I wonder how many of us who sing that good old hymn, “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” understand what the author means when he says, “Here I raise my Ebenezer?” We are told in the scriptures to sing with the spirit and with the understanding also. Now, we cannot do this unless we understand the meaning of the words we sing.

Ebenezer is a Hebrew word and means “stone of help.”

A great many years ago, when God’s people were called Israel and lived in Canaan, they were greatly disturbed, from time to time, by different tribes of heathen who lived near them.

At one time when Israel was making a burnt offering and seeking the Lord for deliverance from their enemies, the Philistines came near to engage in battle with them; but the Lord thundered with a great thunder, and discomfited the Philistines before Israel. Then Samuel, who was judge over Israel at that time, took a stone, and set it up between Israel and the Philistines, and named it Ebenezer, and said, “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us” (1 Samuel 7:12). That is, Samuel set up a stone as witness between Israel and the Philistines, and in naming it Ebenezer he was actually saying, “The Lord is the stone who has helped us.”

In the scriptures Jesus is called a “stone of stumbling,” and a “rock of offense” to those who do not obey Him; but to those who love Him and keep His commandments, Jesus is the “chief cornerstone” and a “rock” to guide His people to the promised home.

So we see, dear youth, that Jesus is an Ebenezer, or the strong, secure stone who will help us to gain victories. Therefore when we are in trial or temptation, let us not forget to raise our “Ebenezer,” and in Him we shall conquer!