Thus Far the Lord has Helped Me

Thus Far the Lord has Helped Me

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.”

I Samuel 7:12

Faith sees the sovereignty of God in adverse circumstances. Our text today arises in one of the adverse circumstances in Israel’s history. During the days of Samuel, the Philistines were their great oppressors. In the chapter preceding our text, the Israelites gather together for a large assembly to worship, specifically to ask God to deliver them from their enemies. The Philistines hear of the assembly and gather together to destroy the Israelites. Samuel offers a lamb in sacrifice, and as he prays, the Lord intervenes to throw the Philistines into a panic. They scatter, and the army of Israel prevails. It is within this context that Samuel utters our text, ‘Thus far has the Lord helped us.’ We, whom Christ has saved by Free and Sovereign Grace, can take up this text as a word of testimony. Wherever we are today in our Christian experience, we are not where we once were. We stand, as it were, on a higher hill than the path we see behind us. We look back over the low spots, the hillocks, the pitfalls, the traps, and the thickets through which Christ has brought us, and we say, ‘Thus far has the Lord helped me.’ I am now in a much better place than I was. He has picked me up when I have fallen; He has, ‘restored my soul;’ He has, ‘led me in the paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake.’ Yes, ‘Thus far has the Lord helped me.’ For that, today, I will praise and magnify His Holy Name.

Our most Gracious Upholding Savior,
We rejoice today that Samuel’s testimony is our testimony;
that You have helped us thus far,
and that You shall continue to help us until that day in glory,
when we see You Face to face.

Where the Bush is Burning
Tomm Tice