Ebenezer
Preacher: Pastor Jon Nelson
The phrase, “here I raise my Ebenezer“, is the beginning of the second verse of the familiar hymn, O Thou Fount of Every Blessing. This hymn, written by Robert Robinson in 1758, stresses the joy of Christianity and the Christian’s need to rely on the Lord. Robinson chose the phrase, Here I raise my Ebenezer, from 1 Samuel 7:12, because it reminds God’s people how He he delivered Israel from danger.
Chapters 4 through 7 of 1 Samuel describe a series of battles between the Israelites and the Philistines and the Israelites soundly defeated the Philistines. As a reminder of the great victory God gave to Israel, Samuel took a great stone and raised it as a memorial between Mizpeh and Shen. As he raised it he called the name of it Ebenezer [or stone of help]. Whenever the Israelites looked at the stone, they would remember how God had helped them.
Occasionally, there will be somethings within our church that will need us to stop and remember what the Father has done for us. This week we look at what God in our VBS and subsequent flash flooding.
Soul Tattoo: God has a purpose for every problem.
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