{"id":2288,"date":"2025-10-13T16:47:08","date_gmt":"2025-10-13T16:47:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/?page_id=2288"},"modified":"2025-12-15T19:54:07","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T19:54:07","slug":"stones-that-speak","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/stones-that-speak\/","title":{"rendered":"STONES THAT SPEAK"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Stones That Speak<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 Samuel 7:3\u201312<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Good morning, everyone! It\u2019s such a joy to be with you today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Scripture, the prophet Samuel used a strange word to describe an incredible moment. The word was Ebenezer<\/strong>, and he used it to describe the place where he built an altar (raised a stone of remembrance). It happened immediately after God delivered His people (the nation of Israel), from one of their fiercest enemies. The word itself means\u201cstone of help.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 But, it stood as a visible marker \u2014 declaring to every generation that would follow, that the God who helped in the past, can be trusted to help in the future!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s an old hymn (written in 1758), that references the word Ebenezer<\/em><\/strong> titled: Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing.<\/em><\/strong>And in the 2nd verse<\/strong> it says, \u201cHere I raise my Ebenezer; hither by Thy help I\u2019ve come.\u201d<\/em>That\u2019s really an old way of saying:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God\u2019s been faithful!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s really what I want to talk to you about this morning \u2014 living with confidence that the God who has brought us this far<\/strong> will carry us forward!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And one of the best ways to strengthen faith is through remembrance<\/em> \u2014 by looking back and tracing God\u2019s faithfulness. Because the same God who carried you then \u2014 will carry you now!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You know, every milestone, every answered prayer, every act of grace is a testimony that says, God has been faithful! <\/em>Just like a monument or historical marker reminds you that something significant happened there \u2014 in 1 Samuel 7<\/strong>, we find a stone that speaks and tells a story of God\u2019s help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, if you\u2019ve got your Bible, turn their with me. As you do, I\u2019ll give you the back story:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before Samuel ever raised that stone, Israel had walked through 20 years of spiritual decline. That part of the story is told in chapter 4, it was one of the times Israel went to battle against the Philistines. After an early<\/strong> defeat, the elders tried to guarantee victory by bringing the Ark of the Covenant (symbolizing God\u2019s presence),into the camp. But instead of victory, disaster struck. 30,000 soldiers died, the Ark was captured, and the priest\u2019s sons were killed. When Eli (the priest) heard the news, he too fell over and died (at the age of 98).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, the Philistines carried the ark away as a trophy \u2014 but God didn\u2019t need an army to defend His name. Wherever they placed it, judgment fell. Their idol Dagon toppled. Their cities were struck with plagues. After seven miserable months, the Philistines had had enough. They loaded the ark onto a cart pulled by two cows and sent it back across the border into Israelite territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ark was eventually moved to a small town called Kiriath Jearim, where it stayed for the next 20 years, untouched, uncelebrated, and almost forgotten. That\u2019s what verse 2 <\/strong>summarizes when it says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe ark remained at Kiriath Jearim for twenty years, and all the people of Israel mourned and sought after the Lord.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And there it sat \u2014 for two decades , as the nation suffered a spiritual drought. They possessed the ark, but lacked God\u2019s presence! They had the right symbols but lacked surrendered hearts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But then God raised up Samuel to call the nation back to Himself! So, he gathered the people together and called them to repentance and renewal. He reminded them that God\u2019s greatest work wasn\u2019t on a battlefield; it was in their hearts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And on that day \u2014 their faith was strengthened and hope renewed. And if you want to strengthen your faith too, then like the people of Israel<\/strong>, you must do as they did. And the first thing they did was to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Return Fully to the Lord.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s always the first step toward God\u2019s best! In 1 Samuel 7:2<\/strong>, we read these words:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2 <\/em><\/strong>\u201cThen all the people of Israel turned back to the Lord. <\/em>3 <\/em><\/strong>So Samuel said to all the Israelites, <\/em>\u201cIf you are returning to the Lord <\/em>with all your hearts, <\/em>then rid yourselves of the foreign gods<\/em> and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Samuel\u2019s first words weren\u2019t about strategy \u2014 they were about surrender. He didn\u2019t say, \u201cSharpen your swords.\u201d He said, \u201cSearch your hearts.\u201d Before there could be victory in the field, there had to be repentance in the soul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel<\/strong> had drifted far from God \u2014 still speaking His name, but not trusting His power. They had traded genuine faith for cultural idols: Baal<\/strong> (for rain) and Ashtoreth<\/strong> (for fertility and success). These false gods promised something that only the Lord could provide (provision and fruitfulness).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So Samuel<\/strong> called for change: \u201cRid yourselves of the foreign gods.\u201d <\/em>He was saying, \u201cIf you want God\u2019s presence, His favor, His protection \u2014 remove what\u2019s replaced Him.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Israel<\/strong>, those idols were carved in stone. For us, they often look more polished \u2014 things like: achievement, possessions, comfort, or success. There\u2019s nothing wrong with good things \u2014 but if we\u2019re not careful our possessions can begin to possess us. A good litmus test is to ask yourself: \u201cDo I measure my value by what I have? Does my peace rise and fall with my possessions? Or, would I be upset, angry, and discontent if God asked me to give this up?\u201d <\/em>If the answer to any of those questions is YES, then you\u2019re stuff has become an idol. What was meant to serve you has begun to rule you. And, it\u2019s probably time to lay it down, and let it go.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s what happened to Israel. And in this story \u2014 they did just that. But, God does the same for you and me. He calls us to lay the idols of our lives down, and come back to faith in Him. He invites us to REPENT<\/strong>, to RETURN<\/strong>, to DRAW NEAR TO HIM.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

