The Ebenezer Principle Works for Youth
The account of David and Goliath is one of the most well-known stories in the Bible. But this wonderful account in 1 Samuel 17 is not about “how to kill the giants in your life.” The story is a vivid illustration of a pivotal and timeless principle expressed in 1 Samuel 16. More on that topic some other time.
One of the many clues (and there are many if you observe the story carefully) that gives away the key lesson of this story is how David practiced the Ebenezer principle.
Ebenezer was the name of a stone memorializing God’s past intervention in the life of Israel. It was the young prophet Samuel who dubbed a stone, Ebenezer, stone of help. God had helped Israel, rescuing it from military annihilation by means of a celestial bombardment from heaven (thunder; 1 Samuel 7). Samuel erected Ebenezer, a stone to remember God’s merciful intervention (1 Samuel 7:12), a stone of remembrance.
The Ebenezer principle is the storing up of memories of God’s past interventions and bringing those memories to mind whenever reassurance of His love and care are needed. David was at one of those points in life. Are you?
When young David, merely a shepherd boy, stood before King Saul and volunteered to take down the giant Philistine, Goliath, he received pushback. According to Saul, David was just a boy, inexperienced, without the necessary military weapons, and therefore, incapable of dealing with giants. Three strikes against David. Three strikes and he’s out, right? Not yet.
But at this juncture David kicked the Ebenezer principle into high gear. Observe how he calls up to mind how God had intervened for him in the past when he faced similar threats to his life.
The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and delivered me from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine. 1 Samuel 17:37
David told himself and King Saul that the God who had rescued him in the past on two separate nightmare occasions, would surely intervene on his behalf in the present crisis. David practiced the Ebenezer principle. He found new strength to face his present challenge with faith and courage. So, also, may we.
Whatever challenge you might face today, rather than facing it alone, why not practice the Ebenezer principle. Call up to your mind memories of God’s past mercies to you and your family. Remind yourself or your family that the God who demonstrated faithfulness to you in the past will certainly not let you down today. Call up those memories of mercy to mind and your fear will turn to new faith, your feeling of weakness will grow into strength, and your Goliaths will lose their heads. Why not practice the Ebenezer principle today!
John Newton, author of Amazing Grace, has also captured the Ebenezer principle in song:
His love in time past forbids me to think,
He’ll leave me at last in trouble to sink.
Each sweet Ebenezer I have in review
Confirms his good pleasure to help me right through.
Thank you for reading.