1 Samuel 7:12 (ESV Strong's)
Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the Lord has helped us.”
Subject: God's Strength
Israel is in a very unusual place. The writer(s) of 1 Samuel are writing to us to show us what happened in Israel in those days that produced the "king" system and how David would become "King." The point of the book is to give us context for the "king" leadership and David's reign in that leadership, to whom the Messiah would eventually come. Israel, in the next chapter, demands a "king" to rule over them. they want to be like the other nations and have a king. This desire comes despite what we read in the above verse. In regard to their enemies, Israel had all the help they needed in God. Through Samuel's leadership, God had delivered them. He was theirs "Ebenezer." God had delivered them time and time again. Yet, despite that deliverance and demonstration of power, the nation would turn toward the way of the world for leadership. We are the same way in our lives today. Even though God delivers us time and time again (Mostly in unknown, or unrecognizable ways), we turn to other sources for leadership and strength. We worship doctors, luck, friends and family who "save" us from peril. Yet, God is our Ebenezer." He is our strength. We ought to worship Him for our ability to succeed. Instead, we often seek a "king" in our lives, like the world.
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