repentance and faith, “drowning the old man and a new man arises daily.” Then we hear and read the Word of Law and Gospel on a regular basis to be reminded of the Victory of Jesus in the cross. Indeed, we set up many Ebenezers in our life. We do so every time we stop and pray and give thanks.