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When the Philistines heard that
the Israelites were gathered together at Mizpeh, they went there to fight
against them. The Israelites were very much frightened when they
heard that their enemies were coming, and they went for help to their kind
friend Samuel. But the Israelites knew that Samuel himself had not
power to save them; so they said to Samuel, "Pray for us to God; ask
him to save us from the Philistines." Then Samuel took a lamb,
and offered it up in faith, as a sacrifice to God, and prayed unto the
Lord; and the Lord heard him. But did the Philistines come to Mizpeh?
Yes; while Samuel was offering the sacrifice, he looked up and saw the
enemies coming nearer and nearer, and making ready for battle. Was
he frightened? No, because he trusted in God; he knew God had power
to deliver His people; and when he remembered that, Samuel could not
fear. The Israelites did not fight the Philistines, but God Himself
fought, and conquered them. How? Not with swords, nor spears,
nor arrows: He sent a great thunderstorm, and frightened the
Philistines, and they fled; and the Israelites followed, and killed them
in great numbers. When the
Philistines were conquered, Samuel took a great stone, and set it up near
Mizpeh. Why? Because he wished all Israel to remember God's
kindness to them in saving them from their enemies. When, in future
years, the Israelites should look upon that stone, they would think,
"Here God was merciful to us, and delivered us from our cruel
enemies, the Philistines." Samuel gave the stone a name; he
called it Eben-ezer, which means, "the stone of help." Why
did Samuel call the stone, a stone of help? "Because," he
said, "hitherto hath the Lord helped us." The Philistines
were all gone; they did not again come to trouble and frighten the
Israelites; and Samuel and the people were right to thank and praise God
for all His mercies. Let us
remember that God is our help. He has taken care of us in past
years; and we must ask Him to take care of us in all our future years too,
and to bring us safely at last to Heaven.
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