12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”
1 Samuel 7:12
Companions,
Part of the Illustrious Master’s duties in the Select opening reminds me of this verse. The Hebrew term Ebenezer means “stone of help”. Samuel set up this plain stone not as an altar or some kind of idol but as a landmark and reminder of the Lords help in time of need. As people look back over times in their life they talk of personal milestones, major events, and surprise coincidences but the Bible tells us to look back and see a purposeful providential pattern of Ebenezer stones marking the blessings and protections of our loving God and hold in due veneration the lifelong landmarks.
O LORD, we thank you and praise you for being our God, our rock, our protector. Help us to show the world the joy of our salvation. Amen.
Jack A. Holloway
R. I. Associate Grand Chaplain