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Our Mighty Helper
[Samuel] pleaded with the Lord to help Israel, and the Lord answered. Just as Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines arrived for battle. But the Lord spoke with a mighty voice of thunder from heaven, and the Philistines were thrown into such confusion that the Israelites defeated them. 1 Samuel 7:9-10
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When the Philistine rulers heard that all God’s people were gathering at Mizpah, they set out to attack and destroy them. But the Israelites begged Samuel to plead for God’s help. So Samuel cried out to the Lord, and God responded with an awesome demonstration of his power. His voice thundered from heaven, throwing the Philistines into mass confusion, and God’s people experienced a great victory against their enemies that day.
Our modern culture often sees prayer as a magic bullet or as a formula that we can use to get what we want. It is neither. But this we know: God tells us to pray; he gives us his Word to guide our prayers. And as in this account from 1 Samuel and throughout the Bible, when God’s people pray, he shows up. That’s why at the site of the Israelite victory, Samuel, in praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, erected a monument with the name “Ebenezer,” which means “the stone of help.” It reminds us to ask God for the help we need today and not to forget to thank him for his answers.
Prayers:
DEAR LORD, I praise you because you are a God who hears and answers. Just as you answered and moved on behalf of Israel as they battled their enemies, you move and work today on behalf of your people. Thank you for calling all of your people—young and old, men and women, every denomination and race—to pray and seek your help in these days.
Quotes:
Prayer moves the arm which moves the world.
James Montgomery
The One Year Bible Readings for today are: 1 Samuel 5:1–7:17; John 6:1-21; Psalm 106:13-31 and Proverbs 14:32-33.
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