FRIDAY January 11, 2019
The LORD Has Helped Us
And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and drove them back as far as below Beth Car. Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”
1 Samuel 7:11-12
Although afraid, Israel had relied on the Lord in their battle against the Philistines. The people’s hearts were right before their God, and He listened to Samuel’s prayer of intercession. The Lord defeated their enemies. Samuel set up a stone memorial in remembrance of the Lord’s deliverance and called its name Ebenezer, “The Stone of Help,” because God gave Israel a great victory.
In our earthly battles, when we rely on the Lord, great victories will come. Problems only happen when we stop relying on the Lord and start trusting in other people. Seriously, if we forget to rely on the Lord and fail toseek Him, then we are going to experience defeat. So we must place our confidence and trust in Him.
Have you ever read the beginning verses of Psalm 121? Some scholars believe it to be the “Soldier’s Psalm, or the Traveler’s Psalm.” A soldier faces peril at war, and a traveler on a road leading upwards to the city of Jerusalem can encounter danger. They must confidently rely on God’s help:
I will lift up my eyes to the hills—from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep(Psalm 121:1-4).
In life’s difficulties, where does your help come from?
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
~Psalm 124:8~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!