James<\/strong> (the half-brother of <\/em>Jesus<\/em><\/strong>),<\/em> reminds us of this when he writes in James 4:8 (NIV)<\/strong>,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCome near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

His point is that repentance is really about relationship \u2014 not punishment! God isn\u2019t trying to hurt you; He\u2019s trying to heal you. He\u2019s not out to make you miserable; He\u2019s trying to make you holy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And when Israel responded to Samuel\u2019s call, God met them with mercy and grace. Their story reminds us that repentance always paves the way for restoration. But without it, we struggle\u2014because you can\u2019t walk in victory while your heart is divided in devotion!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But when we turn to the Lord, and devote ourselves to God \u2014 He will respond with grace. And that\u2019s what happened to Israel. Verse<\/strong> 4 <\/strong>tells us:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4 <\/em><\/strong>So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only. <\/em>5 <\/em><\/strong>Then Samuel said, \u201cAssemble all Israel at Mizpah, and I will intercede with the Lord for you.\u201d <\/em>6 <\/em><\/strong>When they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the Lord. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, \u201cWe have sinned against the Lord.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, they poured out water before the Lord \u2014 as a symbol of their surrender. Water was precious\u2014especially in a dry land\u2014so to pour it out before the Lord was to say, \u201cNothing is too valuable to withhold from You.\u201d<\/em>And in that moment, the God they had ignored came near \u2014 He forgave them, restored them, and defended them again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the New Testament, we\u2019re told that Jesus will do the same for us.In 1 John 1:9<\/strong>, we\u2019re told:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n


\u201cIf we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s not just a verse to memorize \u2014 it\u2019s a promise to live by. If you haven\u2019t experienced that forgiveness, you can today \u2014 right here, right now.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if you have, then remember this: repentance isn\u2019t the finish line \u2014 it\u2019s just the beginning! God\u2019s forgiveness is the starting point of faith! And that\u2019s what He wants for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, there\u2019s a second lesson in this story.\u00a0 If you want to strengthen your faith in God, then:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Recognize What God Has Done.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look with me at verse 7. <\/strong>It says,\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them. When the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid because of the Philistines. <\/em>8\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>They said to Samuel, \u201cDo not stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines.\u201d <\/em>9\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and sacrificed it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. He cried out to the Lord on Israel\u2019s behalf, and the Lord answered him.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When God\u2019s people returned to Him, the enemy rose up against them. It\u2019s often the same for us. When you realign your heart with God, you can expect resistance! The enemy loves to attack in moments like that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the good news is: You\u2019ll never fight alone. When you stand for God, God stands with you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look now at verse 10.<\/strong> The story continues:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat day the Lord thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into confusion.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, while Israel prayed, God fought. They didn\u2019t prevail because they had superior weapons \u2014 they prevailed because they had a superior God. And when they prayed, God thundered! And their enemies scattered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But according to verse<\/strong> 9 <\/strong>\u2014 their victory came with a sacrifice. As we just read:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2026Samuel took a suckling lamb and sacrificed it\u2026<\/em>and the Lord answered him.<\/em>\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Things changed with the sacrifice of a lamb! Don\u2019t miss the foreshadowing here. What took place on that day was a victory, a momentary victory (as it covered the sin of the people). But centuries later, Jesus would come \u2014 and at that time, He would give His life (as the Lamb of God) \u2014 the ULTIMATE SACRIFICE! <\/strong>And on that day, sin was totally defeated! Not just covered \u2014 but wiped out!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through His death and resurrection, Jesus became our true Ebenezer \u2014 the Living Stone, the Rock of our salvation, the Chief Cornerstone on which our faith stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Samuel built an altar (and raised a stone of remembrance), that day \u2014 he said, \u201cThus far the Lord has helped us.\u201d<\/em> It was his way of saying, \u201cThe God who brought us this far won\u2019t fail us now.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the same is true for you. So, look back and remember what God has done. Mark those moments of His mercy, because the help God gave you yesterday will be what strengthens your faith tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So I encourage you today \u2014 take a moment to remember how many times the Lord has \u201cthundered\u201d <\/em>in your life\u2026 when the odds were impossible, yet His mercy broke through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 The cancer<\/strong> that didn\u2019t return.
\u2014 The bill<\/strong> that was paid just in time.
