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Moment Of Celebration-Ebenezer

March 17th, 2014

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment Of Celebration reflects on the meaning of “Ebenezer.”

We often hear that word during the Christmas season related to the Charles Dicken’s novel, “Ebenezer Scrooge.”

However, Ebenezer is also found in the Bible in the book of First Samuel. In their distress, the Israelites gathered together to fast and confess their sins to God.  When Israel’s enemies, the Philistines, heard that they were gathered together, they set out to attack them. The Israelites pleaded for Samuel to cry out to God on their behalf.

The LORD heard Samuel’s petition and thundered against the Philistines and routed them before the Israelites.

That is when Samuel set up a stone and named it Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far has the LORD helped us.” Through life’s storms, challenges, and conflicts, Ebenezer is a term that helps us to remember where our source of help comes from. According to Psalm 121, “my help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

God’s help in times of distress is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com




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