A STONE MARKER NAMED EBENEZER
As I stand at the threshold of a passing year, with 2025 fading into memory, I find myself pondering a quiet but persistent question: Should I raise my Ebenezer on the eve of the New Year?
At first glance, the thought may sound odd—perhaps even eccentric. “What has this old fellow been smoking lately?” one might quip. Yet beneath the humor lies a deeply biblical and profoundly personal reflection.
What Is an Ebenezer?
The word Ebenezer comes from Hebrew, meaning “Stone of Help,” derived from eben (stone) and ezer (help). Its biblical origin is found in 1 Samuel 7:12, where the prophet Samuel set up a stone after the Lord granted Israel victory over the Philistines. He named it Ebenezer and declared, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”
In Scripture, an Ebenezer is not merely a monument to past success; it is a sacred memorial to God’s faithfulness. It marks a moment when divine help broke into human helplessness. For Christians today, raising an “Ebenezer stone”—whether tangible or spiritual—serves the same purpose: to remember God’s specific interventions and to strengthen our faith for trials yet to come.
The Ebenezer Principle
Samuel’s stone did not signal the end of Israel’s struggles. Many dangers, toils, and snares still lay ahead. The Ebenezer was not a declaration of final victory, but a testimony that up to that point, God had helped His people. And because they were not yet out of the woods, the stone stood as a reminder to trust the same faithful God in the days ahead.
So it is with us. Our stories are still being written. We, too, are not yet out of the woods. New challenges await us, and our faith will be tested again. We know how prone our hearts are to wander, how easily we drift like lost sheep without the tuning and sealing grace of God.
Yet we live in the tension of the present—where the rapids of the future rush toward us, and the waters of the past pool quietly behind us. In this space, we remember who our God has revealed Himself to be. He is the fountain of every blessing, whose streams of mercy never cease and are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22–23).
The Ultimate Stone of Help
Above all, God has demonstrated His faithfulness at Calvary. The Cross stands as the ultimate Ebenezer—the greatest Stone Marker ever raised. As Romans 5:8 declares, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Jesus shed His own blood to rescue us while we were wandering. If God has already gone to such lengths to save us, how much more will He now keep us from the dangers ahead? Our hope of arriving safely home is no mere wish—it is a sure and steady confidence, anchored in the character of God Himself. If we belong to Christ, He will hold us fast, seal our hearts, and bring us safely into heaven’s courts. Amen.
“Come, Thou Fount” and the Language of Memory
The word Ebenezer may be one of the least understood lyrics in one of the most beloved English hymns. Baptist minister Robert Robinson wrote “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” at just 22 years old, shortly after his conversion—an event shaped in part by the preaching of George Whitefield. When we sing of raising our Ebenezer, we are echoing Samuel’s testimony and Robinson’s prayer: Thus far, the Lord has helped us.
Stones of Remembrance
I confess to an odd habit—I collect rocks. Each one fascinates me, unique in shape and story. I have stones from Israel and Europe, gathered during travels to memorable biblical sites and family holidays. Some of their stories have faded from memory, but others remain vivid, tied to places where Jesus walked and moments God made especially meaningful.
Hitherto, more important than the stones on my shelves are the stones of remembrance in my heart—markers of God’s faithfulness throughout my life. Though unnamed, each could rightly bear the inscription: “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”
From time to time, I pause to reflect on these moments—seasons when God “turned the tables” in situations beyond my control. Remembering His past interventions gives me courage to trust Him again when I need Him to act once more.
Raising My Ebenezer
And so, as this day draws to a close on the eve of the New Year 2026, I have decided to raise my Ebenezer—a memorial stone to commemorate God’s help in overcoming personal struggles and medical challenges that marked the passing year.
I invite you to do the same. Consider the stones of remembrance in your own life—those moments when God stepped in and turned the tables. Pause. Give thanks for His faithfulness. And draw courage for the journey still ahead.
Thus far, the LORD has helped us.