\u2014 The broken<\/strong> relationship<\/strong> that was restored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 The prodigal<\/strong> son<\/strong> or<\/strong> daughter<\/strong> that returned.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each of those moments is your own Ebenezer<\/em> \u2014 a reminder that the same God who helped you then is still helping you now!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, if you want to strengthen your faith, then: RETURN TO THE LORD. And, RECOGNIZE WHAT GOD HAS DONE. And lastly\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Raise Up Your Story. (Your Testimony)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It wasn\u2019t until after<\/em> God thundered from heaven and defeated the enemy that Samuel raised the stone. And once the dust of battle settled, Samuel marked the moment. Verse 12 <\/strong>says,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThen Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, \u2018Thus far the Lord has helped us.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That stone wasn\u2019t just decoration<\/strong> \u2014 it was declaration<\/strong>. A visible testimony to an invisible truth: the Lord helped His people!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Samuel<\/strong> placed that large memorial stone right in the middle of two towns \u2014 Mizpah<\/strong> and Shen<\/strong>. <\/strong>Their names literally translate as watchtower<\/em><\/strong> and sharp rock.<\/em><\/strong> You might think of it like this, THAT STONE OF TESTIMONY TO GOD\u2019S POWER was placed between the place of prayer and the place of pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And that\u2019s where God meets us: right in the middle of the tension \u2014 between our struggles and His deliverance. So, when you stand in that in-between place \u2014 still waiting, still believing \u2014 remember His faithfulness. Mark the moment. Write it down. Because that\u2019s where God meets us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As David says in Psalm 103:2 (NIV),\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPraise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like Samuel<\/strong> in his day, you and I need to establish a marker and RAISE UP OUR STORY of God\u2019s faithfulness today!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was Charles Spurgeon who once said, \u201cMemory is the handmaid of faith. When we remember what God has done, we are confident He will do it again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s where the story takes a remarkable turn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Old Testament, God\u2019s people raised stones to remember His faithfulness. In the New Testament, God transforms that image. We no longer pile up rocks \u2014 we become the stones ourselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the apostle Peter tells us in 1 Peter 2:4\u20135 (NIV),<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs you come to him, the living Stone \u2026 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

God doesn\u2019t just write His story on monuments \u2014 He writes it on people.<\/em> Every act of trust, every word of worship, every testimony is a stone that speaks: God helped me here.<\/em> And our greatest stone isn\u2019t at Mizpah \u2014 it\u2019s at Calvary. The cross is the ultimate Ebenezer. As Paul writes in Romans 8:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf God is for us, who can be against us?\u201d <\/em>\u2014 Romans 8:31 (NIV)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And that\u2019s the message of the Cross \u2014 our God is faithful!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1 Samuel 7:12<\/strong>, Samuel<\/strong> declared,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThus far the Lord has helped us.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That wasn\u2019t the end of a story \u2014 it was the beginning of another. It wasn\u2019t a period; it was a comma. <\/strong>He was saying, \u201cThe God who brought us this far will carry us the rest of the way.\u201d<\/em> And that same truth still holds for you.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever season you\u2019re in, whether you\u2019re standing on the mountain or walking through the valley, God\u2019s not finished writing your story<\/strong>. His faithfulness didn\u2019t stop in the past; it\u2019s active in the present and its waiting for you in the future. It\u2019s true for you personally <\/strong>\u2014 and for you corporately, as a church! So lift your eyes, take courage, and keep walking. The same God who\u2019s helped you thus far<\/em> will help you from here.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Closing Prayer<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you sense the Holy Spirit drawing you today to surrender to Christ, then would pray with me?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heavenly Father, I admit that I have sinned and chosen my way over yours too often. But all that changes today. Because, I confess my sin before you. Today I profess my faith in Jesus. I believe He\u2019s the son of God who came from heaven to earth, lived a sinless life, and sacrificed Himself in my place. Died and rose again. So today, I put my faith in Jesus. Forgive me, save me, and allow Your Spirit to live in me. I pray this in Jesus name, Amen.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you just prayed that prayer \u2014 I AM SO PROUD OF YOU! That\u2019s the greatest decision you\u2019ll ever make.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And now, for the rest of us\u2026let\u2019s pray:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lord Jesus, You really are our Living Stone \u2014 the One the world rejected but God exalted. Through Your cross and resurrection, You became our true Ebenezer \u2014 our constant help, our steady hope, and our faithful friend. Thank You for every moment You\u2019ve carried us, every prayer You\u2019ve answered, and every battle You\u2019ve already won on our behalf. You\u2019ve helped us, healed us, and held us through it all.<\/em> So today, we just want to say thank You. Thank You for being faithful yesterday, and thank You for the promise that You\u2019ll be faithful tomorrow. Help us to keep trusting You with what\u2019s ahead.
Let our lives tell the story of Your goodness \u2014 may we become living reminders of Your grace and faithfulness.<\/em> We love You, Lord. And we give You all the praise, in Your precious name we pray \u2014 amen.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Stones That Speak 1 Samuel 7:3\u201312 Introduction Good morning, everyone! It\u2019s such a joy to be with you today. In Scripture, the prophet Samuel used …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2288","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2288","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2288"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2288\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2633,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2288\/revisions\/2633"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2288"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}