Here I Lay My Ebenezer Hither By Thy Help I've Come

“Here I lay my Ebenezer, hither by thy help I’ve come…” – Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

I was in seminary, in Introduction to Old Testament, when I learned the meaning of the word “Ebenezer.” From 2 Hebrew words, ebn and ezer, “Ebenezer” means “stone of help.” Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing was always a favorite hymn of mine, even more so after I learned that beautiful tidbit of information.

Since then, I have tried to mark turning points in my life, moments in which God’s presence and work in my life is pronounced and unmistakable, with metaphorical Ebenezers in my mind. I can turn my attention to these when the going gets rough, and know that God who has been with me, will always be with me.

To lay an Ebenezer is to build an altar, a marker of remembrance in memory of God’s presence, provision, and work. The people of God in scripture are known to have marked transitions and victories with Ebenezers. These days, it’s hard to just go build an altar in your home, but there are plenty of metaphorical ways we lay Ebenezers in our lives to remind ourselves that God is with us.

One of my Ebenezers is May 5.  In my family, it’s called “Alive Day,” because on May 5, 2005, I survived a rollover accident on I-24 driving home from college in Nashville for the summer. An event that could have had any number of tragic outcomes has become for me, a reminder of the fragility of life, and an encouragement to use the life that I have to be a light in the world around me.

Every May 5, I have a celebratory meal, call my family members and spend time in quiet reflection remembering that “hither by God’s help I’ve come.” This is a metaphorical Ebenezer that encompasses the point of laying an altar: giving thanks to God.

What are some Ebenezers in your life? Life is a mix of joy and sorrow, survival and tragedy and we are familiar with each of these things, as humans who exist, experience, and feel. When we recognize God with us in each of these moments, even and especially in times of what feels like insurmountable pain, we are laying altars that remind us that God with us is a promise that lives on forever.

Thanks be to God for Ebenezers that remind us that we are not alone.

—
Sara Robb-Scott, Pastor for Senior Adults and Pastoral Care, First Baptist Church Decatur