Topic(s):   Bible Study, Old Testament

Todd Clippard

In the song, "O Thou Fount of Every Blessing," there is the phrase, "Here I raise my Ebenezer." This phrase is immediately followed by "Hither by Thy grace I've come."

These phrases allude to 1 Samuel 7, particularly verses 6-13. In this text, the children of Israel have gathered at Mizpeh. Upon hearing this, the Philistines assemble themselves to attack the Israelites. In their distress, the children of Israel implore Samuel to "Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines" (v 8).

In response to the offering of a lamb and Samuel's pleas, God hears Samuel and responds by creating a great thunder that created great confusion among the Philistines, allowing the Israelites to overcome them and drive them back (vv 10-11).

In light of the great victory given to them by the Lord, Samuel erected a stone between Mizpeh and Shen (v 13). He called the stone "Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the LORD has helped us" (v 13).

Ebenezer is a Hebrew compound. Its parts are eben (stone) + ezer (help), literally, the stone of help. The first seven verses of Psalm 18 are quite similar to this scene:
1 I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.
2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
4 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.
5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.
6 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.
7 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth. KJV

Let us never think that we are sufficient in and of ourselves, but rather let us say as the apostle Paul, "Our sufficiency is of God" (2 Corinthians 3:5).