So what is it really? It's a... rock. Ha, a rock! I know, what the heck right? Why would we raise a rock? Why do we sing about raising a rock? Because that is what Samuel did.

I was reading 1 Samuel and sure enough that is where you find it. In 1 Samuel chapter 7, Samuel calls all of Israel to gather at a place called Mizpah to fast and pray. Israel had pretty much jacked up by losing the arch and worshiping other Gods and just being sinful. So Samuel gathered them together to repent and ask for forgiveness. While there, the Philistines heard they were all together and pretty much sitting ducks. So the Philistines said, let's go kill those dumb jokers and finally conquer Israel. When Israel found out the Philistines were coming they freaked out and went to Samuel to ask him to pray to God that he would forgive and protect them. So long story short, Samuel prayed and God sent a "thunderous noise" down and frightened the Philistines so that Israel's army could go down fight off the Philistines. From then on the Philistines didn't enter the territory of Israel.

So to remember how God forgave and protected Israel, Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen. He called the stone, Ebenezer, and said, "till now the Lord has helped us." It's simply that. A symbol to remind Israel and help them remember that God has been with them and helped them. So when we raise our "Ebenezer" we're just saying, "God we remember you and how you help us." It's in a way a confession to the protection we've had in the past and a reminder of the protection we'll have in the future.

So if life sucks right now, look at a rock. If life is really good right now, look at a rock. Haha, for real though. Look at a stone, or a symbol in your life that reminds you that God has you and we will always have you. And remember that there is no better place to be than in God's grace, favor and protection. There is NO better place to be in life, in eternity than in God's family, in the Kingdom of Light.