What does Ebenezer Mean?

If you love Christmas stories, then you are likely familiar with Charles Dickens' squeezing, wrenching, grasping, clutching, covetous old sinner, Ebenezer Scrooge. This mean old meiser is the main character of the masterpiece known as A Christmas Carol (1843). It's a fictitious novella that on its own reads as a well written ghost story with a happy ending, but in combination with the spirit of Christmas and greater understanding of the book's symbolism and characters,  A Christmas Carol is a story about salvation, new life beyond the grave, good will  and the hope that one life can change for the better. That's a lot of great messages to gather from the story, but there's even more that can be gained from simply examining the main character's name. Though the last name "Scrooge" has little meaning beyond sounding cold and twisted, the first name "Ebenezer" has meaning and roots found in the Bible.

"Ebenezer" was not a name Dickens would have heard on the streets of 19th century London, but it is a title he might have heard in church. The word "Ebenezer" appears in 1 Samuel. In the days before David and even Saul ruled, the Israelites "had no king, and everyone did as they saw fit," (Judges 21:25). During this age, when Israel's own priests had blasphemed the Lord (1 Samuel 3:13), the Isrealites were enemies with the Philistines. One time "the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer," and the Philistines "deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines," (1 Samuel 4:1-2). The Israelites believed they lost that battle at Ebenezer, because God was not with them, so they went out to face the Philistines again at the same place (1 Samuel 4:3). This time they brought the Ark of the Covenant with them. The Ark was a beautiful hand carved golden box placed in the most holy place in the Tabernacle, and once a year the high priest would put the blood of a sacrifice on the lid of the Ark and ask God for forgiveness for all of Israel's sins (Exodus 25:22). The Israelites believed that if they took the Ark of the Covenant, God's physical dwelling place on earth, into battle then the Philistines would be crushed, but instead the Philistines defeated the Israelites, killed thousands of them and stole the Ark of the Covenant (1 Samuel 4:10-11).

The Ark of the Covenant's lid was known as the Mercy Seat,
and this was where sacrifices to God for the forgiveness of
all of Israel's sins would be made (Exodus 25:17-22).

The Philistines took the Ark of the Covenant from Ebenezer to their home in Ashdod, but God's power overwhelmed them, and after seven months the Philistines sent the Ark of the Covenant back to Israel. After this, "all the people of Israel turned back to the Lord," and they assembled at Mizpah to fast before God and confess their sins (1 Samuel 7:2,5-6). The Ark of the Covenant was not with the Israelites at Mizpah. The Philistines, though, discovered the Israelites there, and they mounted up an army to attack them. The Israelites were scared, but instead of mounting up their own army, they went to their high priest Samuel and said to him "Do not stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, that He may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines," (1 Samuel 7:8). The Isrealites prayed that God would be their salvation; that He would help protect them from their enemies. Then Samuel made a sacrifice to God for all of Israel and God answered Samuel's prayers (1 Samuel 7:9). The astonishing history of what happened next is revealed in the following text of 1 Samuel chapter 7 from verse 10 to 11:

While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites. The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Kar.

On that day the Isrealites were reminded of a truth David would one day
write down; that God is their salvation; their help in time of need (Psalm 27:1).

The Israelites were amazed at the supernatural victory the Lord had given them, and they did not lose a single man in battle. It was then that the high priest Samuel "took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, 'Thus far the Lord has helped us,'" (1 Samuel 7:12). The title "Ebenezer" literally translates to "stone of help." During this time period when a stone was placed somewhere specific, it was meant to serve as a reminder of something important. When the Isrealites saw Ebenezer they would be reminded of how God had helped them when they called on Him. Of course, the name "Ebenzer" would also remind them about their earlier battle against the Philistines, back when they had turned away from God, lost many lives and even their closest connection to the one true God. The stone of help would remind them how much they needed God's help.

The story of "Ebenezer" in 1 Samuel reminds readers of two moments in Israel's history, a time when Israel turned away from God and a time when they sought God above all things. One word, "Ebenezer", illustrates the wickedness of Israel and their salvation as well. This is the same with Charles Dickens' character Ebenezer Scrooge, whose name first evokes thoughts of a cold hearted man and then turns to thoughts of one described as the most kind hearted man to keep the spirit of Christmas alive. So, how does a whole nation of wicked misguided souls become a people crying out to God alone, and how does a greedy wretch become a merry old man? Neither can do it on their own. They need help.

