Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the LORD has helped us." 

1 Samuel 7:12 (NIV)

Greetings in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and welcome back, Saints Family! 

I have not yet had the opportunity to greet our Saints Family via our Saturday Devotion. Greetings, Saints! The Saturday before the start of school, Pastor Ryan Fink was kind enough to do our opening Saturday Devotion, and last Saturday, after our first week, Pastor Tim Unke shared the devotion. I am grateful to be able to share today’s devotion as we wrap up week two. Today’s devotion is an opportunity to remember as we launch into and celebrate our 20th academic year, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”  

If you’ve been around for a few years, you will recognize that 1 Samuel 7:12 has been a foundational Bible verse for our Saints Family since our inception. If you’re new, wonderful! It's a great opportunity to share why this verse is important to Crean Lutheran High School. This verse is Samuel’s declaration in front of the Israelites, God, and the world to acknowledge God’s help in sparing the Israelites from death at the hands of the powerful Philistine Army at Mizpah (geographically northwest of Jerusalem). Samuel did this by taking a stone and naming it the Ebenezer stone, which means "stone of help." Let’s explore a bit. 

Drifting. In 1 Samuel, chapter seven, the people of Israel had been disconnected from the Lord, and were afraid because of the threat of the Philistines, a great army wishing to destroy them, “...Then all the people turned back to the Lord” v2(b). Samuel, a prophet and eventual kingmaker (both Saul and David) interceded and let the Israelites know, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines” v3. Fear has a funny way of motivating us, “So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served only the Lord” v4. Not a fun exercise, but taking a moment to consider our modern-day Baals and Ashtoreths may be a worthy exercise; after all, we’re no different than the meandering Israelites whose hearts drifted, valuing false gods over making the Lord their only Master. 

Interceding. Fortunately for the Israelites, Samuel was a faithful leader who loved the Lord and interceded on their behalf, guiding them: “Assemble all Israel at Mizpah, and I will intercede with the Lord for you” (v. 5). The now obedient and still fearful Israelites gathered, “When they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the Lord. On that day they fasted, and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the Lord” (v. 6). They say confession is good for the soul, but it also pleases a jealous God, a God who on that day protected them in an amazing and mighty way.

A faithful response. “When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them. When the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid because of the Philistines” v7. They looked again to Samuel, “They said to Samuel, 'Do not stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines” v8. Samuel interceded on their behalf again, “Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and sacrificed it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. He cried out to the Lord on Israel’s behalf, and the Lord answered him” v9.

Miraculous and loving protection. “While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites” v10. Our loving Lord protected them that day. To remember His help…“Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer (meaning stone of help), saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us” v12.

I love this story; it never gets old. There are so many important lessons in this story that challenge us to remember. From my perspective, now a long view, having been a leader at Crean Lutheran High School for twenty years, here are a few thoughts for your consideration:

A Memorial. Samuel’s act memorialized and recognized who our Holy Helper is - a spiritual victory marked in physical form. It is the Lord who has helped us; make no mistake about it.

Physical Reminder. The Ebenezer (Stone of Help) is a powerful physical declaration to point to remembering and marking the Lord’s help. His help is at work here, transforming a place of past defeat and brokenness into a daily symbol of forgiveness and divine victory by His grace. 

Statement of Gratitude. “Thus far the Lord has helped us” is a statement of trust and gratitude, looking back with thanksgiving and forward with the hope and expectation of a faithful God who is always for us as we face trouble in life. We may not face a Philistine army, but we are always facing the threat of war in a dark world that desperately needs the Lord’s love.  

Continued Grace. A call for remembrance that God’s help is not a one-time act, but a continued expression of His love and faithfulness to all generations who have the assurance of the gift of Christ our Savior.

Repentance and Renewal. The Israelites' repentance and renewed trust in the Lord mirror our own call to walk in faith and gratitude as a Saints Family united in one mission: Proclaiming Jesus Christ Through Excellence in Education (and in all that we do). As sinners like the Israelites, the memorial stone stands as a witness to their collective change in heart and their renewed commitment and trust in the Lord, a commitment we make, too. 

Thanks for tuning in today, Saints. I look forward to continuing to celebrate 20 years of God’s faithfulness in the Crean Lutheran High School ministry with our Saints Family. May the Lord bless and keep you all. Amen!   

In Christ’s love and mine,

Dr. Jeffrey S. Beavers, CEO

Crean Lutheran High School 

dr.beavers@creanlutheran.org

Dr. Jeffrey Beavers is a husband and father of three. He is a Minister of Religion, Commissioned in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, and serves as the Executive Director|CEO of Crean Lutheran High School. He has served there for the past twenty years since the school's founding and is blessed to be a lifelong follower of Jesus Christ, a sinner and a saint, only by God’s grace. He and his family worship at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Orange, CA.