“Thus Far the Lord Has Helped Us” (1 Samuel 7:12)
Sermon Summary
28/12/25
Pastor David Yan
Every believer has the help of God. Israel experienced this. Israel was oppressed by the Philistines. But God delivered them by a mighty act. The result was the erecting of a monument with the inscription, “Ebenezer. Thus far the Lord has helped us.”
Externally, the Philistines were threatening Israel. Internally, Israel was idolatrous. The Lord used the Philistines to chastise his wayward people. Israel was lamenting its situation.
The prophet Samuel called the nation to repentance. In the midst of crisis there was a prophetic voice. Jesus is the great prophet amidst crisis. Today, his voice is heard calling people to repentance and salvation.
The Israelites confessed their sin. When the prophet Samuel spoke the people knew their sinfulness. When John the Baptist preached, people were convicted and came confessing their sins. When Jesus ministered the gospel people repented confessing their sins.
Israel’s confession was due somewhat to fear of the Philistines. God uses the enemies of the church to bring it to its senses and to purify it. Israel’s day of oppression was a day of opportunity. The days of our trials are days of opportunity sent by God that we might be renewed.
Israel cried out to God. They had access to God through prayer. We have access to God through Jesus Christ our great High Priest. There is always a way back to God for we always have a blessed intercessor. Samuel was Israel’s intercessor. He is a type of Jesus who is the church’s intercessor. Samuel’s prayer prevailed. Jesus’ prayers prevail.
The Philistines are routed. The Lord sent a loud thunder that confused the Philistines. Jesus has routed the forces of darkness. He has disarmed principalities and powers and made a public spectacle of them.
Samuel sets up the monument --- Ebenezer, thus far the Lord has helped us. This acknowledged the Lord God. He is the Creator. He is the God who delivers Israel.
The Lord has all power and authority. It was he who scattered the Philistines. Jesus has all authority over nations. It is he who has all authority to deliver the soul from death and to make people into new people. He has all authority to forgive sins and to clear the conscience of all guilt.
This Lord is committed to his covenant people. Note the words “to us”. The Lord’s mighty works of deliverance are toward his chosen people. Israel cannot perish. The church cannot perish. Jesus is committed to “us”, that is, the elect. Because he commits; we continue.
After God’s mighty acts of deliverance we should remember and give thanks. This is the lesson for us. We should have our “Ebenezer” in our hearts and minds.
We should be aware of God’s mighty acts in history and give thanks. Every Christian should have a general knowledge of church history. They should know something of the Christians martyred in the days of the Roman empire. They should know something of the Protestant Reformation and the works of God in Puritan England. They should know something of the great missionary outreach of the 19th century. Christians, if you do not know these things and keep them in memory I say your faith is impoverished. Why be impoverished when you can be enriched.
May the significance of Ebenezer be upon us. Keep in memory the great deliverances of God just as the Israelites did. Not only keep these things in memory, but pray for a mighty manifestation of God’s power in our country and the world. May there be many occasions for the building of our “Ebenezers”