“From the day that the ark was lodged at Kiriath-jearim, a long time passed, some twenty years, and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.”
—1 Samuel 7:2
The ark has returned, but it has no home. A prophet has arisen, but we do not hear from him. A king is expected, but there is no deliverance. And, yet, before the events of 1 Samuel 7 ever take place, within the darkness and confusion, Israel could still have said, “Ebenezer! Till now Yahweh has helped us.”
When Samuel says these words, they are words, not of termination, but continuation. “Till now”— those words can be devastating. “Till now, you’ve been insured.” “Till now, we’ve been engaged.” “Till now, you’ve been employed.” But this is not how Samuel raises Ebenezer. It is a monument to the past in hope of a future. Monuments are meant to endure as a testimony to the enduring. The stone Ebenezer has been lost, but the steadfast covenant love of God endures still. “Ebenezer” speaks to something more solid than stone.
The ark has returned, a prophet has arisen, and a king is expected. Still, it is the time of the judges. But even throughout these dark days, Israel could say again and again, “Till now, the LORD has helped us.” And she could say it, not with sorrow for something that has ended, but with hope for something greater still.
Israel will receive David. But greater things are still to come. Israel will receive the temple and the ark will find a home. But greater things are still to come. Yes, the tree of the Davidic dynasty would be felled. Yes, the temple would be destroyed. Yes, the ark would be lost. Even so, Israel could still say, “Till now, the LORD has helped us.” Greater things were still to come. In the darkness they lost only shadows, but the Light that cast those shadows was certain to dawn.
Christ has come. Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come again. Till now the LORD has helped us. And greater things are still to come. God has given us the King. Atonement has been made. We may draw near before the throne of grace. And we have the hope, not a veiled temple containing an isolated ark. No, we have the hope of beholding the glory of our Redeemer evermore. Till now, the LORD has helped us. And if He has given us Christ, His only begotten and eternally beloved Son, how will He not with Him give us all things (Romans 8:32)?
Ebenezer! Till now the LORD has helped us. And greater things are still to come. The grace of God for the people of God has been an unceasing stream gathering into a mighty sea. This grace flows from the infinite ocean of God’s covenant love for us in Christ. Look back at the gathered sea. Look at the stream as it flows now and declare, “Till now the LORD has helped us.” Say this, not in fear of its termination, but in confidence of its continuation. The stream will never run dry. Look at the mighty sea of past grace as a testimony that the stream flows from an infinite ocean. This stream has given you not only all the shadows of the OT, but the full Son risen, reigning, and sure to return. This stream has already given you infinity. God the Father gives God the Son who gives you God the Holy Spirit. Infinity gave you Infinity to give you Infinity. “Till now, the LORD has helped us.” This stream has given you the blood of Christ and the indwelling of the Spirit. And still greater things are yet to come.
No Other Boast 