Ebenezer Scrooge commits his life to honoring Christmas all year with all his heart,
and we can commit our lives to honor Christ's life, by crying out to God,
believing in Him and receiving His help; His salvation (John 1:12).

We all are like the nation of Israel or Scrooge, that we were once self obsessed sinners wandering in the dark to our certain demise. Yet, we have hope and a chance of leaving this darkness, for "the people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned," (Isaiah 9:2). Even though we cannot help ourselves, God has come to help all those in need (Romans 5:8). We were in need of help and rescue from our evil hearts, and for those who believe, God has heard their cries and has given them new hearts so that they may be free from their darkness (Ezekiel 36:26). God freely gives salvation for all those who believe in Him, so that may have a new life beyond the grave (John 3:16). For a world of sinners, Christ came to shed His blood as a sacrifice for forgiveness, and this sacrifice has ended the need for any more (Hebrews 10:15-18). God came down to earth to help those in need; to bring peace on earth and good will to all who seek Him (Luke 2:14). This is something we should always remember, and we do remember through the celebration of Christmas.

Here I raise my Ebenezer;

Hither by thy help I’ve come;

And I hope, by thy good pleasure,

Safely to arrive at home.

Jesus sought me when a stranger,

Wandering from the fold of God;

He to rescue me from danger,

Interposed his precious blood.

- Robert Robinson

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• Charles Dickens: A Christmas Carol (1843)
• London Guidedwalks: Why Choose the Name Ebenezer Scrooge
• Bible Gateway Dictionaries: Ebenezer
• Knowing Jesus: Verses about Ark of the Covenant
• Chris Tomlin: Come Thou Fount

Matthew 2:1-2 (Magi from the East followed a Star)

Matthew 2:1-2

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him.”

Nativity displays primarily feature four main characters, baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the shepherds. Past these characters are three others who can be in the Nativity, near it or sometimes even far away to make a journey towards it. These characters are the three wisemen, or, as they are known in the Bible, the Magi. Not much is known about these Magi, but quite a great deal has been sung about them. So, what does the Bible say about the Magi?

First off, the Magi were not present at Jesus' birth on that first Christmas night. While the shepherds were hearing the voice of angels (Luke 2:8-14), and Mary and Joseph were laying the savior of the world in a bed of hay (Luke 2:7), the Magi were more than 800 miles away living comfortably in the kingdom of Persia. They lived in the kingdom that was once Babylon, which is where Daniel and his friends had all been sent into exile. While in exile, Daniel had risen through the ranks in king Nebuchadnezzar's court and he became one of the king's trusted seers and advisors. Daniel's job in Babylon was the same job that the Magi had in Persia. They were tasked with examining and interpreting dreams, along with various signs and wonders observed in the sky. One day the Magi discovered a wonderous star that demanded interpretation. This star was not like others, as it did not appear to move, and it seemed to rest over a specific spot on earth.

There have been many scientific theories as to what the star over Bethlehem
might have been, however none of them have yet to perfectly explain the Biblical celestial
sign that remained in the sky for a long time at a perfectly fixed point, despite the earth's rotation. 

The Magi, unlike Daniel and his friends, were not Jewish, and so they did not always interpret the stars according to what the Bible says. This wonderous star's mysterious sudden origins were so perplexing, though, that the Magi consulted the Jewish Scriptures; likely copies of the holy scrolls brought into their kingdom during Israel's exile. In those Scriptures the Magi found this written in what we now call the book of Micah chapter 5 verses 2 and 4:

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

    though you are small among the clans of Judah,

out of you will come for Me

    one who will be ruler over Israel,

whose origins are from of old,

    from ancient times.

He will stand and shepherd His flock

    in the strength of the Lord,

    in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God.

And they will live securely, for then His greatness

    will reach to the ends of the earth.

