1 Samuel 7

"Now as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the Lord thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day, and so confused them that they were overcome before Israel...Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer,[c] saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” vv.10,12

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Samuel must have been a priest as we see him offering the burnt offering.  "Samuel's sacrifice, without his prayer, had been an empty shadow. God gave a gracious answer. And Samuel erected a memorial of this victory, to the glory of God, and to encourage Israel. Through successive generations, the church of God has had cause to set up Eben-ezers for renewed deliverances; neither outward persecutions nor inward corruptions have prevailed against her, because hitherto the Lord hath helped her: and he will help, even to the end of the world" (Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary).  We sing about it often in the line "Here I raise my Ebenezer hither by thy help I come," but do we know what we're singing? We're not singing to Ebenezer Scrooge from the Christmas Carol.  An Ebenezer is a "stone of help."  It was a tangible reminder to the Israelites of His protection and help from the Philistines.  The “stone of help” marked the spot where the enemy had been routed and God’s promise to bless His repentant people had been honored. The Lord had helped them, all the way to Ebenezer.  What's your Ebenezer?