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.”

1 Samuel 7:12

You might recall the hymn, “The Lord hath helped me hitherto.” It was penned by Aemilie Juliane in 1699 and is based on the declaration of Samuel as recorded in the King James Bible that was first published in 1611.

“Hitherto!” Chances are you don’t use that word in everyday conversation. But you might say, “Till now ... I still have all my teeth.” or “Till now ... my children all keep in touch.” Not only does “till now” reflect on our past, but it also expresses hope that the blessings of the past will continue in the future. That’s what Samuel commemorated with a stone. He named it “Ebenezer,” a Hebrew word for “up until now.” It served as a reminder of the confidence God’s people have in the future, as they reflect on God’s grace in the past.

Dave Ebeling
Bloomington, IN

Dear Lord, graciously remind me that your grace is sufficient for me. Amen.

Reflect: What object(s) might serve as your Ebenezer as you recall God’s blessings, past, present, and future.

Read: 1 Samuel 7:1-14 and 2 Corinthians 12:1-10