From this verse, the Magi interpreted that in the far off nation of Israel in the lowly town of Bethlehem a great King who was equal to the God of the Jewish people would be born (This is what is meant by the words, "out of you will come for Me"). Though the Magi found no writings in the Jewish Scriptures saying this great King's birth would be marked by a star (because there are no verses in the Bible giving such specific prophecy), the Magi knew that the star had to relate to this great King's birth. Now, the Magi were not twisting Scripture to confirm their own findings; something we should avoid doing. What they were doing was interpreting their observable reality based on the reality written in Scripture; that this great King who is to come will be announced through signs and wonders (Isaiah 7:14). Certainly, the star they saw would apply as a sign and wonder. The Magi may have also been aware of a verse in Numbers that says, "A star will come out of Jacob," (24:17). Though this verse does not say the star is a visible sign in the sky, it does give the prophecy that a king will come from Israel, and so the Magi saw the star over Judea as a sign of this coming king.  In this way the Magi were practicing a Biblical principle of interpretation known as hermeneutics. Simply put, using hermeneutics is interpreting reality based on Scripture, and then interpreting Scripture that is unclear based on other Scripture that is very clear. This practice of the Magi is one we should all adopt.

Knowing the star they saw would show them the way to the newborn King, the Magi set off on a long journey across two vast deserts, two large rivers and a series of roads that measured out to be a little bit over 1,000 miles. (For perspective, a road trip across the continental United States is about 3,000 miles long.) They likely traveled on camelback in a caravan and had to stop and rest in many towns on their way to Bethlehem. Their whole trip may have taken four to six weeks, and that's only if their caravan didn't stop at many towns, which it likely did for supplies and picking up and dropping off travelers.

The Kingdom of Persia was located in modern day Iran,
and the town of Bethlehem was and still is in Israel. 

When the Magi finally made it to Bethlehem they were overjoyed, when they saw the star they were following resting directly above one house (Matthew 2:9-10). In Mary and Joseph's house at this time was not a newborn baby, but a young toddler between one and two years old (Matthew 2:16). When the Magi saw the child with His mother, they worshiped Him immediately. There is no other greater response to finding the King of all creation, than falling down and honoring Him for all He has done (Psalm 96:4-5). The Magi presented Jesus with three gifts: Gold appropriate for the King of King's glory (Isaiah 42:8), frankincense as an offering of priestly incense (Isaiah 9:6) and myrrh which is a resin used for preparing the dead for burial (Isaiah 53:10).

One king held the frankincense

One king held the myrrh

One king held the purest gold

And one king held the hope of the world

- Point of Grace

The Magi were the first Gentiles (non-Jewish people) to worship Jesus as their King, Lord and Savior. Jesus would say when He was older that He was sent in His life only to those in Israel (Matthew 15:24), and Paul would later write that the life of Christ "brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile," (Romans 1:16). We see this truth demonstrated clearly among the characters in the Nativity story. Mary, Joseph and the shepherds were Jewish and all of them were verbally told that Mary's child was their long awaited Savior and King. The Gentile Magi, though, were not told directly, but had to interpret the Scriptures and signs in their observable reality. While this may seem like God is being favortistic to the Jews over the Gentiles, it should be noted that God is not favortistic (Romans 2:11). There is a reason behind Jesus' choice to make Himself known to some people over others. Even if Jesus' actions were favortistic, then they could only be considered favoritism towards the Gentiles, especially the ones He never met. Jesus Himself says those who believe in Him and have never met Him in the flesh are considered far more blessed than those who did (John 20:29).

Only in God's Kingdom could people of differing upbringings,
homelands and understanding of God's Word be considered
all equals in the eyes of their King (Galatians 3:28).

We are like the Magi. We were not there when Jesus was born. We were not told of His birth in a vision or by angels. Instead, God has made Himself known to us through many signs of Christ's power and saving work. Because of this, we have all been tasked with choosing to believe and follow where these signs lead or to reject them and stay where we feel comfortable (Romans 1:20). Christ promises to make Himself known to anyone who seeks Him, for He says, "You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart," (Jeremiah 29:13). Have you found the King of Kings, are you traveling the long road towards Him, or have you yet to look up and see the clear stars shining in the sky proclaiming His glory (Psalm 19:1)?

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• Got Questions: Three Wisemen
• Got Questions: Hermeneutics
• Bible Ask: Magi
• Point of Grace: One King
• Desiring God: To the Jew First