Friday, December 24, 2021

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

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