One more Christmas has passed us, but God’s love continues to be with us, and His faithfulness goes on. Seasons change, times change. As we come to the close of this year, we are standing at a holy moment during these few days. We stop, remember, and reflect on many things that have passed us this past year.
We read in this passage that Samuel was the prophet of Israel at a time when the Philistines attacked them and the people were in panic. They did not know what to do. One thing about the people of Israel is that they were very smart people at that time, but they did not know how to fight. They were not trained for that, and they were not inclined toward such things. Even now, if you know Israel’s story of military power, they are very advanced in their technology; that is how they win wars. And I have not seen a war in recent history that Israel fought and failed.
But during that time, the people were not used to wars. They tried to avoid them and did not want them because they knew they could not fight the Philistines. The Philistines were big people—Goliath was one of them—so they avoided fighting and cried out to God every time they were attacked. The main person who led them then was not a king but a prophet. The prophet was the leader, priest, and guide for Israel, and Samuel was the anointed prophet at that time. So they cried out to him: the Philistines were coming after them and surrounding them—what were they to do?
Samuel called out to God. In verse 10 we read that the Israelites cried out to God, and Samuel made a sacrifice. That day the Lord thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they ran away from the border. There was a great thunder, and something happened that made the Philistines think the Israelite army was going to attack them—even though they were not. The Lord’s thunder, lightning, and everything that happened in nature scared their enemies, and the Philistines ran away. Israel won the war simply through their prayer.
On that day Samuel made a sacrifice there. A sacrifice was the type of worship they offered. They worshiped God there, and then he took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, the place where the battle was supposed to happen. He named that stone Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” Ebenezer is a Hebrew word meaning “stone of help”: eben means “stone,” and ezer means “help.” Ebenezer means “stone of help.”
Every time I see a rock or a stone, this story comes to my mind. Last week I found a little stone—I don’t know where it came from. We opened one of our Christmas boxes, and that stone was inside. Maybe I put it there years ago, I don’t know. I took it out and said, “Well, this is a great Ebenezer when we look at the Christmas boxes, right?” So I wrote the words there and placed it on my table this week. Every time you see a good rock, pick it up and write Ebenezer—stone of help.
Across the world people have used memorials and stones as pillars of memory. We know we have the war memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, and many memorial structures throughout our country and around the world. In ancient times, stones were used to mark major events—just as we do today with the structures we build. Some of those stones are still standing—living stones—still existing among ruins in many parts of the world. When we went to Egypt and Rome, we saw many of these memorial stones with various things written on them. Some of them honor military leaders, others honor kings. These are visible markers of major moments or people in history.
This happened often with Israel. When they crossed over the Jordan, the river was flooding and they feared they could not cross into the Promised Land. But God gave them a way to cross, and they reached the other side. Joshua, their leader at the time, told them to pick up twelve stones from the river—big stones from inside the water—and bring them to land once they crossed over. They erected them there so that future generations would see memorials showing how God helped them through the flooded Jordan to the other side.
Jacob erected a stone at Bethel as a pillar after God spoke to him. Rachel’s tomb is another stone marker. There are many others I do not need to list. There are many memorials and structures that stand as markers of major events and people in history. But all of these stories mark one important truth in the Bible and in our lives: through it all, God was good—even though circumstances changed. Through the good, the ugly, and the bad, God was good.
These stones mark stories of the faithfulness of God. As we look back on the events of our lives, we can find similar memorial stones. That is why I told you to take time every day for the rest of the year to sit down and write these things down. These become milestones or markers like the stones that Israel and others set up in ancient times—markers that say, Thus far the Lord has helped us.
They stand as reminders. They testify that something has happened—something worth remembering. And if stones could speak, perhaps they would say exactly what Samuel said: Thus far, the Lord has helped us.
Today we may not raise pillars of granite or carve stones, but we still mark our milestones. We frame photographs, save letters, keep journals, light candles, or place flowers on our loved ones’ graves. All of these things tell us: Do not forget what God has done. Memory shapes our faith, and memory prepares us for tomorrow. Always take a moment to reflect and memorialize these things: Thus far God has helped us.
And the phrase “thus far” does not mean the journey is finished. “Thus far” means so far God has been with us—we have more to go in our lives. So there is a forward-looking statement in that phrase. The journey continues.
