Stones of Remembrance

"Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called the name Ebenezer, for he said, "'Till now the Lord has helped us.'" (1 Samuel 7:12 / ESV)

When I think of a dismal day, "Casey at the Bat," a poem by Ernest Lawrence Thayer, comes to mind. The poem begins, "The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Mudville nine that day," and all the way through each stanza, the crowd waits in anticipation for the "Mighty Casey" to come to bat. But alas! Mighty Casey strikes out.

The Israelites must have felt terribly depressed as they faced battle with the Philistines, superior in size and number to them. They had directed their hearts to the Lord to serve Him only, as their judge, Samuel, had required. Samuel asked that all Israel be gathered at Mizpah, and when he promised he would pray to the Lord for them, they fasted and confessed their sins. Not a dismal day, but a glorious one, occurred when Samuel cried out to the Lord, and the Lord answered him with a wonderful victory that day for the Israelites. That's when Samuel set up a stone for remembering what God had done for them.

Just as Samuel set up a stone for remembrance for what the Lord had done, I have set up stones within my heart for what God has done for me.

A stone, oh Lord, have I set up, remembering salvation,
Forgiveness You had planned for me before the earth's creation.

A stone, oh Lord, have I set up, remembering protection,
The times that You have safely kept me under Your direction.

A stone, oh Lord, have I set up, remembering provision,
With more than I have needed or I ever could envision.

A stone, oh Lord, have I set up, remembering assurance,
That You are with me always till the time of Your appearance.

These general stones of remembrance, accompanied by stones of many specifice times God has helped me, serve as stepping stones for my faith.