“Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” (1 Samuel 7:12 NIV)
Note two words in this scripture: ‘thus far’. Samuel didn’t claim God’s continual aid for the people of Israel, he only acknowledged divine intervention to date. He recognized that God could be for or against His people, dependent on the posture of their hearts.
The Israelites had a long history of direct disobedience and philandering with other gods. In fact, that’s how they had gotten themselves into their current predicament with the Philistines. Previous generations had failed to follow through on divine instruction and intermarried; inviting idolatry into the hearts and homes of Israel. As a result, the people wandered away from the one true God. God’s presence had gone out form them and their flippant handling of the the ark of the covenant resulted in its capture. As it traveled through Philistine territory, the power of God wreaked havoc on unbelievers and ultimately, God brought His property home again, with a generous guilt offering to boot. The Israelites received His ark with gladness, but some were irreverent and suffered for their choices.
In response to God’s power and presence, the people ‘put away’ their idols (1 Samuel 7:4). This terminology hurts my heart; they did not discard or destroy. No, the text reads like they simply stuffed their idols in hall closets or storage bins, keeping them near by in case they needed them again.
Samuel’s use of ‘thus far’ reminds us that we are only as good as our last decision towards God. Holy men fail all the time. We must remain engaged with His word and His Spirit daily or we will backslide. Not may or might, but will.
The big trend in evangelical church right now is deconstructing. Born-again believers are getting woke and decrying the traditions and disciplines of faith that have been in place for millennia. In recent years the Church has been labeled as archaic, oppressive, judgmental, sexist and abusive. While I understand that the church is flawed – deeply flawed because it’s made up entirely of fallen people still recovering from sin’s affects – I still believe it to be the hope of the world, the best thing we have going here on earth.
From where I sit, deconstruction is a trendy term for backsliding. It’s normal to have questions and doubts, to even be offended by the principles and implications of scripture. But we respond rightly to doubt by taking these concerns straight to God’s Word. We wrestle with His Spirit until we come to correct conclusions. Dare I say it? We assume that we are wrong and God is right because He is sovereign and holy and we are broken and sinful.
Samuel’s ‘thus far’ reminds us that there is an ongoing personal responsibility in God-following. There’s a much-needed posture of submission and surrender that is crucial to our reception of divine intervention.
It is concerning to me that modern church culture has slashed the price tag of Christ following. We’ve lowered the threshold for salvation and discipleship. The folly becomes far more apparent over time, when we encourage people to slide into a relationship with Jesus, we fail to realize how likely it is that they will slide out of it, too.
The Bible I read says to count the cost before we build (Luke 14:28). To suffer willingly (1 Peter 4:1). To deny ourselves and take up our cross (Matthew 16:24). And to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). None of these instructions sound comfortable or easy. Walking with God all the way to its inevitable end is a long and arduous journey. As Jeannie Mayo says; “The crowd thins the further you go.” I’m more and more convinced, life surrendered to Christ is still our best expenditure of this one, ordinary existence. When we pass through those pearly gates, we won’t be wondering ‘was it worth it?’ we’ll be wishing we had invested more deeply in the Kingdom objectives.
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV)
A life of submission and surrender to a holy God is our highest plane of existence. Yes, we are wasting away; our faith is dealing with our flesh day after day as we learn to walk in the Spirit. The world looks at us as if we are weird, but God looks at us as though we are His. Anything we suffer here will pale in comparison to what we gain in the hereafter.
Lord, thank You for helping us thus far. We delight in Your intervention in our story. May we respond with worship, with right hearts and holy service. Let us walk diligently, close and obedient. Your statutes bring life and bring joy, we receive them with gratitude. By Your grace, may we remain engaged in Your Word and Spirit until the very end of our opportunity here on earth. Amen.