We stand at this point in life—whether at the end of this year or the beginning of the next—becoming living stones of testimony saying, The Lord has helped us thus far, and by His grace He will lead us on. This story invites us to remember, testify, and trust God’s promises.
We are going to remember our journeys together as a church. We have gone through many things this past year. Many of us have experienced different situations in our lives. We worshiped together and celebrated many things. We also grieved together and felt the pains of sickness and suffering that many of us had to endure. But these are milestones—even though some of them are painful. One day we can look back and say: When I was in pain, when I was fallen, when I was suffering, it was not good at the time—but something good carried me through, because God was with me.
Anytime I look back, the most painful times in my life are when I felt the presence of God the best. So I thank God for those painful times. Many saints can testify to this—we draw closer to God during those moments and feel His presence.
When we walk through difficult moments, we carry our burdens together. When we find ourselves wondering how we will make it, there is a God who meets us where we are and keeps us through. We are here now—worshiping, still believing, still standing—not because of what we have done, but because of what God has done in our lives.
The Psalmist says, “I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” (Psalm 27). He means that unless he trusted in God, he would have lost his mind. Some of us probably came close to saying that this past year: I would have lost my mind—except that God was with me, giving strength for each day when things were not turning out well.
Not every testimony from our lives may be dramatic. Sometimes God’s faithfulness looks like just enough strength to go on. Sometimes it looks like peace in the middle of a storm and uncertainty. Sometimes it looks like people showing up at just the right time to help us.
So as we reflect on our lives at the close of this year, let us thank God for the past year. Just as Jeremiah writes, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is God’s faithfulness.” We were not consumed—this is the testimony of the year. We were tested, but we are still here. We were tested to the point we thought we would fall, but God carried us with His eternal arms. Beneath us are the everlasting arms. Even when we falter, we do not fall to the ground—we fall into His hands.
So let us set up Ebenezers in our lives. We can proclaim and declare God’s provision when we were unsure. God protected us in ways we did not even see. God guided us even when the road ahead was unclear. He opened ways for us when there was no way.
We know there are still prayers we are waiting to see answered. We know there are still hopes forming in our hearts. But God gave us what we needed for every step—and He will give us grace to take the next step. As we prepare to step into the new year, we can say at the close of this one: Thus far the Lord has helped us. The journey is not finished—we have a long way to go with God. The Lord Himself will go with us. He will never leave us nor forsake us.
Hudson Taylor was a great missionary to China—a medical doctor who went with his friend Dr. Parker. Two doctors went from England to China in difficult times. When they arrived, things were not very good. There were tribal groups and people who worshiped idols. They faced opposition from violent groups. After a few weeks, Dr. Parker packed up and returned to England, but Hudson Taylor, his wife, and his children stayed. The price he paid for staying was very costly. His wife died, and he buried her with his own hands, leaving four children with him.
He had a small church and fellowship among the converts there. One day they did not have enough food. They were used to receiving support from the church in England, but sometimes the delivery did not arrive on time. They had no money and no food. One day the cook said, “The last bag of rice has been opened.” Then Taylor said, “The Lord’s time for helping us must be close then.” And so it was. Before the rice was completely gone, a bag of rice appeared at their doorstep. They did not know where it came from, but someone in the community thought they needed food. A bag arrived, allowing them to continue for the next day. He wrote this in his book.
Sometimes the times God takes us through are painful and we may not understand. His dear friend left him alone. His wife died, and he was left with four children. But through it all, God’s presence stayed with them for the ministry. That is how Christianity began in China. When Hudson Taylor died, he instructed that a mantle piece be placed on his tomb that read: “1 Samuel 7:10 — Ebenezer — Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.”
People of God, as we leave this world, the only thing that can be marked on our graves is: Hitherto the Lord has helped us. Nothing else. Everything else is fleeting and momentary; they pass away. But the Lord who is with us today will be with us tomorrow, and He will be with us through the dark of night as we step into eternity. As we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, He will be with us. What a great comfort we have today as we reflect on our lives.
May we thank God for everything He has given us—whether good or bad. He is a good God, and He will continue to be good to us. May the good Lord bless us with these words as we go from this place and reflect on all He has done in our lives.
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