Discipleship Devotional, August 9th, 2025
“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)
In the Old Testament, God’s people often gave Him names that reflected their personal encounters with His power and provision—names like Jehovah Jireh (“The Lord will provide”) from Abraham. In a similar way, Samuel named a stone Ebenezer (“Stone of Help”) after a decisive victory in Israel’s history.
In 1 Samuel 7, under Samuel’s leadership, Israel experienced a deep spiritual revival. They turned from idols, renewed their devotion to the Lord, and began to see His hand at work again. Yet in the middle of this renewal, the Philistines attacked. This could have been a devastating setback—but God intervened with a mighty display of power. He sent thunder from heaven that threw the Philistines into confusion, allowing Israel to defeat them completely (1 Samuel 7:10).
To commemorate this miraculous help, Samuel set up a stone where the victory took place and named it Ebenezer. From that day on, whenever the Israelites saw that stone, they were reminded of the Lord’s faithfulness, protection, and power.
Today, we don’t look for Samuel’s stone to remind us of God’s help—we look to the cross. Christ’s sacrifice is our ultimate Ebenezer, the eternal reminder that God has already won the greatest victory for us. Through His death and resurrection, we have triumphed over sin, death, and the powers of darkness. If He has done that for us, we can be sure He will help us in every battle we face today.
So when life feels overwhelming, look to Christ. Remember your Ebenezer. If He has brought you this far, He will not abandon you now.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You are my Ebenezer—my stone of help and my sure foundation. Thank You for the victory You won for me on the cross. Help me to remember Your faithfulness in every battle I face, trusting that You who brought me this far will carry me through to the end. Amen.
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