Ebenezer

1 Samuel 4-10
the temptation the Israelites fell to is the same one that still plagues us today - to put trust in a physical thing, whether it was the ark (ch4) or a king of their own (ch8).
The words they used struck me as ironic, "a king to lead us and go out before us in battle." (8:20) They are the same words used again and again to describe what the LORD had been doing for them all along! (Deut. 1:30, 3:22; Jos. 10:14, 23:10; and many other places)
Had they forgotten? They must have. I was reminded of Psalm 118:8-9
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
It is the same with me sometimes; it seems so easy to focus on my physical needs and I have to "work" to get my mind back on God, back on the unseen and eternal. Remembering and trusting seem hard to do.
I really like the idea of an Ebenezer. The people of the OT were always setting up a stone or an altar, renaming a well or planting a tree as a reminder of something great God had done for them. It was something physical - something that they could see and touch and walk past everyday - that made it easier for them to remember the spiritual. It would throw their minds back to God's power and goodness.
Ebenezer means 'stone of help' (7:12, "Thus far has the LORD helped us"). It is said well in the hymn:
Here I raise mine Ebenezer-
hither by Thy help I'm come;
and I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
safely to arrive at home.
What can I use to serve as an Ebenezer in my life?

first post

Well, I did it. I wasn't going to start a blog yet, but the temptation has proved to strong. I can't say how often I will actually post here. I am - at the moment - completely at the mercy of the school and public libraries for internet access. I also cannot say whether what I post will be worth reading. You will have to judge that for yourselves.