HERE I’LL RAISE MY EBENEZER, a Hymn Devotion for 26 November 2024 Anno Domini, the Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide
12Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us. 1 Samuel 7:12
This is a hymn of dignity and of great spiritual depth. It is beautiful for both meaning and tune. The author is Robert Robinson (1735-1790) and musical score is, Hallelujah, by James P. Carrell. It is one of many great hymns by Robinson including Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah. He was came to be converted under the preaching of George Whitefield. He became a minister whose sermons are most eloquently revealed to us in his hymns.
HERE I’LL RAISE MY EBENEZAR
1. Here I raise my Ebenezer,
Hither by thine help I've come;
And I hope, by thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Hallelujah! O Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! I love the Lord.
Hallelujah! O Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! We are on our journey home.
2.Jesus sought me, when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God,
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed with precious blood.
Hallelujah! O Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! I love the Lord.
Hallelujah! O Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! We are on our journey home.
3. O! to grace, how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be!
Let thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to thee.
Hallelujah! O Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! I love the Lord.
Hallelujah! O Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! We are on our journey home.
Here I raise my Ebenezer, Hither by thine help I've come; And I hope, by thy good pleasure, Safely to arrive at home. Hallelujah! O Hallelujah! Hallelujah! I love the Lord. Hallelujah! O Hallelujah! Hallelujah! We are on our journey home. The term, ‘Ebenezer,’ literally means our Stone of Help. Does that arouse a familiar memory of the One who represents our Stone of Help in our salvation – in fact, our Rock of Salvation? After losing a great battle to the Philistines, as well as the Ark of the Covenant, the Children of Israel turned to the Lord for their help and salvation. He gave them the recovery of the Ark as well as a great victory on the field of battle. Though He is with us always, we often fail to turn to Him until all other of our meager efforts have failed. It is at the point of despair turned to victory that we place our memorial Stone of Help as did Israel in placing a Stone of Remembrance of the Lord’s help. Such monuments, both spiritual and patriotic mark our past struggles and future hope.2.Jesus sought me, when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God, He, to rescue me from danger, Interposed with precious blood.
Hallelujah! O Hallelujah! Hallelujah! I love the Lord.Hallelujah! O Hallelujah! Hallelujah! We are on our journey home. Our dependence on the saving graces of our Lord multiplies our love and vanquishes our doubts. His Lordship comes at a great pricve to Him and His Father, but free to us. From the moment of our election in Christ, we are, indeed, on our way home on that upward and Narrow Way that leads to the Kingdom of Heaven. The three-fold Hallelujah represents our love for the Triune God in all things.
O! to grace, how great a debtor Daily I'm constrained to be! Let thy goodness, like a fetter, Bind my wandering heart to thee, Hallelujah! O Hallelujah! Hallelujah! I love the Lord. Hallelujah! O Hallelujah! Hallelujah! We are on our journey home. We cannot fail to consider the great debt from which we have been Redeemed by a greater Savior. In our first waking moments, and our last thoughts ere sleep, we must be mindful of that great debt of gratitude and love we owe to that One who loved us first with a greater love than man can imagine. We are bound to Christ in love and gratitude. We continue with the Light of Christ to guide us in that journey to our heavenly home.
